Brake Pad and Fluid DIY (with photos)

[fivemegabytes]

When swapping partly used brake pads, is it important to keep track of which pad came from which side?

[x.shell]

Originally Posted by fivemegabytes

When swapping partly used brake pads, is it important to keep track of which pad came from which side?

It's a good idea to keep the pads with the specific disc it's been mated to.

[knightarmor]

Can someone confirm this is the correct OE fluid?
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...id-81220142156

[Tommy L Garage]

Originally Posted by knightarmor

Can someone confirm this is the correct OE fluid?
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...id-81220142156

Don't use OEM fluid. I recommend Motul RBF600

[D_SheerDrivingPleasure]

Looking to replace my OEM pads for the blue Brembos. This is for street use Nov to March in the Northeast.

Any reason to purchase anything but OEM/Textar?

thank you

[White340]

Originally Posted by D_SheerDrivingPleasure

Looking to replace my OEM pads for the blue Brembos. This is for street use Nov to March in the Northeast.

Any reason to purchase anything but OEM/Textar?

thank you

Akebonos. 3% of the brake dust oem pads give off.

[vapem4]

Helpful DIY!!

[vapem4]

However the first video seems to be private, and I can't watch it

[aboulfad]

Reviving this as I am stuck similar to the poster in post #98.

I can’t for the life of me push any of the rear guide pins. I’ve used wd40, soaked for few hours and the pins don’t budge. The worn pads move freely, the pins are not seized on the metal bracket. I wonder if the guide pins are seized on either caliper surface. Appreciate any pointers/help?

PS: for some reason the rear guide pins seems to stick out more than the fronts.
PPS: there’s great set of videos for the front and rear brake/disc job

[D_SheerDrivingPleasure]

Originally Posted by aboulfad

Reviving this as I am stuck similar to the poster in post #98.

I can’t for the life of me push any of the rear guide pins. I’ve used wd40, soaked for few hours and the pins don’t budge. The worn pads move freely, the pins are not seized on the metal bracket. I wonder if the guide pins are seized on either caliper surface. Appreciate any pointers/help?

PS: for some reason the rear guide pins seems to stick out more than the fronts.

Yes, the rears guide pins protrude more than the fronts. That's normal but definitely concerning initially.

To remove the front pins, are you using an appropriately sized punch tool and hammer? If the punch tip is too thin you won't be able to direct sufficient force on the pin.

Those calipers look brand new btw. I imagine your tip toeing to keep them chip free. Try sending it.

[aboulfad]

Originally Posted by D_SheerDrivingPleasure

… To remove the front pins, are you using an appropriately sized punch tool and hammer? If the punch tip is too thin you won't be able to direct sufficient force on the pin.

Those calipers look brand new btw. I imagine your tip toeing to keep them chip free. Try sending it.

Thank you, appreciate the tips & info. No worries, the other rear caliper was more marred as my brother went hard and punch slipped. The punch tip is maybe 3mm so definitely bigger that the pin head. You can see on one of the pins that the pin head has been flattened bcoz of the blow force.

It just doesn’t make sense, the pins on the front caliper went out normal, no fuss :

[aboulfad]

Tried multiple rust “penetrating” sprays over multiple days, the rear pins don’t want to budge on either side.
The TA mentioned the guide pins require frequent cleanup else they’ll seize especially up north & winter driving,… have an appointment this week, sucks royally as they charge almost the labour for front/rear by doing one axle.

[F80RN]

Bookmarked for later

[D_SheerDrivingPleasure]

If I were local I would love the opportunity to give that pin a good thwack with my punch tool and hammer. See if BMW allows you to observe the service tech removing it. Maybe ask for a video. I just can't imagine how it's siezed.

[aboulfad]

Originally Posted by D_SheerDrivingPleasure

If I were local I would love the opportunity to give that pin a good thwack with my punch tool and hammer. See if BMW allows you to observe the service tech removing it. Maybe ask for a video. I just can't imagine how it's siezed.

Thanks… I have a good set of punch tools and a 32oz hammer. The fact that the pin’s head is flattened indicates it isn’t budging. My theory is the ring on the one side most likely fused with the Caliper inner hole body and on the pin itself. This is the first brake job on my 2015 , brake dust, salt, snow, dirt, water over the years.

If mechanical force can’t dislodge it, then it’s heat, spray, hit… I am sure that’s what the mechanic will do. Unless by that time the penetrating oil does it’s magic & they pop out

PS: my theory seems to be correct, our friends at MB also have the same issue with these guide pins.

[aboulfad]

Ok maybe the penetrating oil has been doing it’s stuff for weeks... I went to a corner mechanic who’s an acquaintance. He was able to punch them out maybe it’s the little trick where he pushed back on the expansion spring w a screwdriver and hammered out the darn pins! No heat or cutting

They were indeed seized/corroded at both ends, check the pics. So much stuff lodged between the collar and pin and some paint was stuck on the collar!

Nice shiny brakes & rotors all around

[D_SheerDrivingPleasure]

Originally Posted by aboulfad

Ok maybe the penetrating oil has been doing it’s stuff for weeks... I went to a corner mechanic who’s an acquaintance. He was able to punch them out maybe it’s the little trick where he pushed back on the expansion spring w a screwdriver and hammered out the darn pins! No heat or cutting

They were indeed seized/corroded at both ends, check the pics. So much stuff lodged between the collar and pin and some paint was stuck on the collar!

Nice shiny brakes & rotors all around

Wow. That is an incredible amount of tarter build up. Glad it worked out.

[aboulfad]

Originally Posted by D_SheerDrivingPleasure

Wow. That is an incredible amount of tarter build up. Glad it worked out.

Thank you. I guess winter driving can’t help albeit I don’t have much mileage for 8 years (40K mi). When I bought the pins from the dealer, they told me an outside BMW mechanic came the day before to buy the same and had similar challenges to remove them.

Given it’s a RWD, maybe more guck gets lodged there with wheel spin. The dealer recommended cleaning them every few years.

[TyreReviews]

I just pulled the wheels off my new (to me) F80 and found one of the rear calipers doesn't have the pins in. Now I need new discs ��