Parking Brake Adjustment

[GTSilver944]

I noticed that my 1970 2800CS does not have a parking brake adjustment wheel, as seen in the image below:

Is this because the 2800CS has drum brakes for both the rear brakes and handbrake (versus a disk brake for the rear with an internal drum for the parking brake)?

If so, are the two 10mm nuts adjacent to the handbrake in the cabin the only way to adjust the parking brake? The passenger side is maximally tightened but still not holding the wheel. I'm guessing that means I need new shoes. This is my first car with drum brakes, should I order a new set of drums too while I'm in there?

Thanks,
Max

 

[aearch]

the center level is your parking brake

 

[MatthewCervi]

Sanity check me here, because this is based on my knowledge of 02s rather than the 2800CS, but the brakes look the same...

Do you see the two pins sticking through the brake shoes about 1/3 of the way down? Those are eccentric and move the shoes in and out. On the opposite side of the backing plate you should find two 17mm(?) nuts that adjust them. Unfortunately, the nuts are usually corroded into the backing plate, and, at least on a 2002, one of them is partially blocked by suspension parts that make it difficult to get to. Soak them with penetrating oil--repeatedly, over the course of days--and be patient. Use a closed end 6 point wrench if possible (there's probably one in the tool kit meant for just this purpose). With any luck they'll loosen up without stripping the heads; otherwise you'll be replacing the backing plates.

 

['69 2800cs]

Agreed with Matthew above...just did this on my 2800cs.

I needed penetrant to get my adjusters free...once free adjust them at each shoe and then move inside the car and adjust the 10mm nuts.

On the adjustment I went with the same as on my old beetle....adjust it tight to lock the wheel up, then loosen a bit until it moves freely with perhaps a slight rub here and there.

 

[zinz]

This is a good thread from FAQ on adjusting this style of rear drums. A bent 17mm open end wrench is the tool of choice, but a standard Craftsman will fit easily with no wheel/tire attached.

http://www.bmw2002faq.com/forums/topic/64789-rear-drum-brake-adjustment/#comment-509161

It's very easy, but critical to proper braking.

Sounds like you need to loosen the handbrake adjustment nuts first. Then adjust the shoes with the eccentrics (after dousing them in penetrating oil).

It's a good idea to familiarize yourself with which direction you need to turn the eccentrics (the two work in opposite directions). Remove the drum to witness how they rotate against the shoes.

Take the time to finely adjust them and you will be rewarded with excellent stopping power and pedal-feel. A slight amount of drag is just about right.

Good luck,

Ed

 

[Honolulu]

One more note: the parking brake cables themselves are subject to stretch and (DAMHIK) they can corrode and break. New cables in particular need to become accustomed to their lot in life, and will need initial adjustment plus another go at it several months later.

If there isn't adequate space with the 10 mm nuts at the lever between the seats, you can put some small washers under the nuts to get some additional effect. This particular bit of customer engineering should not be necessary, but if the 17 mm nuts on the back of the brake plate are severely stuck, it's a useful dodge and easier than wrestling with the backing plates. On all 2002's I've had, taking up slack in the brakes and carb linkages always made the car feel a couple years newer, so it was one of the first things I'd do with those cars.