Handbrake wont engage

[psygnosis]

My handbrake only goes up about three clicks and the brake shoes wont grab enough to hold the car. I tried adjusting it today, but I couldn't get the service spring to compress onto the clip. Is it kinda tough to compress or is there something else going on with my handbrake.

I couldn't get the brake rotor off to get a good look at the adjuster, but if I loosen that will it help that spring compress?

[StickMon]

Why couldn't you get the rotor off?
IMHO you should get some new shoes and pull the rotors off and replace them.
BMW recommends replacing lots of other parts in there, which I did when I rebuilt mine years ago, but upon getting in there I couln't see how the springs or adjusters could ever need replacement.
Well. springs, maybe, but you coulndn't break the star adjusters with a hammer.

With mine properly adjusted, best I can figure at least, I get 7 clicks.

[psygnosis]

More like I didn't try to take the rotor off. I was tired at this point and didn't quite have the right tools. But it still weird that I couldn't lock the service spring into place. If I loosen up the adjusters will it be easier to lock? Does that matter?

[StickMon]

I've never messed with the adjustment on the handle, just the star adjusters in the hubs, so I don't know.
Just put new tires on last weekend. Brake was sometimes getting to 8 clicks, so while I had the wheels off I went one tooth on each star adjuster to get it back to 7 clicks.

[RossBMWZseries]

Is there a DIY to doing this StickMon? Or is it as simple as removing your wheel, checking the rotor/hub and messing with something in particular? I’ve haven’t used my hand brake in over a year, it sucks!

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by RossBMWZseries

Is there a DIY to doing this StickMon? Or is it as simple as removing your wheel, checking the rotor/hub and messing with something in particular? I’ve haven’t used my hand brake in over a year, it sucks!

I don't have a DIY, but I did find this information from the repair manual quite useful.

https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e...-brake/E0pVJrZ

[RossBMWZseries]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

I don't have a DIY, but I did find this information from the repair manual quite useful.

https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e...-brake/E0pVJrZ

Thanks Finnegan! Did this resolve your issue? Also, did you buy that special tool mentioned or is a wrench good enough to do the job?

[StickMon]

There's this, but I never messed with the adjustment in the cabin.

Years ago I replaced everything short of the calipers.
After putting it back together I adjusted the star adjusters so I could just get the rotors back on.
Since then, every 2 years or so, I can get 8 clicks out of it, so next time I have the wheels off I turn the stars one click tighter so it's back to 7 clicks.

[RossBMWZseries]

Originally Posted by StickMon

There's this, but I never messed with the adjustment in the cabin.

Years ago I replaced everything short of the calipers.
After putting it back together I adjusted the star adjusters so I could just get the rotors back on.
Since then, every 2 years or so, I can get 8 clicks out of it, so next time I have the wheels off I turn the stars one click tighter so it's back to 7 clicks.

Will definitely give this a try, thanks StickMon!

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by RossBMWZseries

Thanks Finnegan! Did this resolve your issue? Also, did you buy that special tool mentioned or is a wrench good enough to do the job?

I made do with improvisation . Yes, I was able to get the adjuster to work and fix the handbrake.