Front pads

T

TJC46

Member
Hi guys I intend to fit new front pads to my sons Z4 this Friday.
As he lives and works some distance away I only have a few hours to do the job before he heads back in his car.
I have new bosch pads, but do I also need new front sensors? If so which ones?
I am mechanically savvy so this should be a straight forward job.
Please point me in the right direction if my strategy is wrong but basically jack the front up, remove the front wheels,open the bleed nipple and gently push the calliper back. Fit new pads [and sensor if required]
Repeat on the opposite side. Top up the brake fluid.
What type of brake fluid is it ? Is it Dot 4.?
 
From what i've read, the sensors only need replacing if the pads have worn down enough to activate the light on the dash.

I replaced my sensors anyway, just for peace of mind. They're only a tenner or so each and you only need 1 front and 1 rear sensor. I think i bought either bosch or pagid sensors from eurocarparts.


Dot 4 is the correct fluid to use.
 
Don't open the bleed nipple, at worse you'll snap it possibly stranding him and at best you'll introduce air into the system. Just gently force the pistons all the way back using a G clamp if you have one. If the existing pads are very worn, the reservoir may overflow, so keep an eye on it. New sensors not needed unless it's been "tripped" in which case, there is only one on the front. Use some anti squeal sparingly on the rear of the pads and also the contact points where they touch the carrier. A lot of people use coppaslip, but I prefer the metal free stuff from Pagid/Textar. ECP sell it.. https://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/car-accessories/car-maintenance-accessories/maintenance-fluids-and-greases/grease/?526770250&0&cc5_150

Mike
 
The only thing I don't see in your methodology is to unscrew the cap on the brake fluid reservoir when you push the pistons back. If you don't you can damage the master cylinder etc if there's too much fluid in the system. As above don't unscrew the bleed nipples and keep an eye on the fluid reservoir as you push the pads back for any potential overflow which ideally you want to soak up before it spills over.
 
It’s also fine to mix dot 5.1 fluid with dot 4, just in case you hav any of that lying around.
 
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