GeoBrakes stocks complete parking brake shoe kits confirmed to fit the Bmw 320i drum-in-hat rear parking brake system, combining OEM-grade parking brake shoes matched to the 320i drum diameter with the return springs, shoe strut, adjusting screw assembly, and retaining clips needed for a correct, fully functional parking brake service on your Bmw 320i. Replacing shoes without the hardware is the leading cause of parking brake failure after service on the 320i in American conditions.
A parking brake shoe kit for the Bmw 320i restores complete parking brake function, not just the friction lining. The most common reason a freshly serviced 320i parking brake fails to hold on a hill is not worn shoes: it is a seized adjuster that prevents the shoe-to-drum clearance from being correctly set after installation on your Bmw 320i. In the enclosed drum-in-hat cavity of the 320i, road salt and meltwater concentrate corrosion on the adjuster threads, the return springs, and the strut. A kit that includes every hardware component alongside the shoes is the only way to guarantee the Bmw 320i parking brake performs correctly after service.
The kit for your Bmw 320i includes parking brake shoes with OEM-grade friction lining at the correct arc length and lining width for the 320i drum-in-hat diameter, return springs that retract both shoes cleanly after the 320i parking brake is released, hold-down hardware with springs and pins that locate the shoes while permitting actuation on your Bmw 320i, the parking brake strut connecting both shoes through the 320i mechanism, the adjusting screw assembly setting correct shoe-to-drum clearance for reliable holding force on your Bmw 320i, and retaining clips and washers securing the strut and adjuster in correct operating position on the 320i.
The parking brake shoe adjuster on the Bmw 320i sets the gap between the shoes and the inner drum surface of the 320i rotor hat. In American winters, the drum-in-hat cavity of the 320i traps road salt and moisture. The adjuster threads on your Bmw 320i corrode and seize, sometimes within a single winter season. A seized adjuster on the 320i produces a parking brake that either drags against the drum when released or fails to hold the Bmw 320i on a slope when engaged.
Parking brake shoe kits for the Bmw 320i are among the most vehicle-specific brake components in the catalogue. The shoe arc length, lining width, spring rates, strut length, and adjuster thread specification for the 320i are all determined by the specific drum-in-hat diameter of the Bmw 320i rotor. Every kit in the GeoBrakes catalogue is assembled for the Bmw 320i exact year and model, with zinc-plated or coated hardware components to resist the concentrated corrosion inside the 320i drum-in-hat cavity.
How do I know if my Bmw 320i uses parking brake shoes?
Bmw 320i vehicles with four-wheel disc brakes often use a drum-in-hat parking brake requiring separate shoes. Some 320i variants instead use a caliper-actuated parking brake. Use the GeoBrakes vehicle selector to confirm your Bmw 320i parking brake type and find the correct kit.
My Bmw 320i parking brake light stays on after I release it, do the shoes need replacing?
A warning light that stays on after full release on the Bmw 320i can indicate worn shoes, a faulty sensor, low brake fluid, or a stretched cable on the 320i. If the Bmw 320i fails to hold on a slope, a shoe kit replacement combined with cable and adjuster inspection is the recommended starting point for your 320i.
Can I adjust the parking brake on my Bmw 320i after installing a shoe kit without replacing the cable?
Yes, if the 320i cable is in good condition and within its adjustment range. After correct shoe installation and adjuster setting on the Bmw 320i, adjust the cable until the brake holds firmly within three to five clicks of 320i lever travel.