Took me 2 hours yesterday, and a joy to do compared to myy old car.

Tools Needed

Jack and axel stands

Breaker bar

Wheel !Removed! (house bricks)

Flat head screw driver

Ratchet

long ratchet extention bar

10mm deep socket

17mm socket

16mm socket

6mm alan key socket thingy

Step 1

Slaken wheel nuts using 17mm socket and braker bar.

Place wheel chocks at front wheels

Jack car up and place axel stands where the rear side jacking points are.

You can, however, do both sides independently...

Step 2

When car is sucure, remove boot from around handbrake lever, just give it a tug and

pull it upward towards the front of the car so its out your way.

Step 3

Use 10mm deep socket withe extention bar to loosen the brake cable nuts until the cables

are completely slack.

Step 4

Remove wheels, place next to the discs to the rear of the car(for putting callipers on later.)

Step 5

Remove callipers, there are 2 16mm hex bolts holding it on.

Place on wheel next to you, dont let them hang

Step 6

Remove discs, take out the 6mm bolt on the disc, give the disc a tap all round with a rubber mallet

and the dics should come off easily.

Step 7

Now you con see the shoes and the adjuster, circled below.

On the right wheel, turn the adjuster down and towards the front to expand the shoes.

Ont the left wheel, turn the adjuster up and towards the read to expand the shoes.

Step 8

When its difficult to put the disc back on because to much expansion, take 5-8 clicks off

the ajuster.

Step 8

Put discs, calipers and wheels back on.

Step 9

Pull the hand brake lever several times to seat the cable.

Then pull the handbrake up 2 clicks. Tighten the cable tension

ajustment nuts until its just possible to turn the rear wheels

with a littke resistance.

Release the handbrake and make sure the wheels turns freely.

Step 10

Pull up handbrake and check wheels are locked.

Put boot back on around lever.

Lower car and tourqe wheel nuts up.

Done :rolleyes:

Edited June 18, 201114 yr by Dabsy
Alternative

if ur had brake seems lose can u tightin it with the 2 nut m8

The 2 nuts on the lever? yes..

Jack the back end up, put 2 clicks on the handbrake.

When you can feel the road whells being gripped by the handbrake, take a little off the nut, job done.

Bare in mind though, i changed shoes, cables the the lot on mine, it still dont hold on the drive, e46's are bad for this

The shoes were changed in october iv a brakepad light on but all the pads r fine would this be causing it gav!!

I doubt the handbrake shoes would show a warning mate, there is no sensor there to measure them.

The pads have just been changed havnt they?

yeah m8 and back calipars not so long ago !!

Excellent write up Gav...

As for my car... If you need to adjust./change the hand/footbrake cable- you have to REMOVE the exhaust AND the heatsheild before you even think about any cable changes lol

its a barsteward on a seven... sorry to hijack, but it needs saying...

These must be a sensor problem then mate or 'pads' are low

Just to add...

We all know that any BMW handbrake will JUST pass an MOT, they are NOT the best but do work some lol...

The handbrake shoes will last the life of any BMW!:mellow:

think its a sensor prob pads were checked by a garage any way of fixin sensor chum!!!!!!!!!

think its a sensor prob pads were checked by a garage any way of fixin sensor chum!!!!!!!!!

No idea mate..I will look into it though

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-E46-3-SERIES-FRONT-REAR-BRAKE-PAD-WEAR-SENSORS-C705-/200594721111?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item2eb4608957

For your info...

A Brake pad sensor needs an earth to transmit a failed brake pad...

It's earth will be the disc or caliper...

Check the pads- if ok then the sensor(Wire) has earthed prematurely...

DAZ ;)

thnx very much lads goin 2 check now cheers again!!

For your info...

A Brake pad sensor needs an earth to transmit a failed brake pad...

It's earth will be the disc or caliper...

Check the pads- if ok then the sensor(Wire) has earthed prematurely...

DAZ ;)

Quite the opposite on the E46 mate

The brake pad wear sensor is a simple closed circuit, when the pads run low/faulty sensor/sensor wire damaged, the circuit is broken, therefore displaying a light on the dash. B) ;)

Get new sensors at that price mate, they are on one wheel at the front and one at the rear, cant remember which side.

goina order them now cheers!!

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You can adjust the shoes with out taking the disc off just using a flat screw driver and a torch.If you look through one the bolt holes on the disc you will see the adjuster,adjust acordingly using the torch because it is dark lol