A front brake question this time

[Duane Ausherman]

This is really embarrassing.

A BMW friend has come to me for years when he starts doing a job and I have always been able to assist. Now he is working on his /5 front brake backing plate. He needs to clean the shafts and holes for the actuating arms on the double leading shoes. I have forgotten just how we did it. So, I asked my old shop manager who kept working on them after I sold the shop. He thought about it and ended with "I can't remember."

Duh, neither of us remembers what worked easily. How does one get the springs off and back on? Or, one can expand the shoes and jamb something in to keep the pressure off if the shaft in order to remove it.

It is the same brake situation as the /2. We don't remember doing it often, but we did it somehow.

I talk to myself because sometimes I need expert advice, but it is working less and less often.

Its dementia and that's my final answer. TIA for help

[Kurt in S.A.]

If I understand the question, you would grab the shoes and begin pulling them up to form a "taco"...mind the fingers. At that point, it will be relatively easy to unhook the springs and remove the shoes. Reverse the process to install the springs and shoes. Just watch the fingers.

Kurt in S.A.

[Airbear]

Duane, I'm sorry but have to ask since I'm in a bloody minded pedantic mood ...

Did you google this question? I googled "how to remove bmw /5 motorcycle brake shoes" and came up with this as the first hit:

http://brook.reams.me/bmw-motorcyle-reb ... rake_Shoes

Very helpful. The second hit was from a mob called w6rec.com.

http://w6rec.com/duane/bmw/brake/

Reading that page yielded this: "It is a bear to remove the springs/shoes and isn't even needed. Use a lever to lift off the shoe from the cam. Then pull it out for cleaning and lube." Hopefully this rather vague info will be updated any day now if you still have enough fingers.

[Duane Ausherman]

I once heard that Google is my friend and am glad to be reminded. Wow, maybe it is dementia after all. Thanks.

I will ignore that w6rec mob site.