Brakes (front) - BMW Forum

GreenDragon · 06-23-2003, 07:38 PM

I finally changed my brakes today. It took and absurd amount of time because what I thought was metric Hex bolt (allen wrench) was, in actuality, a star tip bolt

ghead (the bolt I speak of is the one holding the caliper in place, can't remember the name to save myself right now). I had to make two trips to the store before I could even get started (first trip was for metric hex keys. Of course this was after I took off the front wheel. Luckily my wife knows me well enough to watch the car for me as I ran to the auto parts store). All I had to do was ask:

"Uh, hun. Could you watch the car for me while I run to the store?"

"Jackass. You don't have all the tools do you? Make sure you get all the tools cuz you know never have all the tools. Damn family curse." (this was for the first run. She just laughed at me when I told her I had to go back

ghead

ghead ).

So anyway, I changed them

. The first side took longer because I wrestled with the caliper for about 45 minutes (belching out curses like a madman on fire

) before I thought to use my C-clamp to push the damn piston back

. The second side took me about 15 minutes from start to end. Everything I've read said the bolt was a Hex bolt (allen wrench) so I wasn't prepared. Anyone else run into this sorta thing?

06-23-2003, 07:41 PM

congrats GD!

GreenDragon · 06-23-2003, 07:48 PM

Thanks speed. Right now I'm sore and still feel like a complete moron. But, beer will cure all that ails me!

El Presidente · 06-25-2003, 03:08 PM

I went through the same thing getting the hex/star/whateverthefuckitreallyis out. After that it was easy though.

FruityOne · 06-25-2003, 03:15 PM

when i did it the damn bolts were rusted on since my car was originally from missouri...but i didnt have much trouble getting it off i had all the tools needed..

GreenDragon · 06-25-2003, 04:36 PM

Yeah, it's a Torx wrench (damn name didn't come to mind). After I figurd it all out it was real easy getting the rest done.

BlackTape · 06-25-2003, 06:50 PM

Wait you changed the rotors and pads or EVERYTHING???

GreenDragon · 06-26-2003, 07:33 AM

No, just the pads.

donutchow · 06-26-2003, 08:47 AM

my dad does his own brakes to save a lot of money, i'd like to learn how to do it when mine need changing.

now that i think of it, i don't have brakes anymore, i took them off to save weight.

GreenDragon · 06-26-2003, 09:02 AM

LOL!!

It's actually easy if you hace disc brakes, drum style brakes are much more of a pain in the ass. Plus, once you learn how to change the brakes on one car, you've learned how to change the breakes on just about every car out there. I've been doing mine myself since I was in HS. Started on my 82 Merc (f'n drums SUCK!!!). Considering how much places usually charge for that sorta crap you can stand to save a butt load of money. I don't even know what BMW charges, but I'm sure it's rediculous.

DesmoBob · 06-26-2003, 11:31 AM

i was talking to my bawss the other day about his broken car and we got on the subject of doing brakes. he complained about how much they charge for a routine fluid & pad change. i tried to drop the hint that i have to do it on my own because i couldn't afford to pay someone to do it for me.

i don't think he got the hint.

GreenDragon · 06-26-2003, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DesmoBob@Jun 26 2003, 01:31 PM
... he complained about how much they charge for a routine fluid & pad change. i tried to drop the hint that i have to do it on my own because i couldn't afford to pay someone to do it for me.

i don't think he got the hint.

Same here. You end up paying much more for labor than parts.

Furious · 06-26-2003, 10:28 PM

congrats thats a hard accomlishment. i havent even tryed to tackle that yet.