The Never Ending Brake Job

[nookatee]

well...here's the whole story. Yesterday, I started my rear rotor, pad, and emergency brake assembly job. I got one of the wheels set. The other wheel however wasn't so easy. It was seized on. From the answers I got around here, it sounded like I had to bang away at it with a hammer. awesome. I decided against fucking around with that, so I just took it to a shop near work and had them remove the wheel and put it back on.

Great, so the wheel's off and I'm set to get the other (problematic) rotor, pads, and emergency brake assembly removed and replaced. Rotor took some coaxing to come off, e-brake set up was a cinch. I go to put the pads on, when i notice that my box came with two OUTER pads (i.e. neither one had the three prongs on the back that fit into the caliper piston). BALLS, Autozone - where I happened to buy these pads - was closing in 8 minutes. I called them up and told "Ken" my situation. He's like, "is it a ford?". I'm like, "no it's a BMW." He's like, "Oh, we close at 9." fucker. I told him to hold the store open for 5 minutes. No such luck. I show up as he's driving away. I even made eye contact with the fucker.

So, I decide tomorrow, i'll get Ken fired, but for now I have to finish this brake job so I can go to work tomorrow. I go to put the caliper over the pads, and the piston is out too far, so there isn't enough room between the caliper for it to get over the width of both new pads. I try using the lever method against my shock absorber (outlined in THIS DIY), but the piston won't go back in. So, my question - finally - is, do I need a new Caliper, or is there a better way to get the piston to go back in that i'm not aware of?

Thank you kindly for your help. I hope you've enjoyed the show.

Ramy

[mrclean]

A trick that my dad taught me awhile ago, was to put the old pad into the caliper slot, then use a piece of wood and compress the caliper piston by pusing the wood against the old pad. Hopefully its not seized though.

[dvmotorsports]

Originally posted by mrclean@Jun 23 2005, 07:49 PM
A trick that my dad taught me awhile ago, was to put the old pad into the caliper slot, then use a piece of wood and compress the caliper piston by pusing the wood against the old pad. Hopefully its not seized though.

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BINGO! And if it is seized, by a rebuild kit first.

[nookatee]

hmm...i know what you're saying, but i don't quite understand how to get any leverage on that. Do you mean a wedge of wood?
Thanks for the help!
Ramy



oh, one other thing...you know the three prongs that are on the back of the brake pad that slide into the caliper piston? Do you need to have one of those (a pad with the prongs) on one side of each rotor? or is that three prong deal just for the right side for some reason that is obviously totally beyond me?

[Furious]

normally i use the large pliers to compress the caliper. siezed calipers would have been something you would have felt long ago, and saw quite a difference between the rotors and pads.

[jkh2828]

You can also try using a block of wood and getting a C-clamp on there - that is usualy a good bet.

[93 325i]

^^exactly. Put the old pad on and use a C-clamp to compress the piston back in. I would have F'in flipped if I seen the guy driving away like that... Autozone is good for getting detailing supplies & towels.. pads and such I would never trust their junk

[mech9T8]

C-clamp worked for me.

[nookatee]

Thanks for the help guys. I am certain now that the caliper is seized. The rotor and pads that came off of that wheel were pretty well destroyed and, the reason i was changing the rotors at all actually, was that everytime I slowed down, it felt like i was going over some bumps (i.e. crazilly warped rotor). Also, the e-brake assembly, which i've changed by now, wasn't exactly in top shape. I had a hard time getting the rotor off because it was stuck to the e-brake assembly.

New caliper it is. Does anyone know where I can get one? Unfortunately i need it pronto so it's gotta be an actual store, not online. I live outside of Boston.

thanks a million guys. super helpful.
Ramy

PS. I don't usually buy my parts from autozone. I was just in a pinch because i needed the pads in a hurry.

[Eggrolled211]

Originally posted by nookatee@Jun 24 2005, 07:24 AM
Thanks for the help guys. I am certain now that the caliper is seized. The rotor and pads that came off of that wheel were pretty well destroyed and, the reason i was changing the rotors at all actually, was that everytime I slowed down, it felt like i was going over some bumps (i.e. crazilly warped rotor). Also, the e-brake assembly, which i've changed by now, wasn't exactly in top shape. I had a hard time getting the rotor off because it was stuck to the e-brake assembly.

New caliper it is. Does anyone know where I can get one? Unfortunately i need it pronto so it's gotta be an actual store, not online. I live outside of Boston.

thanks a million guys. super helpful.
Ramy

PS. I don't usually buy my parts from autozone. I was just in a pinch because i needed the pads in a hurry.

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if the wood and clamp dont work...can't you just unscrew the little nut in the back..release the pressure etc. then you can push it back with your hands/fingers...you would need to bleed it when put in back together though....

[Justin Sane]

[QUOTE]New caliper it is. Does anyone know where I can get one? Unfortunately i need it pronto so it's gotta be an actual store, not online. I live outside of Boston.



BavAuto is in Portsmouth, maybe an hour from Boston

[nookatee]

word, i already called and placed the order. I could have had it shipped overnight and delivered on a saturday, but it would ahve cost an exta $55! So, I'm just going to go up to Portsmouth, pick up my caliper and continue onto Kittery, ME and do some outlet shopping. I dont think i've been there since I was about 13.

[nookatee]

OK, now that I've got my new caliper on, is there anything i can do with the old caliper? Some place I can send it in where they refurbish them or something like that? It feels pretty wastefull to just throw away a $220 when-new part.