Replacing front brake discs and pads

Mon Oct 20, 2008 10:53 am

Hi Guys,

Time to change the Front Disc and Pads... I've done the rears a few months ago...is it the same procedure or is it different?

Thanks.
Bal

Mon Oct 20, 2008 10:58 am

Never done them on an E30 but should be very simple.

Tue Oct 21, 2008 8:51 pm

Hi,
The front discs and pads are similar to change to the back ones. First undo the front caliper bolts which hold the pads in place, remove the old pads and support the brake caliper with a bit of wire tied to the front strut spring.
Remove the rear bracket from the brake back plate, remove the allen screw from the front disc and remove the disc.
Clean all the brake components with brake cleaner to get rid of all the old dust and general muck. An aerosol spray in Halfords will cost you about £5 or £4 at Euro car parts. Clean the hub surfaces where the new disc mates to and make sure it is thoroughly clean. Use the brake cleaner to degrease the new discs and then reassemble the whole lot. Use thread lock on the caliper to back plate bolts and copper slip on the back of the new pads. Apply the brakes gently for the first few miles to bed in the new pads.

Good luck
Peter

Tue Oct 21, 2008 8:52 pm

fronts are the same as on all cars i have done.. thats about 5 cars

Tue Oct 21, 2008 9:06 pm

peterjcollins wrote:.
Remove the rear bracket from the brake back plate, remove the allen screw from the front disc and remove the disc.

Once you have the wheel off, get someone to put there foot on the brake to stop the disk turning to make removal of the allen headed bolt which holds the disk to the hub that little bit easier.

Remove brake fluid cap(to prevent air being forced through the system)then lever the calipers till there fully open/as wide as they'll go.
It'll make refitting with the new pads a bit easier as well

HTH

Tue Oct 21, 2008 9:41 pm

BadDave wrote:lever the calipers till there fully open/as wide as they'll go.

Don't like this idea at all! It forces crap back into the pipes, and risks damaging seals in both the master cylinder and ABS pump.
Open the bleed valves as you push the pads back - they go back much easier, the black fluid comes out, and no risk to seals. Close the nipples before you release the pressure on the piston, or air will go in.

Tue Oct 21, 2008 9:44 pm

Fair enough Brian

Fair comment

It's just one of those methods which works fine for me

Tue Oct 21, 2008 11:47 pm

Even I managed to get this done... it was a lot easier once I'd borrowed a breaker bar and been told about turning the steering to get the calipers to the right angle so I could use it

Fri Oct 24, 2008 3:11 pm

Thanks for your help guys, will give it a go tomorrow morning

Sun Oct 26, 2008 10:11 pm

BadDave wrote:Once you have the wheel off, get someone to put there foot on the brake to stop the disk turning to make removal of the allen headed bolt which holds the disk to the hub that little bit easier.

No need! Just stick a screwdriver into the disc vents - it'll jam against the caliper and do the same job.