Emergency brake squeal, causing drag squeal

[nvmaddog]

Anyone have this issue? I tried to do a couple of full stops at low speed with my ebrake to clear off rust/brake dust but the squeal is pretty loud. Also I am noticing light squeals when taking slow turns without the brakes as a result of this. Is it brake dust/rust causing the metal on metal sound or something else? Only happens with foot off brakes entirely.

Thanks as always.

[thatguyn8]

how are your wheel bearings?

[mryakan]

Could be brake sensor issue. Look it up, lots of threads on that.

[nvmaddog]

Could be brake sensor issue. Look it up, lots of threads on that.

I was taking a look at that. It is weird that it is only present when the ebrake is pulled though right? The sensor doesn't have much to do with that does it? Just the rear discs and pads I believe.

This is pretty clearly the ebrake dragging, I'm just not sure why. Same metal on metal sound when I pull the ebrake to stop vs taking corners slowly at low speeds without the any braking whatsoever.

Ebrake shoes worn maybe? Hard to believe on a 59k car though that has never been tracked.

[fun2drive]

Pull the rear brake rotor and investigate. It is unlikely unless someone wore the ebrake pads out that this is the cause however now would be the time to have a couple of cans of brake cleaner and wash the entire shoe and inside drum area clean. If the clearance is too close the rotor will not come off easily which is a telltale sign something is up...

[mryakan]

I was taking a look at that. It is weird that it is only present when the ebrake is pulled though right? The sensor doesn't have much to do with that does it? Just the rear discs and pads I believe.

This is pretty clearly the ebrake dragging, I'm just not sure why. Same metal on metal sound when I pull the ebrake to stop vs taking corners slowly at low speeds without the any braking whatsoever.

Ebrake shoes worn maybe? Hard to believe on a 59k car though that has never been tracked.
Hold on! Are you saying you use the ebrake to slow down? If so, then that is a problem because I doubt it is meant for that and could wear down pretty quickly. It is meant to hold the car in place when at a standstill not bring the car to a stop, and it is not very good at the former either.
If you want to get rid of surface rust on the rotors, use the regular brakes, I tend to take it for a short drive and use "heal/toe" to clear it while driving at slow speeds.

[nvmaddog]

Hold on! Are you saying you use the ebrake to slow down? If so, then that is a problem because I doubt it is meant for that and could wear down pretty quickly. It is meant to hold the car in place when at a standstill not bring the car to a stop, and it is not very good at the former either.
If you want to get rid of surface rust on the rotors, use the regular brakes, I tend to take it for a short drive and use "heal/toe" to clear it while driving at slow speeds.

No I most certainly do not use the ebrake to slow down. I was trying to clear up brakedust/rust that forms and causes squealing every now and then but unfortunately that did not get rid of the metal on metal sound that is coming form the ebrake. I also hear this sound when I engage the parking brake, then get out of the car and the slighest movement I can hear the same squeal too. So I have narrowed it down to the ebrake, just not sure why it is making this metal on metal nosie. It would not be so bad if I could not hear it at low speed while driving, it's like the ebrake shoes are rubbing slightly like it has not released all the way if that makes sense.


Pull the rear brake rotor and investigate. It is unlikely unless someone wore the ebrake pads out that this is the cause however now would be the time to have a couple of cans of brake cleaner and wash the entire shoe and inside drum area clean. If the clearance is too close the rotor will not come off easily which is a telltale sign something is up...

Thanks yeah I believe it is time for a good cleaning as well.

[mryakan]

I also hear this sound when I engage the parking brake, then get out of the car and the slighest movement I can hear the same squeal too. So I have narrowed it down to the ebrake, just not sure why it is making this metal on metal nosie.
Oh, that seems to be the norm on all BMWs. All the way back to the 1978 730 my dad had some 20+ years ago, through my e36 and my past and current e90s. Don't ask me why, but they all seem to do it.



It would not be so bad if I could not hear it at low speed while driving, it's like the ebrake shoes are rubbing slightly like it has not released all the way if that makes sense.
Now I am not sure that the 2 are related. Don't limit yourself to this possibility, because unless the ebrake is seized/sticking, I do not think it will cause any squeaking while driving.

[nvmaddog]

Oh, that seems to be the norm on all BMWs. All the way back to the 1978 730 my dad had some 20+ years ago, through my e36 and my past and current e90s. Don't ask me why, but they all seem to do it.


Now I am not sure that the 2 are related. Don't limit yourself to this possibility, because unless the ebrake is seized/sticking, I do not think it will cause any squeaking while driving.

I have read about the metal sound while getting out of the vehicle due to the ebrake from several threads you are definitely right.

I thought if maybe my rear pads were low that it would also cause it to drag a little but they still have plenty of life left. The sound is literally exact though, I would be hard pressed to find something else making the same exact noise I think. Going to take everything apart and clean really well and go from there. Odd no one else has had this issue before though.

Thanks everyone for the help.

[mryakan]

I have read about the metal sound while getting out of the vehicle due to the ebrake from several threads you are definitely right.

I thought if maybe my rear pads were low that it would also cause it to drag a little but they still have plenty of life left. The sound is literally exact though, I would be hard pressed to find something else making the same exact noise I think. Going to take everything apart and clean really well and go from there. Odd no one else has had this issue before though.

Thanks everyone for the help.
I pointed you to the sensor rubbing issue, lots of people complained about that. Not saying that is definitely what you have, but a candidate nonetheless.

[nvmaddog]

I pointed you to the sensor rubbing issue, lots of people complained about that. Not saying that is definitely what you have, but a candidate nonetheless.

Thanks I saw that as well, definitely a candidate. Mine just doesn't make the same noise as the youtube video I watched of the person that had the sensor rubbing issue. (mine is nails on a chalkboard, same sound my ebrake makes) Going to get dirty this evening and see what I can find, I'm sure once I get the rear discs off and clean everything up I'll find something.

Thanks again.

[Pdolphin]

It could be that the e-brake pad is disconnected from the backing plate that it used to be glued to. I've experienced this particular failure on other cars, but not my 328i..... yet. If you remove the wheel, caliper, and rotor, you will know right away if it has come un-glued.

[NFerber]

Do you use the e-brake often? If not, it could have seized.

[cdmbmw]

Its funny that I just stumbled onto this thread, as I just replaced a LH e-brake cable on a 2010 e90 because the cable was catching inside of the two piece housing that had become seperated.
The left hand e-brake on this vehicle would release, but not fully, so that it was still just rubbing on the drum. It was getting so hot, the outside of the drum/rotor was starting to go blue in color.

Food for thought.