Epic brake upgrade fail

[mcbutler]

I fitted (is it Mintek?) slotted and drilled discs and ebc green stuff pads on my 23i.
I get virtually no brake dust, unlike the std, discs and pad, which were dreadful for dust.

Yes those green pads are very low dust, a good choice.

[nightyard]

You learn by doing so persevere and get it done yourself.

YouTube is your friend.

[john-e89]

I’m all for people having a crack at diy and it’s pretty hard to get the brakes ‘dangerously wrong’ as long as they are bled properly. I think all you needed was probably upgraded pads though as said above. Anyway, I would almost certainly say you are going to need a pressure bleeder as sometimes you just can’t get the pedal to pump the fluid through.

As for the brake hose - you just undo the flexi from the other coupling (where it joins the solid pipe) first. Then it’s dead easy and you dont need to spin the caliper around. You can buy rubber caps that fit over the exposed brake union for pence on Ebay.

It really is quite important that you don’t let the fluid drop too low in the master cylinder otherwise it’s a whole heap of hassle.

Hmmm not sure about the dangerously wrong part.....I knew a guy that stripped his brakes, went inside for Sunday lunch, forgot to put any pads in both front sides, promptly put his car through someone’s garden wall down the road....I kid you not, he was trying his own repairs as the OP. Easily done tbh if you’ve not done brakes before and wander off halfway through.

Well done for having a go but double and triple check everything Beemerguy....seriously.

[BeemerGuy]

I’m all for people having a crack at diy and it’s pretty hard to get the brakes ‘dangerously wrong’ as long as they are bled properly. I think all you needed was probably upgraded pads though as said above. Anyway, I would almost certainly say you are going to need a pressure bleeder as sometimes you just can’t get the pedal to pump the fluid through.

As for the brake hose - you just undo the flexi from the other coupling (where it joins the solid pipe) first. Then it’s dead easy and you dont need to spin the caliper around. You can buy rubber caps that fit over the exposed brake union for pence on Ebay.

It really is quite important that you don’t let the fluid drop too low in the master cylinder otherwise it’s a whole heap of hassle.

Thanks have ordered 2 litres of bmw 4 dot, and the easibleed pressure kit. The level is OK, so far so I will be especially careful of that thanks.

I feel committed to plough on with this job, and will take my time, find a solution for the bolt, get the right carriers, and maybe change the pipes too as well as getting the rubber caps.

I like to try things, and am typically a completer finisher....so I'm sure ill get there...and safely. If I really have big doubts I wouldn't hesitate on calling someone in...

Thanks for all the constructive, sobering and also positive advice

[BeemerGuy]

I'm sure I read that on the E85/86 models you need a different carrier for the calliper to get it to fit.

I think it was the same part that was fitted to E46 330 models.

So I think you will need new carriers - probably worth a look on "realoem" to check whether it is a different part to what your car has.

The carrier bracket is part 34116769097. They don't look easy to source sadly.....

[BeemerGuy]

I'm sure I read that on the E85/86 models you need a different carrier for the calliper to get it to fit.

I think it was the same part that was fitted to E46 330 models.

So I think you will need new carriers - probably worth a look on "realoem" to check whether it is a different part to what your car has.

The carrier bracket is part 34116769097. They don't look easy to source sadly.....

In fact if anyone has a 2nd hand set per chance I'd be very interested, thanks.

[BeemerGuy]

Ordered new ones now so please ignore last post, thanks.

[Maybach_man]

if its a rubber brake hose...you can get a brake hose clamp tool to stop the fluid. means you only have to bleed a little air out of each one...

[BeemerGuy]

if its a rubber brake hose...you can get a brake hose clamp tool to stop the fluid. means you only have to bleed a little air out of each one...

Thanks...it's the metal braided type so I don't think that will work.

[BeemerGuy]

Time for an update...bit of a mechanical tale

So the saga continued until last weekend when I finally got the brakes working, tested and fully operational. MOT tomorrow!

There were a few more mishaps along the way, and it wasn't quick or cheap - I didn't really expect it would be, but I'm pleased I did it and would be much more confident in the future - many a lesson learned.

Finally new carriers arrived and I set about fully replacing the front 300mm to the 330mm disk / calliper setup. I also decided to order some new disk guard bolts (as one wasn't catching properly), new guide bolts, and new brake pad retaining clips. I also realised from more research that my issues with the brake hoses were down to me trying to loosen the calliper side and not the connection into the brake pipe first (consequently somewhat mashing the calliper side tightening male connector nut....so I ended up ordering a set of Hel braided hoses to resolve any chewed nut issues and further improve braking...

Having been struggling on with a single set of axle stands, I also decided to buy another set, to make bleeding less of a faff...various other tools were bought like torque wrench, bleed spanner, and elongated T30 torx.

I decided to spray paint the break pad retaining clips red for a bit of bling....I later decided to scrub up the OEN ones and spray pain them satin black, as the red calliper paint seemed a bit flakey….or maybe t was the quality of the clips (or not prepping them properly)..

So got the front done with not too much trouble this time, and moved on to the rears....more trouble with the parking brake...

..I tried the wind back technique from the youtube techno tutorial, winding back with a screwdriver, but there was no way that was going to work - it wasn't for budging (perhaps because the had been locked in position, even while off the car). Additionally it was very difficult to get the bracket off the electric motor/calliper...and I ended up chewing the torx bolt and having to drill it out and stamp in a bigger bit to get a catch and remove it. In the process of hammering the torx after clamping the calliper, I managed to hammer out the parking brake piston from its seal and couldn't get it back inside it's gaitor - after more research I realised it was assembled from the read not from the front and that (at that point) looked well beyond me so decided to throw more money at it, and replace the rear callipers under a core exchange...also ordered some more torx bolts.

Anyway when they arrived some weeks later, it proved a fairly straightforward task to replace both sides, and to bleed all round via an Eazibleed kit.

Overall it came together I hope, and there haven't been any leaks as far as I can tell...garage I hope will confirm all is well...as I still have a couple of doubts over how the new narrower brake hoses seat in the connection with the brake pipes...the retaining clips I think might need bulked up with an extra washer or so, but I think would only be a slight wear risk over many thousands of miles) on a non critical part of the hose (says the novice) - one to keep an eye on!

I guess there's more I could have done...maybe cleaned up the rear carriers etc. In the end I was glad just to get it done, even although it didn't really need to be

[Chippie]

Well done you, hope all goes well with the MOT tomorrow

[Mr Tidy]

OP, it's great to see that you persevered and got there in the end.

[BeemerGuy]

Well done you, hope all goes well with the MOT tomorrow

Thanks - passed, and they said all was fine on the test and that all looked good....asked when I could start

[BeemerGuy]

OP, it's great to see that you persevered and got there in the end.

The forum was a great source of help and motivation, so thank you!

[Paul1983]

Hey, great job with the brakes. Currently trying to upgrade mine for the track. Where did u buy the carriers from? Cheers