Parking Brake gets tight then loose then tight

steverb5000 · 06-02-2011, 09:44 AM

Hi All,

Did a quick search on the forums and believe this may be related to the hill assist feature on my 2006 330i MANUAL w/sport package, but couldn't get any further than that.

Here's what happens:

The parking brake becomes very tight one day (I can only pull up 1 - 2 clicks) then randomly loosens up another day (3-5 clicks.)

What bothers me is that I can't seem to determine why it changes so frequently. It is usually is in the (3-5 click range) but will randomly feel SUPER tight and stiff other days.

Any ideas? I'd say it switches back and forth a few times a month.

Thx!

S

reprod · 06-02-2011, 11:10 AM

Same thing happens to me in my 335 auto...

fdriller9 · 06-02-2011, 11:13 AM

The car prevents the hand brake from locking up the wheels when your driving...at least that's what i have observed. My car usually is loose the first time I pull it, then it tightens up after I release it then pull it again.

R608 · 06-04-2011, 12:17 PM

Mine is all over the map too, and I haven't found any real pattern. I had my local shop look at it three separate times when I first got the car because in some cases I could tell that it wasn't quite releasing fully. Best I could get was a short term improvement, so I've simply turned a blind eye to it. Of late, it now produces a loud metallic squeal if the car moves at all while it's set, but aside from an initial slight roll, it does hold. It baffles me how a company can build a car where so many things work so well, yet a simple handbrake can't be built to work correctly and reliably.

fdriller9 · 06-04-2011, 02:39 PM

Alot of people don't reset the tension in the hand brake cable after changing rear rotors...this is probably why you guys are having these problems.

bumere90 · 06-04-2011, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *********

Alot of people don't reset the tension in the hand brake cable after changing rear rotors...this is probably why you guys are having these problems.

do you know how to reset the tension?

06-02-2011, 09:44 AM	#1
steverb5000 New Member 5 Rep 18 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DC iTrader: (0)	Parking Brake gets tight then loose then tight Hi All, Did a quick search on the forums and believe this may be related to the hill assist feature on my 2006 330i MANUAL w/sport package, but couldn't get any further than that. Here's what happens: The parking brake becomes very tight one day (I can only pull up 1 - 2 clicks) then randomly loosens up another day (3-5 clicks.) What bothers me is that I can't seem to determine why it changes so frequently. It is usually is in the (3-5 click range) but will randomly feel SUPER tight and stiff other days. Any ideas? I'd say it switches back and forth a few times a month. Thx! S
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06-02-2011, 11:10 AM	#2
reprod Lieutenant Colonel 148 Rep 1,730 Posts Drives: '16 M3 ZCP Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (6)	Same thing happens to me in my 335 auto... __________________ '11 Space Grey E92 335xi M-Sport (KWv1 Coils \| Saddle Brown \| Bamboo) (Returned) '14 Mineral Grey F32 335i M-Sport (Dinan DHP \| LED Lights \| Coral Red \| Hexagonal Aluminum) (Returned) '16 Mineral Grey F80 M3 ZCP
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06-02-2011, 11:13 AM	#3
fdriller9 Banned 254 Rep 7,089 Posts Drives: '06 AW 330xi Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North Jersey/Philly/NYC iTrader: (4) Garage List 2006 330xi [6.44]	The car prevents the hand brake from locking up the wheels when your driving...at least that's what i have observed. My car usually is loose the first time I pull it, then it tightens up after I release it then pull it again.
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06-04-2011, 12:17 PM	#4
R608 Second Lieutenant 7 Rep 284 Posts Drives: 2011 328i M-Sport (RWD/6MT) Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: WNY iTrader: (0)	Mine is all over the map too, and I haven't found any real pattern. I had my local shop look at it three separate times when I first got the car because in some cases I could tell that it wasn't quite releasing fully. Best I could get was a short term improvement, so I've simply turned a blind eye to it. Of late, it now produces a loud metallic squeal if the car moves at all while it's set, but aside from an initial slight roll, it does hold. It baffles me how a company can build a car where so many things work so well, yet a simple handbrake can't be built to work correctly and reliably.
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06-04-2011, 02:39 PM	#5
fdriller9 Banned 254 Rep 7,089 Posts Drives: '06 AW 330xi Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North Jersey/Philly/NYC iTrader: (4) Garage List 2006 330xi [6.44]	Alot of people don't reset the tension in the hand brake cable after changing rear rotors...this is probably why you guys are having these problems.
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