Brake calipers for early 325?

Need technical Q/A then you're in the right place

Moderator: martauto

oguz327
Captain Armco
Captain Armco
Posts: 4174
Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Hampshire

Post Tue Jun 13, 2006 7:36 pm

I have a suspect sticking front caliper on my 325 allthough a i need to get this confermed.
I can get a used set off of a early 325 but they are non abs.
Question is will these fit and work on my tech 1 which has abs?

cheers :)
Chris-W
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 7219
Joined: Tue May 24, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: South Cheshire

Post Tue Jun 13, 2006 8:07 pm

Yes, they should be fine. Just check that it's not the flexi causing a working caliper to stick.
oguz327
Captain Armco
Captain Armco
Posts: 4174
Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Hampshire

Post Tue Jun 13, 2006 11:59 pm

Ul have to excuse me i am not that handy with a spanner, someone else will be doing the work while i assist and learn.
Whats a flexi?
is it a case of just taking the wheel off to check the flexi?
The problem was intermitant, but has steadily been getting worse and its sticking most of the time now.
Sometimes the car pulls to one side when braking at any speed and other times it stops in a staight line but just as you come to a halt you can hear and feel a funny biong noise coming from one side at the front

many thanks Oz
Chris-W
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 7219
Joined: Tue May 24, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: South Cheshire

Post Wed Jun 14, 2006 6:58 am

The flexi is the rubber coated thick brake hose which runs from the caliper up to the rigid brake line poking through the wheelarch.

Over time, the flexi hose can corrode / break down internally lead to blockages which, whilst they can be cleared under the very high pressures generated when you press the brake pedal, can stop the fluid running back causing the caliper piston to stick out, or bind. Often leading to the assumption that the caliper is knackered.

Way to check is to get the sticking wheel of the ground and crack the bleed nipple briefly on the caliper. If the wheel moves more freely after this, it's your flexi hose.