In some older (and probably non BMW) cars this was the method of adjusting the rear drum brakes. Don't remember if it applied to rear disc brakes as well, but it did become part of my routine to do this at least once every three - four months. Old habits die hard

 

I believe that the E-brake is a drum brake. On rear wheel.

 

I doubt it. When discs first came out they did it this way but then somebody figured a way to do disc brakes with a parking brake. My last 2 cars with rear discs did not have drums. Drums add weight - although tiny and probably not much weight - and they add complexity.

I could be wrong - BMW might do things differently - the last 2 were Japanese sports cars. But the recommendation does make it seem like they are a different system. I mean why would you need to do this if they just used the discs. I mean move the cable every once in a while but I don't see why you would need to apply the brakes while moving. I have to admit in 16,000 miles I have never used the parking brake - I'm in park and I am not on a hill ever.

 

I never heard of this, but I guess it does'nt hurt to make a practise of engaging the hand brake every now and then. Thanks for the tip I better start reading up on my e60 manual

 

I believe the hand book means to pull it slightly WHILE its moving, meaning let the brakes drag a little right? Not just using them when you're stopped... but while the car is actually moving...

Kinda like what you do when you see a cop and you dont want to jam on the brakes to tell him "LOOK I'm speeding and now I'm braking and slowing down, look at my red tail lights, look at my nose take a drive."

Pulling the hand brake enough and not locking them will slow you down gradually and a lot less noticable...

Ok heres my question... I thought the hand brake and the regular brakes were the same I didnt think they were a seperate system... so if they are the same theres no point in pulling them up while the car is moving to clean them off as they are already cleaned each time you apply the regular brakes.

 

I doubt it. When discs first came out they did it this way but then somebody figured a way to do disc brakes with a parking brake. My last 2 cars with rear discs did not have drums. Drums add weight - although tiny and probably not much weight - and they add complexity.

I could be wrong - BMW might do things differently - the last 2 were Japanese sports cars. But the recommendation does make it seem like they are a different system. I mean why would you need to do this if they just used the discs. I mean move the cable every once in a while but I don't see why you would need to apply the brakes while moving. I have to admit in 16,000 miles I have never used the parking brake - I'm in park and I am not on a hill ever.
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My 1989 M3 has a rear disc brake with a drum parking brake. BMW has been doing it that way for many years so yes, there is a rear drum brake in addition to the rear disc brakes. It's all about redundancy, I think...

 

Interesting... but that was 1989... Is our parking brake really drum brakes? I dont see any drum brakes back there...


Redundancy?? so if the disc brakes fail will the drum brakes kick in? COOL... sounds like a airplane...

 

Correct...and if you do it around a curve, powerslide!

 

Correct...and if you do it around a curve, powerslide!
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Cant... I believe I'll stall the car if I do that... :'(

 

Interesting... but that was 1989... Is our parking brake really drum brakes? I dont see any drum brakes back there...


Redundancy?? so if the disc brakes fail will the drum brakes kick in? COOL... sounds like a airplane...
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No - the drum brakes (if that is what we have) only are cable actuated. If you have a failure and you pull the cable then you have a redundancy. I can not imagine losing 4 disc brakes at once so the redundancy argument is not sound. Yes you can lose hydraulics but then a parking brake would work anyway - discs or drums.