Handbrake adjustment at rear wheels

[Mr_hog]

I'm trying to adjust the handbrake shoes inside the rear hubs via the adjuster and cannot see it! Does anyone know where it is? It's driving me mad now! Thanks for any help

[Rondo]

Originally Posted by Mr_hog

I'm trying to adjust the handbrake shoes inside the rear hubs via the adjuster and cannot see it! Does anyone know where it is? It's driving me mad now! Thanks for any help

Hi if you lift the leather boot around the handbrake there are two cable studs with adjustment nuts on them . cheers

[killcrap]

Originally Posted by Rondo

Hi if you lift the leather boot around the handbrake there are two cable studs with adjustment nuts on them . cheers

THAT DOES NOT ADJUST THE SHOES. it feels like it does something to the cable, but it does nothing to the shoes

[Mr_hog]

apparently, to adjust the shoes you need to do it at the rear wheels. If you remove one of the rear wheel bolts, jack up the car, turn the wheel and look through the vacant hole in the wheel you can see the adjuster. I cannot see it though so any help on locating it would be much appreciated!

[killcrap]

keep looking, its there, spray brake cleaner in there, there may be a build up of brake dust on the star wheel adjuster

[Mr_hog]

thanks, I'll keep looking! Do you know if it's position though - 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock...

[amacman]

left rear wheel at 5 o`clock - turn adjuster anti clockwise to spread shoes
right rear wheel at 7 o`clock- turn adjuster clockwise to sread shoes .

turn adjuster until wheel no longer turns then back off adjuster 12 notches .
use flat bladed screwdriver .

[Cole]

Originally Posted by amacman

left rear wheel at 5 o`clock - turn adjuster anti clockwise to spread shoes
right rear wheel at 7 o`clock- turn adjuster clockwise to sread shoes .

turn adjuster until wheel no longer turns then back off adjuster 12 notches .
use flat bladed screwdriver .

I had a serious go at trying to find this adjuster this weekend and failed dismally. All I found when peering thru the right rear wheel bolt hole at 7 o'clock was what appeared to be a rivet head. There was nothing that I could find that would accept a flat bladed screw driver. I spent a good hour grovelling around on the floor trying to see in with a flashlight. I pretty much tried all points in the wheels rotaton without much luck... has anyone got any advice, or maybe a picture of what I should be looking for?

I have a South African spec 2006 3.0D, is it possible that this variant has a different adjuster mechanism? It is pretty much the last itteration of the E53 before the E70 came out.

[CharlieHustleX5]

I found the adjuster @ 9 o clock on the passenger side and @ 3 o clock on the drivers side. There is a spring that is directly next to it. To adjust it, you turn what looks like a star washer left or right, depending on which side of the car you're working on.

Parking Brake Rear Shoe Adjustment
1. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
2. Completely unscrew one wheel stud on each rear wheel. Turn the wheel until the tapped hole is located at the adjuster.
3. Turn adjusting screw with a screwdriver until the wheel is no longer able to turn. Then back off the adjusting screw 12 notches.
4. Reinstall the wheel studs.

Parking Cable Adjustment
1. Lift off the trim cover around the parking brake lever.
2. Using Special Tool 34-1-030 or a 9mm wrench and 11mm deep socket on a ratchet, release the lock nuts and completely loosen the cables.
3. Once complete, uniformly tighten the cable adjusting nuts. The cables should be adjusted as follows:
a. Apply two teeth of the parking brake cable and turn the adjusting nuts until braking action begins.
b. Release the parking brake lever and confirm it is possible to turn the wheels easily.
c. Switch on the ignition and confirm the parking brake indicator light is OFF.

[Cole]

Originally Posted by CharlieHustleX5

I found the adjuster @ 9 o clock on the passenger side and @ 3 o clock on the drivers side. There is a spring that is directly next to it. To adjust it, you turn what looks like a star washer left or right, depending on which side of the car you're working on.

Parking Brake Rear Shoe Adjustment
1. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
2. Completely unscrew one wheel stud on each rear wheel. Turn the wheel until the tapped hole is located at the adjuster.
3. Turn adjusting screw with a screwdriver until the wheel is no longer able to turn. Then back off the adjusting screw 12 notches.
4. Reinstall the wheel studs.

Parking Cable Adjustment
1. Lift off the trim cover around the parking brake lever.
2. Using Special Tool 34-1-030 or a 9mm wrench and 11mm deep socket on a ratchet, release the lock nuts and completely loosen the cables.
3. Once complete, uniformly tighten the cable adjusting nuts. The cables should be adjusted as follows:
a. Apply two teeth of the parking brake cable and turn the adjusting nuts until braking action begins.
b. Release the parking brake lever and confirm it is possible to turn the wheels easily.
c. Switch on the ignition and confirm the parking brake indicator light is OFF.

Thanks I will give it another go... I do remember seeing the spring. I assume passenger side for you is the right hand side, 'cause you drive on the wrong side of the road?