Handbrake adjustment.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

I know about the two nuts under the handbrake handle, but vaguely remember there being another adjuster on the underside of the car? I'm changing the rear discs and wouldn't mind tightening the cable while I'm at it.

Answers in simple talk please!!

[daimlerman]

With the wheel off,Nathan,if you rotate the hub and peer through the wheelbolt holes you may be lucky enough to spot a star shaped whatsit.You turn this using a thin screwdriver to move the handbrake shoes nearer/further from the drum.May be easier to locate the ajuster if you pull the drum off so that you can see just where it is, but the ajustment must be made with the drum on.

[Chris-W]

And make sure you first back the nuts off at the lever to the point where they just take out the slack in cable.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Cheers. Does anyone know which way to spin the spinny thing?

[daimlerman]

In simple speak,one way will bring the shoes closer to the drum,t'other way will move them away from the drum.. have a play... how is the 'bump' coming along? Eating coal yet?

[rj]

n/s up to tighten
o/s down to tighten

and vice versa to loosen

[gareth]

it has to be said, it wasn't bmw's finest day when they designed the handbrake adjuster!
the way the wheel always has a few degrees of free play when the handbrake is on winds me up!

[stevotheevo]

same thing the other day, failed the mot on this, wheels off, move the disc so that a bolt hole is at the top, shine a torch through the hole, flat bladed screwdriver, N/S up and O/S down.

keep checking you can still move the disc by hand, when it becomes tighter that shoud do.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Cheers, looks like I was losening one, then tightening the other!!!

Bump is good Daimler, Just under 3 weeks to go!

[maxfield]

Adjusting handbrakes can be a real cunt.

Really could do with adjusting mine, got a bit of time this week so might give it a go.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Small maglite and screwdriver essential MAx. Once you've got the hang of it slipping the clasp. it's fairly straightforward.

[stonesie]

The way i do it is to wind it untill it grips, then give it a sharp crack with a small hammer as that shocks the shoes into a different position.

Then repeat untill the crack (closer to a hard tap really) nolonger frees it off, then back 1 on the adjuster and its job jobbed.



Ive never taken a handbrake up on the cable yet, they have to have a little slack with it fully off as keeping tension on the cable streatches it and IS a bodge.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Cheers dude, this is quite a conclusive thread!