Z4 E85 Parking Brake Advice

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portculisz4

Member
I am about to remove both rear discs to perform a full service on my parking brakes in the hope of finding out why they are so ineffective. I know you can buy high friction brake shoes for conventional drum brakes to improve the braking performance, but does anyone know whether there are high friction shoes available for the Z4 parking brakes. ???
 
I recently did the same exercise.
When I removed the discs I discovered that the shoes were almost new, but had glazed, either from initially being to tight, or from inadvertently leaving the handbrake slightly on.
I roughed up the surface of the shoes and the drum with some scotchbrite, adjusted them correctly and put it all back together, sorted.
You may find that is all you need to do.
Given that the shoes only operate when stationary, not to slow the car down, then I reckon standard replacements should be fine, if indeed you need them at all.
 
I remember reading in the manual for a previous car I had with rear disc brakes (I think it was an original BMW mini) to occasionally apply the handbrake gently while moving presumably to help with this?
 
roblightbody said:
I remember reading in the manual for a previous car I had with rear disc brakes (I think it was an original BMW mini) to occasionally apply the handbrake gently while moving presumably to help with this?
Click to expand...
It helped with my 03 E85!
 
There is some possible logic in that, I guess to be fully effective the shoe linings have to be completely bedded in and unless you use the brake while the drums are turning this will never happen. While the disc/drum is off, I wonder if it's worth lining the perimeter of the inside of the drum with a strip of course abrasive paper and working the removed shoe against it to get a better contact match between the surface of the drum and the shoe lining.
 
portculisz4 said:
There is some possible logic in that, I guess to be fully effective the shoe linings have to be completely bedded in and unless you use the brake while the drums are turning this will never happen. While the disc/drum is off, I wonder if it's worth lining the perimeter of the inside of the drum with a strip of course abrasive paper and working the removed shoe against it to get a better contact match between the surface of the drum and the shoe lining.
Click to expand...
Sounds a bit of overkill if I'm honest. Just give the surfaces a rub down to rough them up, then do the gentle application every now and then.
 
I tightened my handbrake in the drum area on both sides. It helps somewhat much better than before but it's not perfect.

Upon closer inspection of the actual handbreake itself--it seems the teeth that bites into the handbrake are worn down and smooth. Idk how to fix that unless I take it all apart and.... meh.
 
Motionblurrr said:
I tightened my handbrake in the drum area on both sides. It helps somewhat much better than before but it's not perfect.

Upon closer inspection of the actual handbreake itself--it seems the teeth that bites into the handbrake are worn down and smooth. Idk how to fix that unless I take it all apart and.... meh.
Click to expand...

My handbrake on my e86 is the same, where it will only hold on the first tooth and last one. Got no clue what to do, other than keep a eye out for a used handbrake or try and get a new ratchet machined to replace the existing on.
 
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