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Hi All,

New to the scene and having to ask a novice question that I'm sure the more experienced than me amongst you will be able to help me with!

I've noticed that I've started getting squeaking/squealing from the brakes when in use. Furthermore, I'm getting shuddering through the steering wheel (although this seems more prevalent under "soft" braking).

I'm assuming the squeaking/squealing means new pads, however I've done a bit of reading on brake shudder and it sounds like the rotors could be on their way out too. Seems as though shudder through the steering wheel is front brakes, and shudder through the pedal is rear brakes?

I've had a wee nosey on the forums here and elsewhere and the Brembo brakes seem to get a good rap, so I'm thinking of going down this route if required. The only thing is, I'm not sure if the likes of the Xtra Line Brembo brake rotors are overkill (https://www.autodoc.co.uk/brembo/7887492)


The questions I have are as follows:

- Do you agree with my prognosis with regards to the squeaking/squealing (i.e. new pads required)?
- Does or could the brake shudder warrant new rotors?
- Is it worth it or is it good practice to change calipers when changing rotors given the age/mileage of the car (13 years old 3.0si with 94,000 miles on the clock)?
- Do you have a recommendation for brembo or other braking systems?
- What are the likely costs associated with purchasing and fitting? I'm not too keen on working on this sort of stuff myself to be honest.

Thanks in advance for your help.
Craig

With that age and mileage if you have no history of either one being replaced. Then over due to replace them all pads and Rotors. The Pads are cheap it is the rotors which are more expensive. A quick jack up of the car remove the wheel and you can view the status of pads etc. The pads diffidently need replacing as for the Rotors depends on how they look. Do they have gouges in them , is the surface clean flat? How much "meat" is left on the rotors? If it were me I would replace both pads and rotors just due to the mileage if you can confirm are original.

94,000 miles?

If the discs haven't been replaced then they'll need replaced.

Overhaul the entire braking system including the hoses and brake fluid.

Some of us on here use https://www.carparts4less.co.uk/ but since you're in the former land of the American Indian before the white man came then no idea who you'd use.

You can't really go overkill on brakes unless stopping isn't important to you.

I had the brake hoses changed to HEL braided hoses as the rubber hoses deteriorate over time. https://auto.helperformance.com/car/bra ... bmw/z4-e85

You'll get the part numbers on Real OEM... https://www.realoem.com/

rdm05z4 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 08, 2021 8:00 pm With that age and mileage if you have no history of either one being replaced. Then over due to replace them all pads and Rotors. The Pads are cheap it is the rotors which are more expensive. A quick jack up of the car remove the wheel and you can view the status of pads etc. The pads diffidently need replacing as for the Rotors depends on how they look. Do they have gouges in them , is the surface clean flat? How much "meat" is left on the rotors? If it were me I would replace both pads and rotors just due to the mileage if you can confirm are original.

Oodles of service history and yet nothing about brake component replacement I'm going to message the previous owner to see if he is aware of any of this sort of work having been done on the car recently. I'll have a look at the pads and rotors too.

I'm not driving the car much at all yet, but I'd like it to be sorted come summer time.

skelters wrote: ↑Thu Apr 08, 2021 8:10 pm 94,000 miles?

If the discs haven't been replaced then they'll need replaced.

Overhaul the entire braking system including the hoses and brake fluid.

Some of us on here use https://www.carparts4less.co.uk/ but since you're in the former land of the American Indian before the white man came then no idea who you'd use.

You can't really go overkill on brakes unless stopping isn't important to you.

I had the brake hoses changed to HEL braided hoses as the rubber hoses deteriorate over time. https://auto.helperformance.com/car/bra ... bmw/z4-e85

You'll get the part numbers on Real OEM... https://www.realoem.com/

Unless Scotland is the former land of the American Indian, then I think you've got me mixed up with someone else

I'll give carparts4less a nosey for parts. Thanks for the tips

Cag93 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 08, 2021 8:29 pm
Unless Scotland is the former land of the American Indian, then I think you've got me mixed up with someone else

I'll give carparts4less a nosey for parts. Thanks for the tips

In that case we say 'disc' rather than 'rotor' on this side of the pond.

I agree that it sounds like your front discs could do with replacing (+ pads of course).

Rotor’s or ‘disc’s can be skimmed when pads are changed and should cure the wobble problem. However, they are pretty thin to begin with and I would put new ones on and you can be confident in the car’s braking system.

Cag93 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 08, 2021 8:29 pm

skelters wrote: ↑Thu Apr 08, 2021 8:10 pm 94,000 miles?

If the discs haven't been replaced then they'll need replaced.

Overhaul the entire braking system including the hoses and brake fluid.

Some of us on here use https://www.carparts4less.co.uk/ but since you're in the former land of the American Indian before the white man came then no idea who you'd use.

You can't really go overkill on brakes unless stopping isn't important to you.

I had the brake hoses changed to HEL braided hoses as the rubber hoses deteriorate over time. https://auto.helperformance.com/car/bra ... bmw/z4-e85

You'll get the part numbers on Real OEM... https://www.realoem.com/

Unless Scotland is the former land of the American Indian, then I think you've got me mixed up with someone else

I'll give carparts4less a nosey for parts. Thanks for the tips

Got you mixed up with the bloke that replied first as he's in the occupied land of the American Indian.