E53 3.0 D-Sport Parking Brake issues

[X5-D-Sport]

E53 3.0 D-Sport Parking Brake issues

1st problem was the ratchet teeth on the handbrake release notches were worn smooth, but a fellow member solved that one for me.
Seat removed, carpet panel removed from gearbox tunnel & file new points on the teeth - problem solved

Next problem, although the cables have not seized, there is virtually zero stopping power on the parking brake & it failed its UK MOT this week.

I understand this is a common issue with these vehicles.
There is no metal to metal noise... no braking either lol
It is a cable hand-brake, so no seals to leak etc..

****Is it wise to simply buy new brake shoes before pulling it all to bits ?

[Alan Gunn]

I just got ner rear brakes discs pads and shoes also i got the fixing kit.
Still took a bit to bed in but it got through the MOT.
Still got the old cables fitted and the handbrake will now hold the car quite well.

[Greydog]

The expander mechanism's for the shoes in the hubs are probably seized/broken, When I rebuilt my rear suspension (couple of years back) I also rebuilt the brakes (silly not when your in there) one of the expanders for the hand brake was stiff. I changed both and the Bowden cables. My X had always passed it's MOT test with no issues but the improvement in handbrake performance was massive.
Prior to the work if I parked on a slope in neutral it took a solid pull on the parking brake for it to hold, after the work a gentle few clicks and it would hold.

[X5-D-Sport]

Many thanks Alan & Greydog,
I will order the shoes AND the kit with expanders, & then change the whole lot next week. Many thanks for the opinions chaps.

Have a great weekend & stay safe.
regards
Grant B

[Themoog2]

E53 and E39 parking brakes are a wheel known weak point. From what I understand, they have to be set up correctly. I have done mine a few times as per the manual but its still not brilliant.

[Alan Gunn]

Mine is not to bad it will hold the car in drive with a few rev's and won't budge in reverse.
I do pull it on now and again while coming to a stop just to clean up the drum's as they rust and if you think about it they don't get used as you stop then pull it on so the drum is not used if you get what i am saying.