XSeries-forum

Excellent write-up , I'll have to be doing this soon too . Had an advisory on the MOT last month , one side
isn't working properly .

It is recommended by BMW to both bed in and to keep the h/brake working well that you should start to apply
it whilst the vehicle is still in motion at low speed occasionally .
This will bed them in like the foot brake , and keep them 'clean' and the discs not rusty throughout it's usual spare usage .

Just a couple of pointers to help with this.  The first issue I had was removing the disc.  I tried a rubber mallett then a normal hammer as I wanted to be careful.  I had no joy despite trying for a long time.  So I got the lump hammer out.  It's strange but a few gentle taps with that and the disc loosened straight away.

The second issue I had which has already been stated as the difficult part was putting the second spring back onto the shoes.  I could not do it, depsite haveing a slotted screwdriver type tool.

I saw the scissor like tools designed for the job on ebay.  It was a Sunday and there weather had turned awful.  I needed the car the next day.  Luckily an ebay shop seller happened to be fairly local and was a life saver, allowing me to pick one up that afternoon.

I would recommend anyone doing this job to buy one.  It makes the job simple.  The other side was done in about half an hour start to finish including cleaning everything up.  Another point IIRC is not to lubricate the handbrake cable.  It's tempting to do so but I think I have read this can lead to problems.  Correct me if I'm wrong though as like my old discs, I'm a bit rusty.