How to Adjust the Parking Brake on a BMW 5 Series E39

Video tutorial on how to adjust the parking brake on a BMW E39. Here I am working with a 1997 540i and a similar procedure may apply to other BMW models as well. This video will also cover how to remove the caliper, carrier, and rotor as well. For this, there are two areas that need to be adjusted. First we will adjust it at the rotor and then after finish up at the handbrake handle.
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Tools/Supplies Needed:
-ratchet and socket set
-wrenches
-interlocking pliers
-brake grease
-jack and jack stands
-wire brush
-sandpaper
-standard screwdriver
-allen keys
-bungie cord
Procedure:
-start by safety elevating the rear of the vehicle and remove the wheel
-to remove the caliper, we will have two plastic caps covering the slide pin bolts
-use a standard screwdriver to pop off the caps
-crack the cap on the master cylinder reservoir and compress the piston in the caliper using large interlocking pliers
-there are two 7mm allen head fasteners that need to be removed
-I find you will need to work with a mix of tools as the bottom fastener tends to interfere with the lower control arm when using a ratchet
-the top I am able to use a 1/2” drive ratchet with an allen socket
-the bottom, I used a 7mm allen key
-remove the anti rattle clips
-pull the caliper off and tie it off so it doesn’t fall or put strain on the brake line
-remove the 5mm allen head retaining fastener for the rotor
-remove the brake pads, they simply sit in place
-remove the caliper carrier
-there are two 16mm bolts, again using a 1/2” drive ratchet and socket, then the carrier can be removed
-you will need to back off the adjustment inside the car at the handbrake handle
-to remove the leather cover, slip your fingers on the top edge, pull out, and lift up to disconnect the bottom tang
-the first nut is a 10mm and the second is a 12mm, loosen the nuts and back off the adjustment fully
-to remove the rotor, I had a lip so a little force was needed
-depending on the side, the adjuster maybe left hand or right hand thread, so they tighten and loosen in different directions
-using pliers are a screwdriver, adjust the shoes and there should be mild drag when the rotor is installed
-uou may need to pull the emergency brake to help center the shoes, then adjust accordingly
-then pull the emergency brake to ensure it engages with the rotor
-in the car is the final adjustment, we are looking for 3 to 4 clicks on the handbrake handle
-usually the brake should be engages at 3, but you maybe able to pull a forth click based on how hard it’s pulled up and the stretch in the cable
-what I have done is pulled the handbrake to the third position, then tighten the 12mm nut, and tighten the 10mm to jam them in place
-once done with the one side, you can then move onto the other side using the same procedure
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© 4DIYers 2013
All Rights Reserved
No part of this video or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted, without the prior written consent of the author.

[@franolivajic9703]

The parking brake tensioner can be easily tightened through the wheel bolt hole! Greetings from Croatia 💪

[@EuroRhodes]

This was helpful, I really like how You talked through steps and gave an overview of things. Helped a lot.

[@4DIYers]

Always happy to help and thank you for the feedback :)

[@uncleben2149]

Just finished installing park brake shoes and new rotors, cant get the park brake adjusted 100% but good enough until i check in a weeks time. So grateful for your video. Helped me so much . Thank you

[@4DIYers]

Glad to help out and thank you for the feedback :)

[@00madmando]

More E39 videos! I just bought one, and love the looks of it!!! Great video!

[@4DIYers]

Thank you :) Definitely will have more E39 videos, I actually have a few things which need to be done on it. Which E39 did you get??? Congrats on the purchase too!

[@uncleben2149]

So clear and concise , perfect tutorial . Very grateful for you video

[@4DIYers]

Thank you :)

[@antiochiaadtaurum3786]

thanks for this video bro, i've got the irish national car test (NCT) in two days time and need to get this handbrake tightened

[@nickgiordano7116]

Those mosquitoes were going wild I feel so bad for you 😂

[@xavierjames9270]

Great, thanks, straight to the point

[@4DIYers]

Thank you!

[@moneygreendreamsbykasingto1443]

Very helpful video

[@4DIYers]

Thank you!

[@steveanstead7453]

Awesome vid, thankyou!!

[@4DIYers]

Thank you!

[@juliansmith4570]

Excellent hit every detail

[@4DIYers]

Thank you!

[@ksukutube]

Good video and excellent narration! Thanks.

[@4DIYers]

Thank you :)

[@antiochiaadtaurum3786]

how does compressing the piston help the pads get past the lip on the rotor? it looks like your tightening the pads even tighter onto the rotor there

[@ZespolR]

You can tighten these nuts by fingers - I was doing it today and I had a tough time unscrewing them with tools. I did the starwheel thing but now inside the car I can't tighten these nuts - they move around with the screw and they come back when you remove the tool. Did I make the cable to tight we the starwheel?

[@AWGarage614]

Do you still have your e39? I don’t think we are hooking up our expanding switch right. When we pull the hand brake only one shoe expands out.

[@4DIYers]

Sold it many years ago. One shoe expands out as the rotor isn't in place so it does have a spot to push on to push out the opposite pad.

[@shaneragbir1688]

I am having difficulty for the shoe to set. The service manual suggest to adjust the shoes open with the rotor on then back off 12 notches. I go up to the point the rotors can’t fit onto the hub then back off one notch. It looks like you left the shoe adjustment at the notch right before the shoe was fully open to lock the rotor. Is that the mild drag you were referring ? because it does drag at the adjustment just below fully open.

[@rickjames1607]

How do you know how many times to adjust the shoes?

[@theamerican7080]

Thanks for the video- very helpful! Hey- are you still rocking those red tennies, mate?

[@4DIYers]

Thank you, greatly appreciated :) Lol, yep they're still around but they've seen better days. The sole started separating so I used auto body panel adhesive to hold it together haha. I'm having a hard time letting go of them, one of my favorite shoes ever.

[@LukasSakalauskas]

very helpful, thanks

[@4DIYers]

Happy to help and thank you for the feedback!

[@magg93]

Does it need to be done on both sides?

[@rubiomass]

Yeah, great vid

[@4DIYers]

Thank you!

[@abcges]

You do realize you can adjust them without taking the disc off? Youre supposed to use one of the wheel bolt holes.

[@4DIYers]

Did you watch the video? It was mentioned in the first minute.

[@abcges]

@@4DIYers Sorry, didn't watch, i just skipped through to see which way the adjuster moves :D Wasn't expecting the removal of discs and brakes on a video for PB cable adjustment.

[@67mustang351w]

🤣😅😂🤣 when you have to say sorry

[@Chrispage2]

You could just remove 2 bolts for whole brake support, saves time.

[@mule666]

The bottom one is hard to reach on an e 39

[@arminsgaming8651]

So on third it should start working right

[@arminsgaming8651]

Or should it block wheels completely

[@miljororforsprakpartiet290]

My fucking POS' handbrake nuts were so stuck that I cracked the bolt off while removing it. BMW logic: if it can be made hard, let's make it impossible.

[@shagbabyyeah]

Thank you my guy! Odd how all the e39 videos seem to be over 2 years old lol

[@4DIYers]

Happy I could help! Lol, well sadly I sold my E39 a few years ago.

[@shagbabyyeah]

@@4DIYers could always get another!

[@4DIYers]

Probably won't, I like to have a variety of vehicles instead of going back to the same thing. There will definitely be more BMWs.

[@addictedtopussy69]

weird how the jam nut is bigger than the locking nut. its usually the other way around for it to work.