Brake Pedel spongy feel fix?

[greenlightracer]

I'm going to be overhauling the brakes on my 325i soon, and I'd like your opinions on firming up the annoyingly spongy brake pedal. From my research I have two options: stainless steel brake lines and new calper bushings (metal ones). I don't have enough $$$ to do both, but I was thinking new brake lines, as I want to switch to ATE Blue Brake fluid anyway. FYI, I'm replacing the rear disc with new solid discs, ATE gas slotted for the front discs, with EBC Red Stuff pads all around. What do you guys think?

[e36_m3_Turbo]

Originally posted by greenlightracer@Jun 7 2004, 01:00 PM
I'm going to be overhauling the brakes on my 325i soon, and I'd like your opinions on firming up the annoyingly spongy brake pedal. From my research I have two options: stainless steel brake lines and new calper bushings (metal ones). I don't have enough $$$ to do both, but I was thinking new brake lines, as I want to switch to ATE Blue Brake fluid anyway. FYI, I'm replacing the rear disc with new solid discs, ATE gas slotted for the front discs, with EBC Red Stuff pads all around. What do you guys think?

whens the last time your brakes were bleeded?

[greenlightracer]

just bought the car.

[e36_m3_Turbo]

Originally posted by greenlightracer@Jun 7 2004, 05:05 PM
just bought the car.

try flushing the system and rebleed it, does ur pedal go down far for it to stop?

[greenlightracer]

yeah... it feels like they arent "biteing" if that make sense... and I have to increase brake pedel pressure as the car gets slower. (annoying as hell!)

[e36_m3_Turbo]

Originally posted by greenlightracer@Jun 7 2004, 05:14 PM
yeah... it feels like they arent "biteing" if that make sense... and I have to increase brake pedel pressure as the car gets slower. (annoying as hell!)

bleed the brakes before putting new brakes pads or rotors on. its the cheapest fix

[MrM3]

Originally posted by e36_m3_Turbo+Jun 7 2004, 06:32 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (e36_m3_Turbo @ Jun 7 2004, 06:32 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-greenlightracer@Jun 7 2004, 05:14 PM
yeah... it feels like they arent "biteing" if that make sense... and I have to increase brake pedel pressure as the car gets slower. (annoying as hell!)

bleed the brakes before putting new brakes pads or rotors on. its the cheapest fix [/b][/quote]
e30's will still have a spongy brake pedal, even with freshly bled brakes. i went about solving this problem with a 25mm E32 master cylinder from bimmerworld.com, it drastically reduces pedal travel, improves feel, and comes with ATE Super Blue fluid. i would reccommend against EBC Red since, at the moment, I'm using EBC greens and they have to be warmed up to a pretty high temp or else the bite is very mediocre, and i would imagine the reds operate at an even higher temp. the greens are awesome on the track, i was able to lock the wheels under pretty minimal brake force (for track driving).

[greenlightracer]

I e-Mailed EBC, and they stated that Red Stuff has OEM cold braking properties....

[rmxpete]

it sound as though U have a master slave cylinder problem if bleeding the brakes doesn't work try replacing the seals in the master cylinder!
I have driven 2 E30 320i and they both had spungy bracks but not like you are talkin about, I asked a BMW technician about them (my m8) he said all of them are the same and they are desighned like that to prevent lock up, when the driver is under stess ie, dog runs out on the road and you hit the bracks!!, its suppose to stop them locking. but as I say I think u have more serious problems

hope that helped

[drwambo]

"bleed the brakes before putting new brakes pads or rotors on. its the cheapest fix "

Bleed the brakes AFTER you install the new hardware, not before!

[greenlightracer]

Originally posted by rmxpete@Jun 8 2004, 03:38 AM
it sound as though U have a master slave cylinder problem if bleeding the brakes doesn't work try replacing the seals in the master cylinder!
I have driven 2 E30 320i and they both had spungy bracks but not like you are talkin about, I asked a BMW technician about them (my m8) he said all of them are the same and they are desighned like that to prevent lock up, when the driver is under stess ie, dog runs out on the road and you hit the bracks!!, its suppose to stop them locking. but as I say I think u have more serious problems

hope that helped

Nah it not serious at all, I mean I still stop... I just need new brakes lol. And that whole thing about lock up.... not true... why would they include this feature when my car has ABS? :-P

[rmxpete]

yea, my car had abs too however, when my brother went for a warrnt in his E30 they made him put new brakes through the hole thing,bcause of the spongy brakes!! so he just adjusted the brake pedel so that the brakes worked as soon as u touch them instead of at the end of the travel, they gave him a warrnt even though the brakes were the same stregnth as before, I can ask him how he done it if u want to try that? it will solve the spongy feeling but won't make u stop any faster, oh and have you tried stopping on a gravel road fast, abs dosen't do sh*t keep partyn

[greenlightracer]

hmm... I love my ABS . Yes, that would be great, but I do need new brakes, either way, I'd love to try the fix!


Brian