just failed mot need some info

[gotabmw]

didnt fail on mutch just rear box headlight and handbrake thing is ive got to remove rear drums. do you have to remove the large nut in the middle or just the allen key bolt as removed allen key bolt and drum wont come off does any one no the size of the big nut cheers

[Alex]

When i did mine it was just the allen key and hit it with a hammer till it comes loose

[maxfield]

You left the handbrake on?

[alex-e30]

You left the handbrake on?

[gotabmw]

no i have not left the hand brake maxfield im not quite that stupid ill try hitting it with a bfh later cheers guys

[abelai]

Could try backing the shoes off with the adjusters through the discs

[gotabmw]

the drums spin nice and free when hand brake is off

[Chris-W]

Large hammer then!

[abelai]

With allen bolt removed do the discs move in and out? If not get a block of wood and a big hammer.

[abelai]

Don't forget to remove the rear calipers

[Alex]

Don't forget to remove the rear calipers

If it has them

[josh-hocking]

it sounds like the pads have grooved out part of the metal in the drum forcing it to be stuck... try a bigger hammer and i recommened new drims.

[gotabmw]

no discs on the back just drums sadly

[Brianmoooore]

Put the hammer back on the shelf!
It sounds like the drum has a groove worn in it, so you have to slacken off the star wheel of the automatic adjuster, by pushing it around with a screwdriver blade through a wheel bolt hole.
If a drum braked car has failed on the rear brakes, the brake hydraulic cylinder is probably leaking.

[gotabmw]

cheers brian will do that first

[tomstickland]

Putting the wheel back on gives you something to pull on.

[Brianmoooore]

Putting the wheel back on gives you something to pull on.

?? Yes, it does. The hub and driveshaft!

[abelai]

lol

[abelai]

Brian is right but normally the drum will move away from the hub a little before sticking on the shoes so might need a small amount of "tapping" to free it from the hub.

[tomstickland]

Oh yes, I was thinking of my old fwd cars!

[daimlerman]

I found when I stripped the rear brakes on the 320i that acombination of large hammer,a pair of old,long screwdrivers and backing off the ajuster worked for me.I used the screwdrivers to lever the drum,held in place with one hand and a knee,and belted the drum with the hammer.As already stated,I found not only worn out shoes but badly grooved drums as well.Drums are not expensive,so the worst case senario is to belt the until thry break...Incedently,Gsf sold me one E30 drum and one E36 drum by mistake,I struggled with the 5 stud E36 one untill I realised what was wrong....

[gotabmw]

thanks for the help got the drums off by loosening the adjuster and hitting drum with 15lb sledge hammer. drums are knakered and so are pads got all the new bits including new back box only £120 going to fit now

[Alex]

thanks for the help got the drums off by loosening the adjuster and hitting drum with 15lb sledge hammer. drums are knakered and so are pads got all the new bits including new back box only £120 going to fit now

Glad to hear you got them off