parking brake BMW 540i 1999 E39 Owner's Manual
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: BMW, Model Year: 1999, Model line: 540i, Model: BMW 540i 1999 E39Pages: 1002
Page 766 of 1002

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E39 brake system
BMW E39 models are equipped with vacuum power-assisted
four-wheel disc brakes with an integral
Antilock Brake System
(ABS). Single-piston calipers act on vented front and rear ro-
tors. A brake pad wear sensor for each axle indicates when
brake pads need replacement. The dual drum-type parking
brake system is integrated with the rear brake rotors.
Electronic braking and stability control
E39 models were introduced with Automatic Stability Control,
a computer controlled traction control system that uses the
AB5 system in conjunction with engine management controls
to control wheel spin during take-off and maintain vehicle sta-
bility while braking.
Added in the
1998 model year was Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC). This system implements wheel speed modulation
throughout all stages of driving. For example, DSC is able to
reduce understeer by applying differing amounts of braking
force to each wheel, or it can override the engine manage-
ment system during hard cornering.
A summary of distinguishing characteristics of the various
systems is shown in the table
E39 electronic braking and
stability control systems.
For ABS, ASC and DSC system and component descriptions,
see
300 Suspension, Steering and Brakes-General.
WARNING-
A car with electronic stability control is still subject to normal
physical laws. Avoid excessive speeds for the road conditions
encountered.
E39 electronic braking and stability control systems
Year (model)
manuf. up to 911998
(528i, 540i)
manuf. from 911999
(540i optional)*
From
911 999
(ail models) System
Automatic Stability Control (ASC) Identifiers
Electronic control module next to glove compartment
Hydraulic unit in right rear of engine compartment
No precharge pump
Dynamic Stability Control
(Bosch DSC
Ill v. 5.3)
Dynamic
Stabil~ty Control
(Bosch DSC
Ill v. 5.7) Electronic
control module next to glove compartment
Hydraulic unit in right rear of engine compartment
Precharge pump in left front of engine compartment, below steering
fluid reservoir
Separate rotational rate (yaw) and lateral acceleration sensors
Control
modulelhydraulic unit in right rear of engine compartment
No precharge pump
Combined rotational rate (yaw) and lateral acceleration sensors
Page 768 of 1002

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340-6
1 Brakes
Brake system troubleshooting
/symptom I Probable cause 1 Repairs
Brake squeal
Pedal goes to floor when
bralting
Low pedal after system bleeding
Pedal spongy or brakes work
only when pedal is pumped
Excessive braking effort
Brakes pulsate, chatter or grab
Uneven
bralting, car pulls to one
side, rear braltes
loclt
Brakes drag, bind or overheat Brake
pad carriers dirty or corroded or
pads loose (poor fit) in pad carrier
Braite pads heat-glazed or oil-soaked
Wheel bearings worn (noise most
pronounced when turning)
Incorrectly Installed brake pads,
parking bralte shoes, or bralte parts
Brake fluid loss due to system leaks
Master cylinder or traction control
system faulty
Master cylinder faulty
Air in braite fluid
Master cylinder or traction control
system faulty
Brake pads wet
Brake pads
heat-glazedorfluid-soalted
Vacuum booster or vacuum hose
connections to booster faulty
--- Warped brake rotors
Brake pads worn
Brake pads heat-glazed or oil-soaked Remove
brake pads and clean calipers. Use original
equipment pads for proper fit and use BMW anti-squeal
compound during installation,
Replace brake pads. Ciean rotors. Replace leaking caliper:
as required.
Replace worn bearings. See 310 Front Suspension
or33C
Rear Suspension.
Check component installation. Checldreplace anti-rattle
springs.
Checlt fluid level and inspect for signs of leakage.
Replace master cylinder. Diagnose traction control system
using factory or compatible diagnostic tool.
Replace master cylinder.
Bleed system using factory or compatible diagnostic tool.
Replace master cylinder. Diagnose traction control system
using factory or compatible diagnostic tool.
Use light pedal pressure to dry pads while driving.
Replace
bralte pads and rotors. Replace leaking calipers.
lnspect vacuum lines. Test vacuum booster and replace as
required. Test vacuum non-return valve for one-way flow.
Resurface or replace rotors.
Replace brake pads.
Clean rotors. Replace leaiting calipers.
Incorrect tire pressures or worn tires
Brake pads on one side of car heat-
glazed or fluid-soaked
Caliper or brake pads binding
Worn suspension components
Brake caliper or brake pads binding
Master cylinder or traction control
system faulty lnspect
tire condition. Checlt and correct tire pressures.
Replace brake pads. Clean rotors. Replace leaking
calipers.
Clean and recondition brakes.
Inspect for worn or damaged suspension components. See
310 Front Suspension or 330 Rear Suspension.
Ciean or replace caliper.
Replace master cylinder. Diagnose traction control system
using faclory or compatible diagnostic tool.
Page 773 of 1002

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Brakes
BRAKE PADS, CALIPERS AND ROTORS
Brake pads,
calipers, and rotors
Braking system
components
1. Brake caliper guide bolts
2. Brake caliper
3. Brake pad wear sensor
4. Brake pad anti-rattle clip
5. Brake pads
6. Front brake rotor retaining bolts
7. Front brake rotor
8. Rear brake rotor retaining bolt
9. Rear brake rotor
10. Parking brake shoes with hard-
ware
11. Rear brake backing plate
12. Brake pad carrier
13. Brake pad carrier retaining bolts
Page 778 of 1002

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1 Brakes
Max. machine limit per
friction ring side 0.8 mm (0.03
in) I
Brake rotor reconditioning specifications
Model
Replace
braite rotors in pairs
Bralre rotor sizes
Clean rotor with brake cleaner before installing.
Front
Model
6-cylinder
models (5251,
5281, 530i)
V-8 models (540i)
* When installing new rear brake rotors, adjust pariting brake
as described later, in Parking brake, adjusting. Rear
Vented rotor wear limit (min. thickness)
Tightening torques
Braite rotor to hub 16 Nm (12 ft-lb)
6-cylinder models
(525i, 5281, 530i)
- V-8 models (540i)
Front
296 mm (1 1.65 in)
324 mm (12.76 in)
Front bralte pad
carrler to steering ltnucitle 110 Nm (81 ft-lb)
Rear
298 mm (1 1.73 in)
Rear
brake pad carrier to wheel bearing carrier 65 Nm (48 ft-lb)
20.4
mm (0.80 in)
28.4 mm (1.12 in)
Road wheel to hub
120ilONm
(89 -t 7 it-lb)
18.4 mm (0.72 in)
The brake master cylinder is mounted to the front of the vacu-
um booster on the driverside bullthead.
-
CAUTION-
All E39 vehicles soldin the USA are equipped with Antilock
Braling System (ABS) and either Automatic Stability Control
(ASC) or Dynamic Stability Control (DSC).
In order for the
braling and stability controls to work properk if the brake
master cylinder is replaced, make sure that the brake system
is bled
by an authorized BMW dealer or other qualified repair
facility
using the BMW Service Tester. See Brake Bleeding
earlier
in this group.
Page 784 of 1002

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Brakes
Parking brake components
1. Clamp
2. Parking brake cable
3. Cable bracket
4. Grommet
5. Adjusting screw
6. Support
7. Shoe expander
8. Return springs
9. Parking brake shoe
10. Lock down spring
11. Shoe retaining pin
12. Adjuster
Parking brake, adjusting
The parking brake is a brake drum system integrated into the I
rear brake rotors. It can be adjusted with the wheels installed,
although the rear wheels will have to be raised off the ground.
- Adjusting the parking bralte becomes necessary under the
following circumstances:
After replacing parking bralte shoes
After replacing rear brake rotors
Excessive stroke of parking brake handle required for ac-
tuation (more then
10 clicks)
After replacement of brake shoe adjuster or parking bralte
cable(s)
- Lift parking brake lever boot out of console. While holding ca-
Page 785 of 1002

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340-23
Brakes
- Using flat-bladed screwdriver, reach into brake drum through
lug bolt hole. Turn brake adjuster until wheel no longer turns.
Back adjuster off
12 notches.
Parking brake adjusting (initial)
Back
off adjuster through wheel
lug bolt hole 12 notches
- Working inside car, set parking brake several times to seat
cable. Then pull parking brake
lever up two notches. Tighten
cable adjusting nuts until it is just possible to turn rear wheels
with slight resistance.
- Release lever and make sure rear wheels turn freely
- Turn on ignition. Pull up parlting brake lever 1 notch and
make sure that parking bralte warning light comes on. if not,
adjust parking bralte warning light contact switch.
- Install parking brake lever boot. Install road wheel lug bolts.
Tightening torque Road
wheel to hub 120 i. 10 Nrn (89 i- 7 ft-lb)
Parking brake shoes, removing and
installing
- Raise rear of car and remove road wheels.
WARNING-
Make sure that the car is firmly supported on jack stands de-
signed for
the purpose. Place jack stands beneath structural
chassis points. Do not place
jaclc stands under suspension
parts.
- Without disconnecting brake fluid hose, remove rear bralte
calipers from trailing arms. Remove rear brake rotors as de-
scribed earlier.
CAUTION-
Do not let the brake caliper assembly hang from the brake
hose. Support caliper from chassis with strong wire.
4 Unhook return sprlngs (arrows) from brake shoes
Page 786 of 1002

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340-24
Brakes
4 Remove brake shoe retaining pins using BMW special tool
34 4 000 or equivalent.
Rotate retainer
114 turn to release.
Spread shoes apart and lift out.
4 Note position of bralte shoe adjuster (arrow).
Right side is illustrated. Left is mirror image of this.
- Apply thin coat of grease to sliding parts and pins before re-
assembly.
- Installation is reverse of removal. Be sure to adjust parlting
bralte cables as described earlier.
Tightening torque
Road wheel to
hub 120 i lo Nm (89 i 7 ft-lb)
Parking brake cable, replacing
The parking brake is actuated by two separate Bowden ca-
bles. Each cable can be replaced separately.
- Working inside car, gain access to base of parking brake -
handle by removing center console storage tray and center
armrest, as necessary.
4 Use BMW special tool 34 1 030 or equivalent deep 10 mm
socket to remove parlting brake cable
loclc nuts (A) at base of
parking brake handle.
- Raise rear of car.
WARNING -
Male sure that the car is firmly supported on jack stands de-
signed for the purpose. Place jack stands beneath structural
chassis points. Do not place jaclc stands under suspension
Darfs.
Page 787 of 1002

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340-25
Brakes
- Remove complete exhaust system as described in 180 Ex-
haust System.
- Remove center tunnel heat shield.
< Pull parlting brake cable out of body guide tube (arrow) and
detach from routing bracltets, noting correct routing for rein-
stallation.
- Remove parlting bralte shoes as described earlier.
4 Pull shoe expander (A) forward, disconnect parlting bralte
cable
(B) and remove expander.
4 Reroute new cable under car, attaching to bracltets (arrows).
- Remainder of installation is reverse of removal.
Adjust parking brake as described earlier.
Page 881 of 1002

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513-3
Interior ~rirnl
The console between the two front seats starts behind the shifler housing. It houses the parking brake handle, optional
telephone and oddments storage tray. The rear portion of the
console houses the ashtray and covers the emergency brake
cable ends.
NOTE-
The accompanying photos illustrate a model with automatic
transmission. Manual transmission models are similar.
Center console, removing and installing
4 Remove shift knob by pulling straight up (arrow).
Gently pry shift bezel
harness (arrow). up
out of console and disconnect wiring
Models equipped with automatic transmission remove neu-
tral safety switch fasteners (arrows) and remove bezel with
switch.
Page 884 of 1002

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51 3-6
Interior Trim
Remove parking bralte lever side cover fasteners (arrows)
4 Unclip trim boot for parking brake lever and pull boot and
handle forward off brake lever. Remove parking
bralte cover
fastener
(arrow) and remove cover.
4 Remove fasteners at rear of console (arrows).
4 With left and right seats in lowest position, remove side con-
sole fasteners
(arrow).
- Remove left and right side console trim covers. See Lower
- Remove center console.
- Installation is reverse of removal.