Removal and installation rear brake pads (BMW 3 Series E36)

Removal

Loosen the wheel bolts.

Remove the decorative cap. Mark the position of the wheel disks on the wheel hubs with paint. Thanks to this, the balanced wheel is subsequently installed in the same position.

Raise the rear of the car and remove the wheel.

Release the handbrake.



Remove the brake drum.



Using pliers, squeeze the cup of the pressure spring "3" tightly and turn the cup by 90°. When releasing, press on the pin of the spring cup from the rear side of the brake shield.



Disconnect the lower return spring "1" at the front, pull the brake shoe out of the wheel cylinder by hand. Disconnect the upper return spring "2" at the front. Pull out the front brake shoe with the pressure plate.





Disconnect the handbrake cable from the handbrake lever by moving the spring "2" and remove the brake shoe.



Remove the retaining ring "4" from the wheel brake cylinder and remove the boot "5".

Note: The cylinder piston should not come out. Check if there is moisture behind the dust cover. If necessary, repair or replace the wheel brake cylinder.

Place the boot on the wheel brake cylinder and secure with a retaining ring.

Installation

Be sure to replace all 4 brake pads at once and install pads from the same manufacturer. Both the brake pads and their linings can be replaced. Blow out the brake drums and brake shields with compressed air or wash with alcohol. When the brake pads are removed, do not press the brake pedal, as the piston will come out of the cylinder. If the wheel brake cylinder is wet with brake fluid, repair the cylinder. Clean the thread of the pressure rod and lightly lubricate with sulfur-molybdenum grease. Scratched drums should be bored, and both drums should be bored at the same time. The maximum permissible size for boring is 229.5 mm.

Caution: When replacing the brake pads, the return springs and heat clip are replaced at the same time.

Connect the handbrake cable "2" to the handbrake lever.

Insert the spring cup pin into the brake shoe hole from the rear side of the brake shield. Put on the pressure spring. Use pliers to put on the spring cup. Hold the pin from behind and turn the spring cup 90°.



Unscrew gear "4" of the automatic brake setting mechanism. Check the ease of movement of the mechanism parts. If necessary, lightly lubricate the pressure plate. The gear on the left wheel has a right-hand thread "R", and the gear on the right wheel has a left-hand thread.

Attention: Thermal clip "1" must snap into the recess "arrow" on the pressure plate "3".

Insert the pressure plate from below into the drum brake.

Insert lever "5" of the automatic brake setting mechanism and secure with return spring "2".

Caution: Ensure correct position with return spring "2" (Figure W 4416).

Insert the spring cup pin into the hole in the brake shoe from the rear side of the brake shield. Put on the pressure spring. Use pliers to put on the spring cup. Holding the pin from behind, turn the spring cup 90°.



Connect the upper and lower return springs.



When installing return springs "1" and "3", pay attention to the position of the bends.



Check whether the automatic brake setting mechanism is engaged with gear "3" and whether the heat clamp "2" is in the recess.



Install the brake drum and turn it so that the hole in the brake drum matches the threaded hole in the flange. Tighten the brake drum mounting bolt with a 5 mm open-end wrench.

If the hydraulic circuit has been opened, for example when replacing a wheel brake cylinder, the air must be bled from the brake system before adjusting the rear wheel brake.

Install the brake pads by pressing the brake pedal several times.

Before the brake pads are installed, you will hear clicking sounds coming from the rear brake. The wheel bolt hole shows how the brake pad installation mechanism works.

Adjust the handbrake.

Install the wheel in accordance with the markings made on the hub regarding the position of the disc.

Lower the vehicle and tighten the wheel bolts crosswise to 110 Nm.

[The original source of the article is on the website «bmwman»]