Brake upgrade Done!

T

thanatu55

Senior member
So it's been such a lovely day, I decided it was obviously the perfect conditions to perform an all round brake upgrade!

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I promised another member I would document the process as best I can. Picture's aren't all that great with it being such a dull wet miserable day.

Tools:
- Jack
- Wheel brace
- 330i brake calipers and carriers
- Brake Pads
- 325mm brake discs
- 16mm wrench / spanner
- 6mm allen key
- 14mm spanner

I started on the rear discs. So first thing's first, jack up the car and remove the wheel.
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Undo the two 16mm bolts on the rear of the caliper. Then twist and release the caliper.
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The brake discs are held on by a single screw that requires a 6mm allen key to release. Then the disc can come off.
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It's at this point I discovered that the 294mm Brembo brake discs I had purchased were too shallow to allow use of the handbrake, nor would any 294mm disc fit. So frustratingly, after all that I had to abandon ship, rebuild and move on to the fronts :cry:
However, the steps above apply equally to remove the caliper and disc from the front wheel and I had better photo examples of them as right about now the heavens opened just to rub salt in the wound. But that wasn't going to deter us, so we ploughed on.

Again, repeat the steps above for the front procedure.
- Jack up, wheel off
- undo 16mm bolts, caliper off
- undo screw with 6mm allen key, brake disc off

Undo the brake flexi pipe on the rear of the caliper with a 14mm spanner and remove the pad wear sensor. Then twist the caliper off completely.

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Now you can mount your new 325mm brake disc and re-insert the screw we removed earlier.
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Undo the pistons from the caliper carrier and mount the carrier to the brake disc.
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Screw the flexi pipe onto the new caliper, you may need a caliper compressor at this point. Insert the brake pads and bolt the caliper on, reinserting the pistons. Attach the pad wear sensor.
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Wheel back on and we're all done. Besides the palava with the rear discs it was actually a lot easier than I expected, and looks a damn site better than beforehand! Hope this helps anyone thinking of doing the same.

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Nice work and great pics :thumbsup: looks great.

Wish i had upgraded when i replaced my discs and pads, but couldn't find and 330i calipers and carriers at the time :(
 
Love the look! And cheers for the write up, once I've got the skirts/splitter/headlights done I'll start the brakes!!! It's a lot simpler than I thought!!
 
If anyone is literally following those instructions then don't forget the all important brake fluid bleed at the end. The reservoir probably needs topping up afterwards too with the fluid that now goes into the new caliper.
 
I will be returning to the rear brakes in due course having now ordered a set of 294mm brake discs intended for a 3.0i.
 
Really good thread, except you're giving me ideas ha!

Couple of questions:

1) Assuming from your post that the front calipers, carriers and 325mm discs from a 330i will bolt straight on?
2) On the rear, you're fitting Z4 294mm discs, but which calipers and carriers?

:)
 
The gold caliper looks good against the blue! Mine are currently a combination of rust and brake dust :oops:

Did you get brembo discs and pads for the front?
 
groovy_hippy said:
Really good thread, except you're giving me ideas ha!

Couple of questions:

1) Assuming from your post that the front calipers, carriers and 325mm discs from a 330i will bolt straight on?
2) On the rear, you're fitting Z4 294mm discs, but which calipers and carriers?
Click to expand...

1) Yep they bolt straight on, it's a fairly simple swap really.

2) The calipers I have for the rears are off an E46 328i which also bolt straight on.


dhobbs said:
The gold caliper looks good against the blue! Mine are currently a combination of rust and brake dust

Did you get brembo discs and pads for the front?
Click to expand...

Yes both discs and pads are Brembo. I also have Brembo pads for the rear, but I haven't been able to find any Brembo discs suitable for the rear. Sticking with the drilled disc theme I managed to find these http://www.mtecbrakes.com/brake-discs/bmw/z4-roadster-e85-03-09/z4-3-0i-06-03-06-06.html but there are very limited options about with a deep enough hub.
 
Nice write up.

One thing I would add, is that it's VITAL to make sure the hub surface is properly cleaned before firing the discs. Best way is an angle grinder with a wire brush cup. Any rust or deposits can cause disc run out once they are used.

Don't know if you did this step?

Mike
 
Ducklakeview said:
Nice write up.

One thing I would add, is that it's VITAL to make sure the hub surface is properly cleaned before firing the discs. Best way is an angle grinder with a wire brush cup. Any rust or deposits can cause disc run out once they are used.

Don't know if you did this step?

Mike
Click to expand...

Thanks.

Yep done today, forgot this yesterday but I only did one side yesterday due to the rain, so I've done the other side today and refitted this one too. Thanks for the tip!
 
thanatu55 said:
Of course that should be in there, bleed the brake fluid, pumping and releasing the brake pedal.
Click to expand...

Just reading this thread and this answer bothered me a little.
Are you using the bleed nipple on the caliper to bleed the brakes?
Its just the answer you have given kinda makes it look like you have just pumped the pedal.
 
Do the rears need to be upgraded if you are upgrading the fronts? I am doing mine next year. :thumbsup:
 
Rusky said:
Do the rears need to be upgraded if you are upgrading the fronts? I am doing mine next year. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

It's not essential, I don't know anybody that has done, though I'm sure plenty have. ESP has only done the front's and hasn't had a problem. I want to do it because it looks better and it's a bonus that it is better for the car, but as I say, a lot of people just do the fronts.
 
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