3 series Handbrake

**magichat71** · 16-07-2007, 20:33

My handbrake is crap, I keep adjusting it , its been back twice, and it s still shit.
Anyone got any tips on what to do??

**filipvdv** · 16-07-2007, 20:59

uggh bmw's ... 68.000 km, need a new clutch, my turbo wissles weird,...

my brakes seem to have faded too, and i too need to pull my handbrake higher then in the beginning (brake pads worns perhaps)

**yslmat** · 16-07-2007, 21:56

new cable and pads might be in order. (pads inside the rear hub)

**magichat71** · 17-07-2007, 19:49

new discs and pads, when I bought it ??????

**Graham** · 18-07-2007, 06:35

which 3 series have you got?,

the ones with rear discs are normally pretty reliable only neededing an occasional adjustment,

drum brake models are a bit trickier to adjust and tend to suffer from the handbrake lever on the shoes sticking, either way its the brake itself that should be adjusted not the cables, i used to service many a 3 series with iffy rear brakes because twats had adjusted the cables not the shoes

**magichat71** · 18-07-2007, 20:08

A 320
E46 on a 04 plate

**Graham** · 19-07-2007, 13:16

ok it will have rear discs then, if it repeatidy needs adjusting then someones doing something WRONG, the handbrake should stay in adjustment for 30,000 + miles! as wear is minimal due to it only ever being used to hold a car stationary

**magichat71** · 19-07-2007, 20:08

Its been back twice another once won't hurt

**lewismk2** · 23-07-2007, 19:49

The adjustment at the discs is a little spindle inside the brake disc.
Take one of the wheel bolts out, and use a screwdriver in the hole, find the spindle with a torch, flick the spindle with the screwdriver til it tightens and the wheels fully lock (all with the handbrake off) then back it off 3 turns.

hope that helps might be annoying finding the lil spindle tho but should work.

**ScotsDave** · 23-07-2007, 20:08

It sounds to me the expander that the handbrake cable operates is partly seized. If you adjust the handbrake cable and it needs adjusting so soon I'd say the shoes are sticking on a bit and wearing down hence the reason for having to adjust them all the time.

A good strip down, grease and re-assembly should do the trick. Make sure the shoes are adjusted as described above though.