M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS

DISCUSSION => General Topics => Topic started by: E-30Dubbsz on December 13, 2007, 08:04:16 PM

Title: emergency/hand brake
Post by: E-30Dubbsz on December 13, 2007, 08:04:16 PM
I tightened the two screws on the e-brake because my car would roll very easily if I park it in neutral. Now, it will stay on very small hills but thats about it, if i park anywhere else i have to leave it in gear. I want a strong e-brake, can anybody help?

-Dubbsz
Title: emergency/hand brake
Post by: rfritz on December 13, 2007, 08:59:45 PM
There is also a barrel typewithin the rear brake that can be rotated. Check out realoem.com for what I am talking about. If that doesn't work, probably time new parking brake shoes. I just did mine and replaced all of the parking brake assembly.
Title: emergency/hand brake
Post by: strad on December 13, 2007, 11:44:39 PM
IIRC the Bentley E30 manual does not describe how to do the ^^ correctly, but the E36 Bentley manual does.
Title: emergency/hand brake
Post by: magnum2066 on December 14, 2007, 01:25:24 AM
I had my parking brake shoes replaced and also had them adjusted.  2 clicks of the ebrake and it is nearly 100% on.
Title: emergency/hand brake
Post by: E-30Dubbsz on December 14, 2007, 02:36:09 PM
would it be best to take it to the dealer then? I'm not sure if I am going to need new pads. Is there a way to look at the pad with ease. I'm in Canada and it's really cold outside:mad: don't want to be outside too long. Also a bit lazy I guess:p
Title: emergency/hand brake
Post by: strad on December 14, 2007, 03:45:15 PM
You need to remove the rotor in order to see the condition of the e-brake shoes.
Title: emergency/hand brake
Post by: gearheadE30 on December 14, 2007, 04:07:37 PM
Just park it in gear until it gets warm outside. i don't trust my dealer with anything mechanical on a car like this that they don't work on on a regular basis. Especially stuff like this that seems to be unique to the car.
Title: emergency/hand brake
Post by: RED IS 91 on December 14, 2007, 06:20:42 PM
very easy procedure in the bentley manual .
But if it's cold outside and your bmw is not taking a winters nap like mine and if your not terribly mechanically inclined then  take it to the dealer .They should be able to F**k it up in no time flat...............................;)
I'll see if I can scan the procedure for   you.
Title: emergency/hand brake
Post by: RED IS 91 on December 14, 2007, 06:39:36 PM
Hope this helps ,aye
(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r73/bogeyman700/brakes1.jpg)
(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r73/bogeyman700/brakes2.jpg)
Title: emergency/hand brake
Post by: RED IS 91 on December 14, 2007, 06:42:00 PM
I had the same problem .I did this about a month ago .very simple .
The hardest part is finding the star bolt through the bolt hole .
Title: emergency/hand brake
Post by: E-30Dubbsz on December 16, 2007, 01:11:06 PM
Quote from: RED IS 91;39474
very easy procedure in the bentley manual .
But if it's cold outside and your bmw is not taking a winters nap like mine and if your not terribly mechanically inclined then  take it to the dealer .They should be able to F**k it up in no time flat...............................;)
I'll see if I can scan the procedure for   you.


I think i might just let it take a winters nap then. Just had a storm today anyway. Thanks to everyone for input and help.
Title: emergency/hand brake
Post by: E-30Dubbsz on December 16, 2007, 11:46:04 PM
Quote from: RED IS 91;39475
Hope this helps ,aye
(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r73/bogeyman700/brakes1.jpg)
(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r73/bogeyman700/brakes2.jpg)


So I took a look at it this weekend and the font those instructions are pretty small. I have 4-wheel disc. Is there much of a difference in the instructions from the rear wheel drums?
Title: emergency/hand brake
Post by: gearheadE30 on December 17, 2007, 04:22:13 PM
The car in the article is also 4-wheel-disc. The drums are actually within the brake disc hub, and press on that inside surface. This is why rear brake discs are a lot deeper than fronts.
Title: emergency/hand brake
Post by: E-30Dubbsz on December 19, 2007, 09:03:04 PM
alright, for starters the hand brake is only supposed to have 8 clicks max. and mine went to 18(big problem)so I went on a search for this adjuster, so i put the rear on jacks and loosened the adjustment bolts on the inside by the e-brake handle. Then, 2hrs later i found it, not even knowing how many times i was missing it. I was pretty upset because once i found it, it was dark and really cold outside and i was basically turning into ice. So, i will finish that project in a couple of days and thanks for everyones help. If I had a camera I would post pictures, not that it makes a difference because every time i try to post pics they always fail:(
Title: emergency/hand brake
Post by: RED IS 91 on December 20, 2007, 08:03:11 AM
When I did mine I used a flashlight to see where the star was and then inserted my screwdriver to adjust .
Title: emergency/hand brake
Post by: E-30Dubbsz on December 20, 2007, 03:30:55 PM
yeah i had used a flashlight aswell cause without one you cant see s**t;) but i had mislead myself on what i was looking for. I thought i was looking for an actual screw. then i got a better looking example picture off of an online service manual i realized i had seen it many times. but once i figured it out completely i was frozen cold.:mad: hoping one day is a little bit warm again to finish it.
Title: emergency/hand brake
Post by: RED IS 91 on December 20, 2007, 05:49:37 PM
Quote from: E-30Dubbsz;39815
yeah i had used a flashlight aswell cause without one you cant see s**t;) but i had mislead myself on what i was looking for. I thought i was looking for an actual screw. then i got a better looking example picture off of an online service manual i realized i had seen it many times. but once i figured it out completely i was frozen cold.:mad: hoping one day is a little bit warm again to finish it.


Yea,Hasn't gotten above 20*F during the day here in a while and snowed quite often .Usually around 0*F in the morning.
Where are those "global warming people " when you want them!!!!!!!!!!!!!:eek:
Title: emergency/hand brake
Post by: E-30Dubbsz on December 21, 2007, 05:47:55 PM
So i sacrificed myself for my car and i plan to do more times then expected. But, i only ran into one problem. The adjuster on the driver side seems to be stuck. It looks like the spring could be in its way. on the other hand the passenger went fine, went from pulling hand brake from 19 clicks to 11 using all my strength. Did a test on it to see if a can drive on it and it went forward after 3500rpms or so, didn't really look. But, im completely frozen with a running nose. :( but my parking problem was mostly solved:) thanks to everyone for their help and inputs.