Handbrake Stuck on?

G

GazDerby

Member
Hello-
I have this evening come to move my Z4 out of the garage after its winter rest (since early December) and having started fine (having been started a few times in the intervening period and been on trickle) I've found that the car simply will NOT move.

I had expected the rakes to be ceased a little but even heavey 'acceleration' and reversing is not budging. The car rocks fine so power is going to the wheels, past the diff.
The car will rock on the wheels and I've jacked it up and the wheels will turn about 4cm but then there is a knock and no further.
At first I thought the diff had locked somehow but why? Then I relasied this is very similar to how the car rocks after you have applied the handbrake. So, my thinking is that the handbrake has ceased on the rear wheels. With the handbrake on, there is no change.
I had left the handbrake on for about 3 weeks before I thought it would be better off.

So, how do I retract the brakes? How do they work on the Z4? I am guesing there's a pin or something similar. Are they within a drum in the hub?
Very frustrating as I was looking forward to getting out in it this week!
:headbang:
Thank you!
 
The handbrake shoes will have rusted to the drum/disc.......dismantling them wont help as you wont be able to get the discs off , just put it in gear with the engine running and be brutal with it . :|
 
this happens if i wash and put away witout drying the brakes, scary tho just how stuck and how quickly it happens , i now leave hbrake off , out of gear and just move it an inch or two by pulling ona wheel spoke', normally , once you have moved it once just an inch it doesnt sieze again, till the next time you forget, good luck :thumbsup:
 
Take the wheels off. Safely support the vehicle. BE SAFE. If you are not confident have the vehicle recovered to a garage.

Check the handbrake mech is releasing and not seized.

You should then be able to release the pads from the discs by disassembling. Do not use release oil (sorry had to say it)

Its best not to leave the handbrake engaged if the car is being stored for long periods. Leave in gear and 'chock' wheels for safety.
 
Thank you all for replies.
I'm dissassembling at the weekend. Hopefully I'll be able to get the discs off ok.
I take it that the handbrake is some form og pin in a ratchet afair within the drum rather than just shoes pressing on a drum? I presume this as the car can move a few cms so I thought it was between ratchets?

I also presume that the precision instrument knocking will be against the hub itself once the calipers are off??

Thanks again.
 
Check this link out . http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=426640

Pretty similar arrangement.
Try a precision soft faced instrument (knockometer!) against the drum part of the disc before going to the bother of removing the caliper and carrier. You might get away with a good 'shocking' of the shoes on the drum as srhutch & holeshot suggested
Good luck let us know how you get on :thumbsup:
 
Thanks!
I have trield knocking the calipers the other night before I came to the conclusion it was the handbrake but will try the hub as well.


By the way, you folks who suggest giving it a bit of force to get lose, I tried that already; the rear wheels were beginning to arch their camber there was that much force and the clutch was getting too hot to carry on!

Wil update on Sat.
 
Same thing happened to my e46 -had to rock it forwards and backwards in first and reverse with plenty of revs before it broke loose :cry:
 
Wahoo. Z back up and running. :D
With some help and some force, wheels off, calipers off, discs off. The cause - a lot of rust on the inside of the disc hub and on the brake shoes where they'd stuck on.
Lots of furious wire brushing and copper grease-ing followed by putting it back together and all is fine! Back on the road. Took 3 hours to do both rear wheels. No need to new shoes (by the way, Unipart shoes and fitting kit are about £45 when I priced up.)

From now on, the handbrake is for hill starts only!

Thank you all. Pics may follow but not downloaded from camera yet.
 
Pleased you got it sorted but slick was right they would have cracked off if you'd been brutal enough with it. Proper big revs and dump clutch and you would have been away. Done it several times with several cars over the years. You would not have damaged anything (as long as you got on the brakes quick enough of course!).
 
Well done GazDerby glad you got it sorted............... Remember the next time leave it............. in gear and hand brake OFF. :thumbsup:
 
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