Handbrake adjustment at rear wheels

[1stE53]

Originally Posted by robzilla

was you on the x5 drivers forum before it closed?

Nope, just started at the end of January this year with my first X5!!

[kaptain]

Sorry to dig up an old thread. Its the one that I kept coming to for information, so I figured I would add my experience.

For me the left (driver) side adjuster was at 3 o'clock. Also I didn't really know what to expect with the adjuster. I expected a screw. I ended up having to take off the caliper and rotor to take a peek. I attached the picture I took for anyone who is as confused as I was. The picture is the left (driver) side rear. The gray cylindrical thing next to the spring is the adjuster.

I don't think you can see the adjuster very well through the lug hole. I couldn't see it. I think you just have to know that its next to the spring and know how to adjust it. Then the rest is kind of feeling around with the screw driver.

I also found this video where a mechanic shows how to adjust a Porsche parking brake. It looks similar and shows the operation of the adjuster.
YouTube - DIY - changing rear brakes (and adjusting parking brake) on a water-cooled Porsche

[Helmuth]

GREAT information - Thanks. Does that mean the hole for adjustment is exactly where the caliper is?

[kaptain]

Originally Posted by Helmuth

GREAT information - Thanks. Does that mean the hole for adjustment is exactly where the caliper is?

Sort of, I don't think its perfectly centered, 3 o'clock is the best description of the location for the driver (left) side. When I looked through the lug hole I could see the spring and maybe a little bit of the adjuster (It had some black gunk on it so it was hard to distinguish).

Here is a picture of the 6-12o clock side, and one more of the overall.

[TiAgX5]

Bump

[Ricky Bobby]

^Getting ready to do this on my MT X5 this weekend, currently it takes about 11 clicks of my E-brake to hold my X in neutral, without rolling, WAY TOO MUCH.

So I just want to be sure I have the procedure correct since there are a few in this thread:

1) Have car in gear and E-brake down when performing adjustment
2) Lift E-brake boot and loosen the nuts on the cable for tightening after the shoes are adjusted
3) Jack up one side at a time (or do I have to have both raised) and remove wheel bolt, rotate wheel till you can access star adjuster with long screwdriver
4) Tighten up the star adjuster until the wheel is not moveable, then back off by feeling the clicks until the wheel freely moves
5) After both sides are done, then go back in the cabin, and tighten the cable nuts on the lever so they aren't too tight

Do I have the procedure correct?

[Doru]

R.B., here's how I did it on all my bavarians (pretty much similar to X5 girl's method):

Raise one side, hand brake off. Wheel off. Disk off. Clean with brake cleaner all the gunk. Lubricate gently the moving points & very slight the thread (where the star screw moves). Lightly sand the interior of the disk where the parking brake shoes make contact, then clean the rust dust.

• Start spreading the pads until you can barely fit/turn the disk.
• Back off the star wheel until the disk turns without rubbing. It's much less than the 12 clicks.
• Check the handbrake - you will notice a shorter course length, probably around 3 or so clicks - ATTENTION, now you stress only 1 cable.
• Repeat for the other wheel.
• Mount the wheels and lower the car.
• Now the cables are almost equally in tension. I opened the console on the e39, e53 & e46, and by feel both cables seemed to have the same amount of tension with 1-2 clicks (you don't want fully tightened, because you can't tell how tight is one cable as opposed to the other one - by feel like striking a guitar chord). If one cable is loose, you will notice right away. Then check with full parking brake on (console open). Don't touch the cable adjusting screws if everything checks A OK. Close the console, and you're done.
• Repeat in about 2-3 years if you're like me and use the handbrake every time you park. You'll do it twice as fast.

[Ricky Bobby]

^Thanks Dorin! I may have to take the wheels off to do the job right.

Did you loosen the E-brake cables at the lever before adjusting the tightness at the wheels? You didn't mention that initially but I assume you did.

[TiAgX5]

All good info.

I believe the BMW procedure includes verifying the cable nuts at the handbrake are backed off with approx 1/4" thread showing thru the nuts. This is the starting point.

[TiAgX5]

RB, you asked the question while I was typing the above.