Rear wheel brakes (BMW 5 Series E12)

Replacing the brake pads of the disc brake mechanism ("525" and "528")

Note: The pads are replaced when their overall thickness decreases (pads and friction lining) up to 7 mm. Replace the brake pads of both rear wheel brakes at the same time.

Replacement is carried out in the same sequence as when replacing the front brake pads, taking into account the following:

• check the 20° piston tilt using a template;
• if necessary, turn the piston in the caliper with special pliers until the piston is correctly installed.

Replacing the brake shoes of the drum brake mechanism ("518", "520", "520i")

Raise the rear of the car, place it on stands and remove the wheels.

Remove the brake drum.

Move the shoes away from the drum by turning the heads of the adjusting eccentrics and loosen the tension of the parking brake cable if it is difficult to remove the drum.



Remove the shoe pressure springs by turning the outer lock washer 90°, remove the cups and springs.

Remove the brake shoe tension springs (using a brake shoe compressor).

Remove the brake pads and disconnect the parking brake cable.

Wash the parts, check their condition, replace the defective parts and install the pads in the reverse order of removal. In this case, install the pads in their original places. Before installing new pads, unscrew the adjusting eccentrics to their extreme lower position. Adjust the gap between the pads and the brake drum.

Drum turning

If there are deep scratches, the drum can be turned, maintaining the dimensions specified in the subsection "Detailed technical characteristics". This operation should be performed in a workshop.

Adjusting the clearance between the pads and the brake drum ("518", "520", "520i")

The adjustment consists of setting the minimum possible gap between each shoe and the drum, i.e. two adjustment operations are carried out on each wheel.

Start adjusting from the front shoe by turning the square located on the front side of the vehicle.

Move the shoes away from the drum as far as possible.

Rotate the wheel in the forward direction and make sure it rotates freely.

Move the shoes towards the drum by turning the eccentrics in the direction of the arrows (see picture) until the shoe begins to lightly touch the drum.



Press the brake pedal several times to seat the pad in place.



Turn the eccentric slightly in the opposite direction so that the wheel can rotate freely.

While rotating the wheel in the forward direction, do the same with the eccentric located at the rear of the car and adjust the rear shoe clearance.

(The website served as the basis for the text bmwman)