Brake drum shoes must be changed on both wheels at the same time - never change shoes on only one wheel. In addition, the dust collected on the brake system may contain asbestos, which is harmful to your health. Never blow it out with compressed air or inhale it. When working on the brakes, a special filter mask should be worn. Never, under any circumstances, use gasoline-based solvents to clean brake parts. Use only a special brake cleaner.
When changing shoes, always replace the return springs, retaining springs, and auto-adjuster thermocouples. Due to the constant temperature changes to which the springs are subjected, they lose their elasticity after a certain period of time, which can lead to the shoes being attracted to the drum, and as a result, to premature wear. When replacing brake shoes, use only original parts or high quality parts from recognized manufacturers.
All four rear brake shoes should be replaced at the same time, but to avoid mixing up their components, work with one assembly at a time. Some rear brake components are different for the left and right side, so be careful not to mix them up.
If the wheel cylinder is found to be leaking or otherwise defective, replace it after replacing the brake shoes. This is done by simply disconnecting the hydraulic line and removing the cylinder from the brake shield, having previously unbolted it. Attempting to repair a leaking cylinder will most likely not lead to a satisfactory result, even with spare parts available.
1. Block the front wheels, then loosen the rear wheel bolts, jack up the rear of the vehicle and place it securely on axle stands. Remove the rear wheels and release the parking brake.
![](https://www.bmwman.ru/img/ser5/2978.jpg)
2. Loosen the drum fixing screw and remove the drum.
![](https://www.bmwman.ru/img/ser5/2979.jpg)
3. If the drum is to the hub, inject oil between the hub and the drum.
![](https://www.bmwman.ru/img/ser5/2980.jpg)
4. If the drum is still not removed, then the shoes may have grooved in it, and they should be parted. Insert a narrow flat-blade screwdriver into one of the holes in the hub flange and turn the adjuster wheel until the drum comes off the axle.
5. Inspect the drum for cracks, scratches, deep grooves, and stubborn spots that look like discolored areas on the surface. If these spots cannot be removed with emery cloth, or if there is other damage, the drum should be taken to an auto repair shop for turning.
![](https://www.bmwman.ru/img/ser5/2981.jpg)
Professionals recommend turning brake drums every time you work on the brakes. The groove will remove the possible deformation of the drums. If the drums are worn out so that their deformations cannot be corrected by turning without exceeding the dimensions of the maximum allowable diameter indicated on the drum, then it is necessary to replace them with new ones. If you still decide not to grind the drums, then at least remove the shine from their surface with a medium emery cloth, using rotational movements.
![](https://www.bmwman.ru/img/ser5/2982.jpg)
6. Unhook the lower return spring from the front shoe,..
![](https://www.bmwman.ru/img/ser5/2983.jpg)
...then unhook it from the rear shoe and remove.
![](https://www.bmwman.ru/img/ser5/2984.jpg)
7. Unhook the upper return spring from the front shoe,..
![](https://www.bmwman.ru/img/ser5/2985.jpg)
...then unhook it from the rear shoe and remove.
![](https://www.bmwman.ru/img/ser5/2986.jpg)
8. Remove the front shoe retaining spring...
![](https://www.bmwman.ru/img/ser5/2987.jpg)
...and the rear shoe retaining spring.
![](https://www.bmwman.ru/img/ser5/2988.jpg)
9. Remove the front shoe.
![](https://www.bmwman.ru/img/ser5/2989.jpg)
10. Remove regulator assembly. Clean the regulator and make sure that its wheel moves freely along the threads. It is recommended to replace the thermo-clip (spring clip next to the adjuster wheel) every time the shoes are changed. Install the adjuster wheel so that the assembly is closest to the installation.
![](https://www.bmwman.ru/img/ser5/2990.jpg)
11. Disconnect the parking brake cable from the parking brake lever and remove the rear shoe.
12. Installation repeats the removal procedure in reverse order, but pay attention to the following points.
![](https://www.bmwman.ru/img/ser5/2991.jpg)
13. Apply a coat of high temperature brake grease to the brake shield. Be careful not to get grease on the friction surfaces of the brake shoes or drums.
14. Make sure that the regulator assembly is correctly seated in the recess in the parking brake lever.
![](https://www.bmwman.ru/img/ser5/2992.jpg)
15. When installing the automatic adjustment mechanism, first install the lever on the shoe,..
![](https://www.bmwman.ru/img/ser5/2993.jpg)
... then attach the lower end of the spring to the lever, and hook the upper end to the special hole in the front shoe.
![](https://www.bmwman.ru/img/ser5/2994.jpg)
16. Upon completion of work, the assembly of the brake mechanism should look like the one shown in the photo. Now you can move on to the next brake mechanism.
17. After finishing work with both brakes, install the brake drums.
18. If the wheel cylinder has been replaced (see Note 2), bleed the hydraulic system as described in Section Bleeding the hydraulic brake system.
19. Depress the brake pedal several times to activate the self-adjusting mechanism. When the adjusters are loosened, clicks will be heard from the side of the brake drums.
20. Check parking brake adjustment.
21. Install wheels and mounting bolts. Lower the vehicle to the ground and tighten the wheel bolts to the specified torque. Thoroughly check the operation of the brakes before starting normal operation of the vehicle.