Author Topic: Parking brake adjustment (Read 4717 times)

pakman84 · « **on:** December 14, 2009, 12:33:17 PM »

Tried to adjust the parking brake this weekend.....The only way I could adjust them is to remove the tire and the brake rotor to gain access to the thumbwheel adjustment...I couldn't see it with a flashlight looking through the wheel lug opening...Also, I tried to adjust the driver side and same issue-I couldn't see the thumbwheel so I tried to take the brake rotor off but it was frozen to the bearing hub...I sprayed PB blaster where they were "joined" together and lightly tapped on the rotor with a hammer to separate them to no avail...Any suggestions?? And yes I removed the hex set screw that holds the rotor to the hub....
-pakman84

gtatbrissy · « **Reply #1 on:** December 15, 2009, 03:46:08 AM »

what u need to do is loosen the handbrake cable, u do this by removing the handbrake boot and there should be to 10mm nuts (one for the left and one for the right), u will need a deep socket. the rotor may be stuck to the handbrake shoe so get a piece of wood and belt the back side of the rotor, let me know how it goes

pakman84 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 15, 2009, 07:19:46 AM »

I'll give this a try this weekend....Just wondering how people make adjustments to the brakes with the rotors on??? I could only make adjustments to the passenger side with the rotor off...I adjusted so I could barely put the rotor back on over the brake shoes....

nigel · « **Reply #3 on:** December 15, 2009, 09:54:18 AM »

I just put new rotors on and really had to slam the old ones to get them off. Mine had abnormal amounts of rust, though.
I don't know about BMWs, but on my '78 Nova I just pull the cable a little tighter using the adjustment nuts. Probably not comparable, though.

ak96ss · « **Reply #4 on:** December 15, 2009, 12:55:20 PM »

I do it more by feel than sight - you're right, it is impossible to see the adjuster, so I just figure out where it is then fumble around in the dark until I find it.

pakman84 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 15, 2009, 01:11:25 PM »

Glad I am not the only one as in all the write-up's they state that the adjustments are made through the lug holes....How someone can make an adjustment through the wheel lug blows my mind......

DesktopDave · « **Reply #6 on:** December 15, 2009, 06:41:24 PM »

I've done it through the holes but it was never right. I get them close by first loosening the parking brake cables, then adjusting them by pulling the rotor on and off. I finish up with re-tightening the cables. I've had them reasonably close that way, but never perfect.

gtatbrissy · « **Reply #7 on:** December 16, 2009, 06:23:56 AM »

trust me when i say it is 10 times easier to adjust it when the rotors are off, u will save urself alot of heartache