Wanted - Parking Brake Shoe Replace How to advice

[storminmike]

Sat next to me are a set of rear discs, pads and shoes.

I've changed the rear discs on mine before so getting the wheel off, the caliper off, the pads out, the disc off isn't an issue

However i've a set of shoes that need to go on. This is the best page i've found so far but it an e36 and doesn't mention the cable itself

http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techart ... _shoes.htm

My guess is

Back off the adjuster
unscrew (?) the 2 spring loaded retainers
Then what?

Pictures of the cable attached anyone?
Anyone done this themeselves?

Saturday job....hints pictures etc welcome

addendum I now think the shoes are kept apart by the screw adjuster on one side and a cable coupled hand brake spreader on the other side

This looks like one but not X5 and I guess not in this orientation

Picture from outpost
http://home.comcast.net/~jimlev/BremboRear6.JPG

I guess this stays in place and once the springs have been uncoupled it all falls off?


am I on the right track?

[Rusty]

If its anything like the E46, you back off the adjuster until it stops, remove the disk, remove the retaining spring and undo the shoe retaining lug then pick up all the pieces off the floor.
Just because it is easier than guessing, take a photo of the assembly before you remove any springs etc. 
Hth


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[Denis O]

This is for an e39 but might help.

http://www.zeckhausen.com/e39_bmw_rear_ ... ng%20Brake

[storminmike]

[quote="Denis O"]
This is for an e39 but might help.

http://www.zeckhausen.com/e39_bmw_rear_ ... ng%20Brake
[/quote]


[quote="Rusty"]
If its anything like the E46, you back off the adjuster until it stops, remove the disk, remove the retaining spring and undo the shoe retaining lug then pick up all the pieces off the floor.
Just because it is easier than guessing, take a photo of the assembly before you remove any springs etc. 
Hth


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
[/quote]

Thanks guys....the orientation looks 90 degrees out but it seems reasonable. On the x the adjuster is closer to 1/4 past than at the bottom but I guess it pretty much the same. Thanks all the same.

Not sure what "You will need to use a special BMW parking brake tool for removing and installing the brake shoe retainer pins." means, I was hoping it was allen sized but perhaps it is?

In days of old it was a flat washer with a slot in

[Horizon]

It seems that its the spring removal tool that is the must have, I think the retaining clips are the slotted washer type. I had an e30 325i fail the MOT on the handbrake. The mechanic said they only changed the disc, as the shoes never wear out, especially on the autos, as no one bothers with the hand brake, they just rough the shoes up a bit.
Have you been advised to change them, or is it just preventative maintenance. My handbrake is shocking, can't believe it passed the test. They don't put them on the brake tester though, he just ran it 100 yards up the road.

[storminmike]

[quote="Horizon"]
It seems that its the spring removal tool that is the must have, I think the retaining clips are the slotted washer type. I had an e30 325i fail the MOT on the handbrake. The mechanic said they only changed the disc, as the shoes never wear out, especially on the autos, as no one bothers with the hand brake, they just rough the shoes up a bit.
Have you been advised to change them, or is it just preventative maintenance. My handbrake is shocking, can't believe it passed the test. They don't put them on the brake tester though, he just ran it 100 yards up the road.
[/quote]

I haven't been advised to change them but the perfomance is shocking. After I pulled them up last year they were ok for a while then the performance vanished. The pads needed changing and it seemed reasonable to change the disc too.....which meant perhaps if the disc is coming off then why not the shoes.

If there is enough meat on them are you suggesting I leave alone?

Maybe a scrub of the shoes (sand paper?) and new clean drums will suffice?

[Horizon]

I have never had any experience of changing them personally, but when I had the E30 done for mot, the mechanic said he would only need to change the discs, they did this and it was spot on after this, he also advised me to operate the handbrake slightly when driving every now and then, especially before the Mot test to scrub up the shoes a bit.
If you have gone to the expense of buying the shoes it maybe worth fitting them, but you know the feeling when you start a job and it turns out to be a pig, and the springs won't go back in the holes in the shoes, you will be wishing you hadn't bothered >:(
Like you said you are half way there by the time you have the disc of anyway. I know from your other posts that you like things to be right though.

[storminmike]

[quote="Horizon"]
I have never had any experience of changing them personally, but when I had the E30 done for mot, the mechanic said he would only need to change the discs, they did this and it was spot on after this, he also advised me to operate the handbrake slightly when driving every now and then, especially before the Mot test to scrub up the shoes a bit.
If you have gone to the expense of buying the shoes it maybe worth fitting them, but you know the feeling when you start a job and it turns out to be a pig, and the springs won't go back in the holes in the shoes, you will be wishing you hadn't bothered >:(
Like you said you are half way there by the time you have the disc of anyway. I know from your other posts that you like things to be right though.
[/quote]


Thanks for the words of wisdom. I guess all wil be revealed today as it's nice and sunny.

I've done many a drum brake before on older cars but they were a little more important as they actually had to stop the car. There was a bit more room too

On older cars I used to assemble both shoes with the springs already on, clip in the handbrake cable then offer them up and drape them over the axle. I'd get two heels over the non moving spreader, then get one of the two opposing heels into the piston then hand pull the other heel over the other end of the piston. Retainers went in last.

Anyhow.....off for a brew now, a bit of limbering up then I'll make a start.

Thanks..Mike

[Bargain Bucket]

Honestly, it's really very easy. It will be entirely obvious what to do once you have it apart. I found the shoes on mine had fallen apart rather than worn out. An age related issue rather than a usage related issue. The only tricky part is refitting the springs. I fit one end and then slide the other end's hook along the shaft of a long thin screwdriver with the blade inserted into the hole in the shoe.

[storminmike]

[quote="Bargain Bucket"]
Honestly, it's really very easy. It will be entirely obvious what to do once you have it apart. I found the shoes on mine had fallen apart rather than worn out. An age related issue rather than a usage related issue. The only tricky part is refitting the springs. I fit one end and then slide the other end's hook along the shaft of a long thin screwdriver with the blade inserted into the hole in the shoe.
[/quote]

Done now...all on...3 hours and many brews later

What I discovered. I'd forgotten what a pain the rears are due to obscured guide pins by the shock absorbers. I went for the get the whole thing off by taking out the carrier bolts, caliper and pads all in one. Found copper grease on the carrier bolt threads so someones had it off this way before too. Access was poor and needed a breaker bar too.

Caliper and carrier to one side it was off with the disc after a gental tap. Interestingly one of the shoe retaining pins was quite shiny. The "special tool" for these pins isn't an issue as they are allen shape and could be got at very easily, 1/4 turn and out. Adjuster wound right in and with a "custom spreading technique" the adjuster was persuaded out

The custom spreading technique was 2 big screw drivers, one at 12 oclock  and one at 6 oclock. Using the hub to act as a fulcrum and the blades on the inside of the shoes I widened the whole shoes apart. Having done that and the adjuster out the shoes could be removed almost as on with springs attached

I actually put it back together in the same way I removed it all, spread the shoes and in with the adjuster. This spreading technique worked but then again I had my son extra hands to remove and refit the adjuster. The screw driver techinque mentioned above by Bargain Bucket would equally have worked, possibly better. Anyways back together

Re assembly was straightforward but once the disc was back on the torture that is adjusting began. I swear the sorting adjuster mechanism with a screw driver through a wheel bolt hole is rediculous. How anyone could think that's agreat way to spread the shoes out by feel is beyond me. It does help having had it apart so you know where it is but it's very little comfort. If I was a gynecologist by trade then it would be a breeze but sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's just frustrating. Minis had it sorted with a square adjuster that revolved a cam

Anyhow...just enjoying a Madras and a good sit down. I'll do the bedding in tommorow as after this and sorting out the horse I'm fecked

Always up for a challenge but the need to keep on the road makes me over explore the what ifs before pulling apart.

Thanks for all that contributed.

ps...the pictures above are all relevant apart from the bits are positioned at 90 degrees to those images

Mike