Braking issues

M

momo88

Member
Right, well tonight I took the zed out on the motorway tonight to try and get rid of the condensation (hopefully) under the oil cap. But straight away I felt that something wasn't quite right.

When accelerating from 50 to 70 mph I felt that the steering wheel was shuddering/wobbling but put it down to excessive sticky steering.

It wasn't until I was braking from around 70 mph that I could feel some severe shuddering through the steering wheel as well as through the brake pedal.

So I pulled over at tried to look through the alloys at the brake discs to see if anything obvious had got stuck in there. Found nothing apart from a really bad burning smell.

If anyone could give me any advice or thoughts on this it would be really great. Hopefully its nothing too bad as I'm, getting married next week and I'm already hoping that the oil filler cap issue is just condensation due to the cold weather driving recently. Can't be doing with any more big bills :(

Thanks in advance,
Mo
 
Sounds like one of your callipers is seized or stuck.
Were both sides of the car affected i.e. both discs?
Again if the car hasn't been used a lot and with the crap on the roads it might just need some TLC to free off the piston and calliper?
 
Hi mate,

Couldn't really feel that it was one side more than the other to be honest. Like on my other thread, the car has only been doing 3-4 in town miles a day for the past fortnight.

I didn't really feel comfortable enough to keep trying to speed up and try again I'm afraid :(
 
Don't blame you. The burning smell will probably be the pads not releasing.
The brakes are pretty standard and simple to strip out the pads to check the callipers. You need a 7mm hex to slacken the calliper pins.
I take it it was the front discs?
 
So you think this is a possibility then yeah? I thought driving around at 30mph would be suffice and not leave the calipers/pads sticking etc.

Yeah it was the front that the smell was coming from. I'm not really confident enough to do that either, wuss I know! :( lol
 
Any local garages that you can trust not rob you?
Also try Jacking the car up and seeing if you can turn the front wheels to identify if a calliper is binding on. Any strange noises etc.
 
There is a kwik-fit just next to my work that I could try and call tomorrow - they do a free brake check don't they?

Hopefully like you said the crap from the salt on the roads has found there way in there and is causing the issue. And hopefully it's a simple task for someone to disassemble the brake set up and put back together.

Thanks a lot for your input mate
 
The calipers are known to stick on these & decided to upgrade my front rotors from 300mm to 320mm - see this topic

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=8399

You can try some violent braking & it can release them, though there's plenty of reconditioned calipers on eBay if you just wish to change like for like, though highly recommend the upgrade path as they do work & look much better...

0221D039-ACD5-4FFA-BCAC-5676243269A9-5559-0000029061D5765A.jpg
 
I've booked the car in to kwik-fit for this afternoon. Will hopefully find out that it's just some crap in there.

How much should I be looking at for someone to dismantle the brakes for me if this needs to be done to remove anything that is lodged in there?
 
Momo, sorry to hear of your car woes :(

If you need work doing I highly recommend James at Redish Motorsport. He's a really nice guy, really knows his BMW's and best of all doesn't rip you off...

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=41336

If you go there and explain the issues you have he'll hopefully be able to diagnose there and then or after a short drive, dependant on how busy he is.

I wish I was more technically minded and could help you as your so local but I only really know the basics! Hopefully you get it sorted soon mate :)
 
Thanks woody mate.

I shall see what the guys at kwik-fit say about it on my lunch.

I appreciate the thought mate, I really need to get my act together and learn how to do these things I guess!

With the muckly oil cap, these brakes and my window regulator going. I'm hoping thats the last off the issues.

Wedding next week so hopefully some good news... oh wait ... :lol:
 
As per above, this could be Sticking caliper since the issue occurs on acceleration and braking.

However - it could also be unbalanced wheels - but when you say "severe shuddering" its more likley to be a jammed caliper.

Another way to test from cold would be to

1) Find a decent stretch of road where you can avoid braking for a few hundred meters
2) Start driving and then slow down brining the car to a stop using the handbrake
3) get out and touch each disc and see which is cold and which is warm

The theory here is that you have not pressed the brake and if one side is sticking the disc will be warm/hot

If you do the above its fully at your own risk! :)
 
So im in kwik fit and it looks like its a sticky caliper. The guy has said that I'll be needing new discs and pads. He's still checking the calipers.

He's told me £260 for discs and pads fitted. But after phoning that recommended place in Lincoln. They quoted £170 for the discs, pads and the abs sensor.

Is there anyone that is available to perhaps fit these for me?

I am in the Bristol area and will travel if required... within reason.

Really hope I don't need a new caliper but if it's the caliper thats caused it, then I'll probably have to replace it?

:( gutted



Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
 
Yup and a new caliper.

Would someone be able to help me out with this? I'd really appreciate it and will pay for any help.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
 
Momo seriously speak to James at Redish, why not go there after work? He is really decent, it's just him and his garage. He did my rear brake pads and discs, charging minimal labour...honestly I'm not linked to him at all but will use him for all my cars now, even if/when I don't have a BMW!
 
Cheers woody.

I have phoned another garage that I get a 15% discount with - apparently!

They did say they'd rather see the car first so that they can decipher if I actually need all the parts.

But worst case scenario they would want £270 for parts labour and vat. Albeit not genuine bmw parts.

On a 10 year old car, is it important to continue using genuine bmw parts?
 
Good that is diagnosed. Some times its the not knowing that makes it worse.
Its important to strike up a 'relationship' (nothing for your partner to worry about if you understand what I mean!) with a trustworthy local mechanic, especially if you are not planning to do a lot of work your self.
Woody's recommendation sounds good.
The age of our vehicles generally means regular repairs unfortunately. :cry:
 
yeah I know what you mean Toe-side!

I've just came back from the second garage and they have only changed the caliper because the pads and discs are fine. no judder at all when I brake.

Very happy with the prices of £165 for the caliper, a pot of paint and labour (inc the 15% off discount). Hopefully there are no more issues with it!

Thanks for all the advice guys! :driving: :thumbsup:
 
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