Cars Comp

How to Replace BMW Performance Brakes

Taking the Old Brakes Off
1. Empty the brake fluid from the vehicle. The fluid is corrosive and can cause serious problems if it starts to leak unexpectedly.
2. Use a breaker bar to loosen the wheel bolts on the first wheel. Do notremove them yet.
3. Jack up the front of the vehicle, using jack stands to help support the axle and frame
4. Loosen the rotor-retaining screw on either side of the BMW. Do not remove them yet.
5. Remove the retaining clip with a flat-head screwdriver and set it aside.
6. Remove the protective caps over the caliper guide bolts and then remove the bolts themselves. Set them all aside nearby.
7. Remove the caliper, using a c-clamp to depress the piston. (Calipers in good condition shouldnt present any problems, but older ones may be difficult because the rotors are worn.) Push the piston back into the caliper when you are done.
8. Loosen the 16mm bolts while holding the caliper carrier to the steering knuckle, then remove the carrier from the knuckle. Clean the carrier with brake cleaner if it is dirty.
9. Using a dead-blow hammer, strike the rotor once at the 3 oclock position, once at the 9 oclock position, once at the 6 oclock position and once at the 12 oclock position, in that order. It should come loose and allow you to remove it. Dont use anything but a dead-blow hammer, or you may damage the rotor.
10. Use brake cleaner and a cleaning pad to get rid of the old anti-seize compound on the hub. Then apply new anti-seize to the hub. The coating should be very thin; make sure you get the threads of the bolt holes as well, as the face of the hub.
Putting the New Brakes On
11. Take the new rotor by the center (not the edges) and thread it onto the hub. You may wish to clean any preservative oils off the rotor and add some anti-seize before you do this, but it isnt necessary. Make sure its tight: the torque specs should be 12 ft*lbs.
12. Clean the carrier bracket in an appropriate wash basin, then spray it with brake cleaner and allow it to dry.
13. Reattach the caliper carrier bracket. The bolts need to be torqued to 81 ft*lbs.
14. Add a bit of grease to the lubrication points of the brake pads, and then insert them into the carrier. Its usually best to insert the outer pad first.
15. Reinstall the caliper. The retracted piston should allow it to fit into place without a problem.
16. Clean the caliper guide pins with brake cleaner and then reinsert them into their positions.
17. Reattach the guide bolt caps and the retaining clip.
18. Repeat the entire process with the other three wheels.
19. Place new brake fluid in the BMW and then lower the car off the jacks.