Handbrake + stabiliser bar

XMAX

///Member
hi, i have some important questions bout my 2004 318i, M Sport

I took the car for a roadworthy test at AA midrand, and they failed me on the handbrake test, where they said that the driver side handbrake is not holding, whilst the passeger side is working fine.

So how do i adjust the handbrake. can i DIY or should it be given to a specialist?

then i went under the car with the inspector and found that the rear stabiliser bar was missing one bush. i noticed that there are 2 bush mounting points and that only one bush was in place.

So will this negatively impact on my roadholding, should i get both bushes fitted or can i leave it like that ??

Please help. i know that these may sound like menial problems, but i cant get roadworthy, which further doesnt allow me to register the car and licence it...
 

freerider

Honorary ///Member
Pop into a CBC (Clutch and brake centre) and get them to check out the handbrake, wrt the missing stabiliser bush, you DO want to have that sorted out, its there for a very good reason.
 

XMAX

///Member
freerider said:
Pop into a CBC (Clutch and brake centre) and get them to check out the handbrake, wrt the missing stabiliser bush, you DO want to have that sorted out, its there for a very good reason.

thanks dude, though theres no cbc near me. is there a diy method to adjust. i remember that on one of our older cars we used to be able to adjust the handbrake from the handbrake itself, we usually removed the handbrake boot and tightened the nuts. that usually helped. dunno if it will work here.

as for the stabiliser bar bush, thanks. i will get it done.
 

applehero

///Member
XMAX said:
freerider said:
Pop into a CBC (Clutch and brake centre) and get them to check out the handbrake, wrt the missing stabiliser bush, you DO want to have that sorted out, its there for a very good reason.

thanks dude, though theres no cbc near me. is there a diy method to adjust. i remember that on one of our older cars we used to be able to adjust the handbrake from the handbrake itself, we usually removed the handbrake boot and tightened the nuts. that usually helped. dunno if it will work here.

as for the stabiliser bar bush, thanks. i will get it done.

There are two places to adjust, from what I can recall. One is as your say on the handbrake itself. The other is on the brake assembly on the wheel hub.
 

XMAX

///Member
@ Apple hero. thanks dude. i adjusted the handbrake on the handbrake itself. just 2 x size 10 nuts to tighten. did that and the handbrake was 100%. took it to AA and they passed the car. so now ive got the roadworthy cert.

just the stabiliser bar bushes now. any idea where i can get them, and what it would cos to fit.
 

Sankekur

///Member
Just remember not to over tighten the nuts at the handbrake lever as this can cause damage to the cables.
Someone else linked to this a while ago and it a really good guide as to how to adjust the hand brake, it gives more info that both the service manual and TIS (which I don't have of course :) ) , so its pretty good.
 

OLAVAN

New member
HI all...does anyone know what is the price of a stabiliser link(front), also where to get a clutch kit, i have a 328i 2000 model...thanxs alot:flyfun:
 
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