GeoBrakes stocks complete parking brake shoe kits confirmed to fit the Bmw 325xi drum-in-hat rear parking brake system, combining OEM-grade parking brake shoes matched to the 325xi 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 325xi. Replacing shoes without the hardware is the leading cause of parking brake failure after service on the 325xi in American conditions.
A parking brake shoe kit for the Bmw 325xi restores complete parking brake function, not just the friction lining. The most common reason a freshly serviced 325xi 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 325xi. In the enclosed drum-in-hat cavity of the 325xi, 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 325xi parking brake performs correctly after service.
The kit for your Bmw 325xi includes parking brake shoes with OEM-grade friction lining at the correct arc length and lining width for the 325xi drum-in-hat diameter, return springs that retract both shoes cleanly after the 325xi parking brake is released, hold-down hardware with springs and pins that locate the shoes while permitting actuation on your Bmw 325xi, the parking brake strut connecting both shoes through the 325xi mechanism, the adjusting screw assembly setting correct shoe-to-drum clearance for reliable holding force on your Bmw 325xi, and retaining clips and washers securing the strut and adjuster in correct operating position on the 325xi.
The parking brake shoe adjuster on the Bmw 325xi sets the gap between the shoes and the inner drum surface of the 325xi rotor hat. In American winters, the drum-in-hat cavity of the 325xi traps road salt and moisture. The adjuster threads on your Bmw 325xi corrode and seize, sometimes within a single winter season. A seized adjuster on the 325xi produces a parking brake that either drags against the drum when released or fails to hold the Bmw 325xi on a slope when engaged.
Parking brake shoe kits for the Bmw 325xi 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 325xi are all determined by the specific drum-in-hat diameter of the Bmw 325xi rotor. Every kit in the GeoBrakes catalogue is assembled for the Bmw 325xi exact year and model, with zinc-plated or coated hardware components to resist the concentrated corrosion inside the 325xi drum-in-hat cavity.
How do I know if my Bmw 325xi uses parking brake shoes?
Bmw 325xi vehicles with four-wheel disc brakes often use a drum-in-hat parking brake requiring separate shoes. Some 325xi variants instead use a caliper-actuated parking brake. Use the GeoBrakes vehicle selector to confirm your Bmw 325xi parking brake type and find the correct kit.
My Bmw 325xi 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 325xi can indicate worn shoes, a faulty sensor, low brake fluid, or a stretched cable on the 325xi. If the Bmw 325xi fails to hold on a slope, a shoe kit replacement combined with cable and adjuster inspection is the recommended starting point for your 325xi.
Can I adjust the parking brake on my Bmw 325xi after installing a shoe kit without replacing the cable?
Yes, if the 325xi cable is in good condition and within its adjustment range. After correct shoe installation and adjuster setting on the Bmw 325xi, adjust the cable until the brake holds firmly within three to five clicks of 325xi lever travel.