Handbrake
- Thread starter Billbob10
- Start date
If you are saying that the handbrake leaver is down, but the rear wheels are solid then the handbrake shoes (in the rear hub handbrake drum) are probably corroded and stuck in place. It's quite common and usually cured with a big and brutal take off using plenty of rev's, it will BANG when released! But there should be no damage (unless you are not quick enough back on to the brakes :lol: ). Give it welly and most times it will release.
If not then you are in to safely raising the car, removing the rear wheels and checking whether the disc pads have stuck to the main disc then releasing, or try using a soft faced mallet on the hub drum if it's still the handbrake shoes. In an extreme case with another car, I had to resort to spraying penetrating fluids and paraffin in to a drum, leaving overnight and hammering off the drum as the shoes had welded in place. The friction material eventually released/broke up and the drum cleaned up fine with new shoes.
Unless really necessary I leave the handbrake off, particularly if it's left for any period. If it keeps happening try pulling on the handbrake several times at low speed to clean the handbrake shoes & drum, or better still remove the rear hub/drums give them a good clean with emery or wire wool and brake cleaner, then fit new shoes.
Pelican has some great how-to info (it says Z4-M but is the same as your car) https://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/BMW_Z4M/93-BRAKES-Parking_Brake_Shoes_Replacement/93-BRAKES-Parking_Brake_Shoes_Replacement.htm
Let us know how it goes
If not then you are in to safely raising the car, removing the rear wheels and checking whether the disc pads have stuck to the main disc then releasing, or try using a soft faced mallet on the hub drum if it's still the handbrake shoes. In an extreme case with another car, I had to resort to spraying penetrating fluids and paraffin in to a drum, leaving overnight and hammering off the drum as the shoes had welded in place. The friction material eventually released/broke up and the drum cleaned up fine with new shoes.
Unless really necessary I leave the handbrake off, particularly if it's left for any period. If it keeps happening try pulling on the handbrake several times at low speed to clean the handbrake shoes & drum, or better still remove the rear hub/drums give them a good clean with emery or wire wool and brake cleaner, then fit new shoes.
Pelican has some great how-to info (it says Z4-M but is the same as your car) https://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/BMW_Z4M/93-BRAKES-Parking_Brake_Shoes_Replacement/93-BRAKES-Parking_Brake_Shoes_Replacement.htm
Let us know how it goes
Billbob10 said:
Result! In the long-run it's best to strip, clean the drum, shoes, backplate and mechanism, I replaced the lot and have had no problem since. Make sure you follow the adjustment process, there is a link in the Pelican page I posted
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264562466706?var=0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338343596&toolid=10001&customid=eb%3Ag%3Avms%3Aeb%3Ap%3A264562466706%3BCjwKCAiApfeQBhAUEiwA7K_UHyW2B_9bjpHFJJDx3CRd72q3vLCz6kivS77JlXAiXq5QJRKKOM5J-hoCC6wQAvD_BwE&gclid=CjwKCAiApfeQBhAUEiwA7K_UHyW2B_9bjpHFJJDx3CRd72q3vLCz6kivS77JlXAiXq5QJRKKOM5J-hoCC6wQAvD_BwE
