04-28-2018, 12:25 PM | #1 |
Major
473
Rep 1,306
Posts |
Changing brake pads
I tracked my car at Virginia international Raceway (VIR) over the first weekend of April. I've bought PFC-08 pads for both the front and the rear brakes. I checked on realoem, but it's unclear if the caliper has to be removed to change pads. However, the new pads have holes at the top of the backing plate so am I safe to assume that I can change them without removing the caliper?
Thanks! |
04-28-2018, 01:38 PM | #3 |
Major General
3105
Rep 5,582
Posts |
SEARCH on this forum for a thread about brake piston retraction tool And https://www.racingbrake.com/product-p/ccp01.htm |
Appreciate
0
|
04-28-2018, 09:00 PM | #5 | |
Major General
3105
Rep 5,582
Posts |
Quote:
I suggest not using a pry bar against the disc to press the piston back in. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
05-01-2018, 11:08 PM | #6 |
Lieutenant
472
Rep 474
Posts |
OMG! That is about the worst video on how to change the pads in our car that I have ever seen. What a bunch of clowns. But then again, if these dopes can do it, you can see that anybody can do it. You certainly can't do worse.
Biggest tip I can offer over this video is to push the pads back against the piston while the pads are still in place. If you open a bleeder screw (with a catch bottle attached), you can push the pistons back with your bare hands. Maybe stick a screwdriver in between the pads and disc to push back if the pads are really worn. This also solves the 'how do I push both pistons at the same time' issue if you do it while the pads are still in there. |
Appreciate
1
aerodavew10.50 |
05-02-2018, 08:16 AM | #7 |
Lieutenant Colonel
1173
Rep 1,930
Posts |
for the pfc08's, just zip tie your sensors into the wheel well and re connect them when you put your street pads back in.
They are amazing pads, loud as fck tho. Remember to change your brake fluid to a higher boiling point.
__________________
www.nybmwcca.org
Current Cars: 1995 M3 Coupe Manual Alpine White 1997 M3 Sedan Auto Cosmo Black Metallic 2018 x3 m40 Auto Grey Metallic |
Appreciate
0
|
05-02-2018, 10:10 AM | #8 | |
Major
473
Rep 1,306
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
05-02-2018, 10:11 AM | #9 |
Major
473
Rep 1,306
Posts |
I'm flushing the brake fluid with Motul R600. Thanks for the tip about the pad wear sensors. I'll bring some zip ties.
Last edited by MarcoZandrini; 05-04-2018 at 03:58 PM.. |
Appreciate
0
|
05-07-2018, 05:48 PM | #10 |
Lieutenant Colonel
716
Rep 1,533
Posts |
My tip that I don't see mentioned often. Crack open the reservoir cap on the fluid before pushing the calipers back. Make sure the area is completely clean before cracking open the cap.
Don't forget to tighten the cape when done!
__________________
|
Appreciate
1
aerodavew10.50 |
05-11-2018, 12:12 PM | #11 |
Major
473
Rep 1,306
Posts |
Actually, I usually remove some the fluid in the reservoir before I push the pads back into the calipers. I've seen people get nasty brake fluid running down their firewall. BAD!
|
Appreciate
0
|
05-11-2018, 01:54 PM | #12 |
Lieutenant
313
Rep 525
Posts |
I would recommend that they just bleed out the old fluid in the calipers and top off the reservoir as needed, instead of not bleeding and taking out what's in the reservoir. This allows for fresh fluid all-around and no need to worry about overflow in reservoir.
|
Appreciate
1
Anthony235716.00 |
08-08-2019, 10:18 AM | #15 |
Enlisted Member
6
Rep 44
Posts |
is anybody bleeding their brakes every time they swap pads? I feel like the brake pedal on this car is mushy in general and I can’t tell if it’s mushier now that I have done a couple brake pad swaps ( with cracking the reservoir each time)
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-08-2019, 10:07 PM | #16 |
Colonel
1116
Rep 2,359
Posts |
Opening the cap on the reservoir doesn't introduce air into the brake lines. Brake fluid does absorb water over time, so flushing it every 2-3 years is a good idea.
__________________
____________________________________________
2015 BMW 228i in EstorilBlau II Metallic / Terra Dakota Leather - 6-speed manual, M Sport Package, Cold Weather Package, Lighting Package, Premium Package, Harman Kardon premium sound, Anti-theft alarm system, Blue Metallic Matt Accent Moldings, Aluminum Hexagon Interior Strips, Anthracite Headlining |
Appreciate
0
|
08-08-2019, 10:17 PM | #17 |
Enlisted Member
6
Rep 44
Posts |
That is music to my ears. I have been stressing out that I have cracked it 3 times in the last month and may have put a ton of air in the system
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-08-2021, 02:57 AM | #18 |
Private
47
Rep 65
Posts |
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-08-2021, 06:44 PM | #19 | |
Brigadier General
4818
Rep 3,611
Posts |
Quote:
I've used whatever works, most frequently using a screwdriver with a long shaft and a wide blade. Don't forget to remove your master cylinder's cap before retracting your caliper's pistons. If, before you start, your master cylinder's reservoir is nearly full, you'll want to remove some of the fluid from it so that caliper piston retraction doesn't push enough brake fluid back up the lines to overflow the reservoir. While there are more sophisticated tools, I've used dedicated turkey basters to reduce the fluid level in brake master cylinder reservoirs. "Dedicated" in the sense that you do not want to hand them back to the wife after they've had brake fluid in them! I like keeping my calipers' paint unchipped, so I bought Starrett's 5/8" nail punch for driving the pins out: (https://www.starrett.com/metrology/product-detail/800E). I also bought a small, short hammer at Harbor Freight for tapping the pins back in. However, I've not had occasion to use either of them, so I can't report on how well they work. My recommendation is to find out what works for you before your pads require replacement. Choose tools that you think will work for you, and practice with them ahead of time so that when the work needs to be done, it's a no-brainer.
__________________
2017 M240i: 25.9K, 28.9 mpg, MT, Sunroof Delete, 3,432#, EB, Leather, Driving Assistance Package, Heated Front Seats | Sold: E12 530i, E24 M635CSi, E39 520i, E30 325is, E36 M3 (2)
TC Kline Coilovers; H&R Front Bar; Wavetrac; Al Subframe Bushings; 18X9/9½ ARC-8s; 255/35-18 PS4S (4); Dinan Elite V2 & CAI; MPerf Orange BBK; Schroth Quick Fit Pro; Full PPF |
|
Appreciate
1
imperialgrunt47.00 |
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|