Stressed said:
Hi folks!
Anyone out there who has a description on how to adjust the handbrake on a 320i 2003?
The car almost managed to run away from me this morning... It just feels like I have to pull the handle too much to get it to work.
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Thanks in advance,
Stressed
To adjust the Parking (Hand) brake, do the following:
1. First, lift the parking brake lever boot out of the console. While holding the cables stationary, loosen the two parking brake cable nuts (located underneath the hand brake base) until the cables are completely slack.
2. Raise the rear of your car (for safety, use a hydraulic jack and two jack stands).
3. Remove one lug bolt from each of the rear wheel. Turn wheel until the lug bolt hole lines up with the parking brake adjuster (approximately 65 degree to rear of wheel centerline).
4. Use a flat-blade screwdriver to turn the adjuster. Left wheel - Turn the adjuster clockwise. On the right wheel - Turn the adjuster counterclockwise. Do this to expand the brake shoes until the road wheel can no longer turn and then stop adjusting. Repeat the procedure on the other rear wheel. (Important - You must do this on both rear wheel)
5. Go back inside your car and set parking brake several times to seat the cable, then pull the parking brake lever up two notches. Tighten the cable adjusting nuts until it is just possible to turn rear wheels with slight resistance. Then release the lever down and make sure the rear wheels turn freely.
6. Turn on the ignition. Pull up the parking brake lever 1 notch and make sure that the parking brake warning light comes on.
7. Pull the parking brake lever up one more notch and check that the rear wheels do not move and parking brake warning light stays lit. If the parking brake light goes out, adjust the contact switch.
8. Reinstall the parking brake lever boot. Install the wheel lug bolts on. Re-lift the rear and remove the jack stands and bring the rear wheels down and you're good to go.
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