E-Brake adjustment... did something dumb me thinks...

[dinanm3atl]

So I had to R&R the subframe, trailing arms and associated parts. I disconnected at the e-brake handle. Pulled it all out. Before that I marked with white out the bolt and threads. Get it all back together. Well the brake disc was not installed. Pull the lines through. Tighten them to where they were previous installed...

Then like a retard I decide to pull on the e-brake handle. It was super loose and go.. oops. There is no brake disc and thus no 'drum' for the brakes. It was very difficult to get the brake disc back on and even with the e-brake handle depressed it is very hard and almost impossible to get them spinning them by hand at the brake disc.

Put it in gear and just slowly let the clutch out and it is fine. Do I need to adjust this? How to do that? Once I get it back on the ground and driving it will auto adjust(I know some cars when you put it in reverse and activate/de-activate the e-brake it pulls it into adjustment.

Or anything else to check/adjust? Can't really take it for a spin and the e-brake worked perfectly before. Shoes were in tip top shape. Waiting on my suspension and front brakes before it can be driven.

[M5wanaB]

how many clicks you getting out of it?

[dinanm3atl]

With the disc brake installed now... a lot. Before it was only 5 or 6 and it was tight.

[lifeiskaos]

interesting. I changed my trailing arms last weekend and have a similar problem. I didn't remove the whole ebrake cables, but I transferred all the ebrake pads to the new trailing arms. The ebrake lever is now MUCH looser. Strange.

I was just going to tighten it a couple threads from inside the car.

[NC325iC]

when i pulled my subframe i undid the lines at teh brake. they arent difficult to rebuild.

but if they are assembled properly there is an adjustment procedure in the bentley. you set the brake at 5 clicks take off a wheel bolt (easier to do it with the wheels off imo) and use a flat head to turn a star shaped adjuster until you cant turn the wheels. disengage the brake and make sure you can turn them again then re engage at 5 clicks to double check.

[jlevie]

The parking brake isn't difficult to adjust:

1) Lower the hand brake and loosen the cable adjusters.

2) Working through a lug bolt hole turn the star adjuster until the wheel
locks using a flat-bladded screwdriver. I just turn the adjuster until it
doesn't want to turn any more. Then back off the adjuster 12 clicks. Repeat
for the other wheel. Note that the star adjuster is at the 6 o'clock position
on later cars, but at the 10 o'clock position on an E30.

3) Raise and lower the hand brake several times to settle the cables. Then
raise the lever two clicks and tighten the adjusters until the wheel can just
be turned with moderate force.

[dinanm3atl]

Thanks. Will try that. I think I will definitely have to re-adjust.

[monty23psk]

Pelican has a write up on this also. You just need to thread the adjusting spiked nut to adjust it. I believe with 3-4 clicks you should be at OEM spec.

[dinanm3atl]

Pelican parts is good. Nice.

[monty23psk]

Welcome. Did you get new compents for the springs and clips for the e-brake? There is kit from BMW that is not expensive.

[dinanm3atl]

No need. I took it back apart last night. Everything moves nicely. Adjusted it. Tightened up the nuts inside the car. Good to go!

[monty23psk]

Awesome. Easy and cheap.