Brake and fluid question

Post Sat Apr 20, 2013 10:01 am

Hi,
After changing the front bearings the brakes don't want to work.
First I will take the calipers off and see if I can push the piston back a bit. If this doesn't work then I will bleed them.
Questions is ... car has Dot 3 in it but the only fluid I have is Dot 4 ... can I top up the reservoir with Dot4 as a temporary solution ?
G

Post Sat Apr 20, 2013 10:17 am

Dot 4 exceeds the spec. of Dot 3, and is backwardly compatible, so yes.
A more important question is why are you running a 325i on such a low spec. fluid as Dot 3?
Changing the bearings shouldn't have affected the brakes in any way. Sure they just don't need a couple of pumps to bring the pads out to the discs?

Post Sat Apr 20, 2013 10:23 am

I drove a couple of km and the braking was shocking. I would have thought that was enough to remove the rust off the discs ... but it didn't.
So something's not quite right with them ... had to give one caliper a bit off of persuasion with a rubber mallet to get it back on.
G

Post Sat Apr 20, 2013 10:25 am

Well ... I thought it was Dot3 ... not sure now.
Hasn't been changed for a few years.
G