[UPDATE] Handbrake

"404 - User No Longer Available" (toni-cipriani)
12/30/2016 at 13:58 • Filed to: BMW, handbrake

9 clicks and still not holding, need to put in 1st. Not normal right?

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UPDATE: It was indeed out of adjustment. Mechanic readjusted it for me for a coffee and some cookie’s. Best. Mechanic. Ever.

Thanks Oppo for the help.

DISCUSSION (26)

HammerheadFistpunch > 404 - User No Longer Available
12/29/2016 at 13:13

when was the last time it was adjusted? Have you tried reversing a little with the handbrake engaged (if its drum in disc then it might help self adjust the shoes)

EL_ULY > 404 - User No Longer Available
12/29/2016 at 13:17

give it a couple tugs until it get tight and adjusted...

....

.... yeah

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > 404 - User No Longer Available
12/29/2016 at 13:20

Just put it in first. Maybe even crank the wheel all the way for further gravitational resistance.

404 - User No Longer Available > EL_ULY
12/29/2016 at 13:22

Tried that, didn’t work.

404 - User No Longer Available > HammerheadFistpunch
12/29/2016 at 13:22

It’s a drum+shoe system. I’m not sure when it was adjusted, but I only had my rear brakes replaced a week ago.

crowmolly > 404 - User No Longer Available
12/29/2016 at 13:23

No.

Any resistance when pulling the handle?

HammerheadFistpunch > 404 - User No Longer Available
12/29/2016 at 13:26

I bet you they didn’t touch the parking brake, since its a separate system being drum in disc. It’s probably just a little out of adjustment

404 - User No Longer Available > crowmolly
12/29/2016 at 13:29

There is some. But definitely not as “bite-ty” as Kristin.

crowmolly > 404 - User No Longer Available
12/29/2016 at 13:35

What year? Sorry if you said it already.

404 - User No Longer Available > crowmolly
12/29/2016 at 13:38

2012 328i Sport with base brakes.

404 - User No Longer Available > HammerheadFistpunch
12/29/2016 at 13:40

I would agree. I noticed lack of bite a few times on the same incline, but then it held last time so I ignored it. I also read everywhere that BMW handbrakes are useless.

crowmolly > 404 - User No Longer Available
12/29/2016 at 13:41

From the other posts it sounds like it’s out of adjustment. They may have backed it off to get a rotor off, etc and didn’t set it back up.

HammerheadFistpunch > 404 - User No Longer Available
12/29/2016 at 13:44

in my cruiser, the lever arm for the parking brake bends easily, and so they go out of adjustment all the time. I wonder if its the same.

petebmwm > 404 - User No Longer Available
12/29/2016 at 14:04

pull the ebrake cover off and look at for the 2 jam nuts, just give them some more tension.

iSureWilll > 404 - User No Longer Available
12/29/2016 at 14:20

There’s probably some adjustment nuts on the handle itself inside the car. (at least there is on all previous gen 3 series’) If you pop off the leather boot you should see them. Tighten the nuts a few turns and see how well it holds the car.

404 - User No Longer Available > HammerheadFistpunch
12/29/2016 at 14:39

The reverse with brake applied trick actually helped a wee bit. I could get it to hold on a smaller incline, originally it was rolling freely. So at this point I’m definitely thinking an adjustment issue.

404 - User No Longer Available > iSureWilll
12/29/2016 at 14:41

I found this one for a 1-series, I assume 3-series uses a similar system. Based on what I read on BavAuto, seems they haven’t changed this system forever.

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=655621

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > 404 - User No Longer Available
12/29/2016 at 15:01

Does it adjust up similar to drum brakes with a reverse stop? Back up and pull the parking brake to adjust the parking brake drum?

iSureWilll > 404 - User No Longer Available
12/29/2016 at 16:09

nice find!

404 - User No Longer Available > crowmolly
12/30/2016 at 14:03

Seems could be the case, it was his guy who did my pads and rotors. Sorted it out now though, just a screwdriver and a few turns, now it starts biting at 3 clicks.

404 - User No Longer Available > iSureWilll
12/30/2016 at 14:04

He did just the screwdriver behind rotor part, and it’s all sorted now.

Wacko > 404 - User No Longer Available
12/30/2016 at 14:05

i thought handbrake auto adjust when apply them a few times while backing up,

that must be from the drum brakes days.

404 - User No Longer Available > Wacko
12/30/2016 at 14:09

I think it does self adjust, but it was out of whack a bit more than it adjusts. The engage brake while in motion trick helped a wee bit, but not as much as a manual adjustment now.

Trevor Slattery, ACTOR > 404 - User No Longer Available
12/30/2016 at 14:12

The type with the internal drum brake pads are adjustable, as you have found. The ones with the threaded pistons are the self adjusting type.

Stupidru > 404 - User No Longer Available
12/30/2016 at 14:13

Had a similar issue with my TL. The handbrake would barely hold the car on a hill (found out the hard way when I got into my car whick I had parked on a hill and it started rolling back) so this week while I was off of work I took 20 minutes and went in the garage to tighten the slack on the cable right behind the boot. That fixed it, but the next step is to actually turn the adjuster inside the parking brake

Nimbus The Legend - Riding on air like a cloud > Wacko
12/30/2016 at 19:59

correct, thats from the drum days,

some post drum rear cars either had a second small caliper for handbrake, or handbrake locked main rear caliper.

gonna youtube how the electronic handbrake ones work... i love learning about this kinda stuff