DIY - change rear brake pads

Efthreeoh · 01-30-2013, 05:34 AM

Pretty good DIY, but the way the OP lifted and supported the car on jackstands and a jack is totally, totally wrong, and very dangerous.

To lift the rear end, use a floor jack on the differential case and support the car with jackstands under the lifting pads on the rocker panels. My advice is to always support the car on 4 stands so all the wheels are off the gound and the car is level. If the car is level on 4 stands it cannot roll and slip off the jackstands and fall on you.

abhis80 · 02-08-2013, 11:54 AM

Thanks for the great DIY with pictures. I will be doing the brakes + rotors in a few weeks and after reading pretty good reviews about Zimmermann z-coated and Cool Carbon pads, have decided to go with them.

Wanted to check if the rotors and pads are the same for the base model and sport pkg? I ask because when I try to order the rotors online using Year/Make/Model, it shows me only 'Base' in the sub-model selection.

Update:
Completed the DIY for front and rear brakes - rotors and brake pads. Bedded in the brakes as per the instructions. I settled for Zimmermann rotors and Cool Carbon brake pads. These do not have the initial bite as the stock, but the feel is much linear and the performance good.

Aaroona · 02-09-2013, 07:25 PM

Thanks for the DIY. Starting to feel more confident in doing these things with my car...

335e92tx · 03-13-2013, 08:40 AM

Good thread. If i could offer some input on recent experience i would add

Get the wear sensor from amazon or rockauto.com - cost is 1/3 to 1/2 dealership cost.
Easy way to get the rear rotors off is jack up car on one side, remove tire/wheel and the rotor set screw. slightly loosen bolts for caliper retension bracket, start car and put in gear with foot on the brake. Let off brake slightly. This will cause the rotor to spin on the hub loosening all the rust that keeps it in place. Shut off car and remove caliper and caliper bracket. Rotor should come right off.

stashtrey · 05-22-2013, 08:50 PM

The above advice sounds insane to me. But that's just me.

Blue Streak · 06-08-2013, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stashtrey

The above advice sounds insane to me. But that's just me.

Wow! Yes, that sounds whack! Maybe it helps though...
My solution to the squeaking caused by the brake wear sensor was to just disconnect it from the pad notch and zip tie them to some control arm or other suspension hardware (not the springs or dampers). The CBS does a pretty decent job of monitoring the use and counting down the miles on its own. I visually inspect my pads periodically anyway, so that "old school" method works good for me.

My rear brakes were recently squealing at low speeds (<20mph) even without the wear sensors attached. I just replaced the rear pads yesterday and used a lot of high temperature brake component lubricant on all the metal to metal parts that the pads slide on. It's back to being very quiet again so far. I also made sure the brake dust shields were not in any close proximity to the rotors. I think those aluminum shields bend or warp when they're exposed to high temperatures and could come in contact with the rotors. That was the case with one of my front ones a couple years ago, so I just grabbed it and pushed it back away from the rotor and it solved that problem. I always check those dust shields to be sure they're not any less than about 3 mm from the rotors.

Zero_09 · 07-06-2013, 09:27 AM

I still have a lot of brake pad material left but I want to service my brakes by cleaning it up and putting on some anti-squeal material on the shims or where ever it's needed to stop it from squealing. Before I do this I'm wondering will I trip anything if I take the brake sensor off while cleaning the brake components?

Blue Streak · 07-06-2013, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zero_09

I still have a lot of brake pad material left but I want to service my brakes by cleaning it up and putting on some anti-squeal material on the shims or where ever it's needed to stop it from squealing. Before I do this I'm wondering will I trip anything if I take the brake sensor off while cleaning the brake components?

No, you won't trip any signals or error codes by taking the sensors off or anything. Just make sure the other hardware and brake lines are replaced to specs.

Zero_09 · 07-12-2013, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Streak

No, you won't trip any signals or error codes by taking the sensors off or anything. Just make sure the other hardware and brake lines are replaced to specs.

alright thanks for confirming that.

Sensible_ · 08-04-2013, 11:43 AM

Just for everyone's information the e90 does have 2x dedicated central jack points. One front one rear on the sub frame I believe. No point jacking anywhere else. The central points make it a doddle. Nice write up tho!

I usually apply a thin film of copper grease / anti seize to pins / disc mounting surface aswell.

Kenneykickin · 02-02-2016, 02:17 AM

Most cars the bolts holding the calipers will be a torx you're bolts must have been replaced?

01-30-2013, 05:34 AM	#45
Efthreeoh General 17204 Rep 18,694 Posts Drives: The E90 + Z4 Coupe & Z3 R'ster Join Date: May 2012 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	Pretty good DIY, but the way the OP lifted and supported the car on jackstands and a jack is totally, totally wrong, and very dangerous. To lift the rear end, use a floor jack on the differential case and support the car with jackstands under the lifting pads on the rocker panels. My advice is to always support the car on 4 stands so all the wheels are off the gound and the car is level. If the car is level on 4 stands it cannot roll and slip off the jackstands and fall on you.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-08-2013, 11:54 AM	#46
abhis80 Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Sport Pkg Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Richmond VA iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the great DIY with pictures. I will be doing the brakes + rotors in a few weeks and after reading pretty good reviews about Zimmermann z-coated and Cool Carbon pads, have decided to go with them. Wanted to check if the rotors and pads are the same for the base model and sport pkg? I ask because when I try to order the rotors online using Year/Make/Model, it shows me only 'Base' in the sub-model selection. Update: Completed the DIY for front and rear brakes - rotors and brake pads. Bedded in the brakes as per the instructions. I settled for Zimmermann rotors and Cool Carbon brake pads. These do not have the initial bite as the stock, but the feel is much linear and the performance good. Last edited by abhis80; 03-18-2013 at 11:22 AM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-09-2013, 07:25 PM	#47
Aaroona Private 28 Rep 74 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: A iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the DIY. Starting to feel more confident in doing these things with my car...
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-13-2013, 08:40 AM	#48
335e92tx ahat 1034 Rep 2,592 Posts Drives: Was '07-335e92 - Now '13-335IS Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Texas iTrader: (6)	Good thread. If i could offer some input on recent experience i would add Get the wear sensor from amazon or rockauto.com - cost is 1/3 to 1/2 dealership cost. Easy way to get the rear rotors off is jack up car on one side, remove tire/wheel and the rotor set screw. slightly loosen bolts for caliper retension bracket, start car and put in gear with foot on the brake. Let off brake slightly. This will cause the rotor to spin on the hub loosening all the rust that keeps it in place. Shut off car and remove caliper and caliper bracket. Rotor should come right off.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-22-2013, 08:50 PM	#49
stashtrey Lieutenant Colonel 294 Rep 1,834 Posts Drives: 08 E90 335xi TiAg Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Sacramento, CA iTrader: (8) Garage List 2008 E90 335xi Sedan [0.00]	The above advice sounds insane to me. But that's just me.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-06-2013, 09:27 AM	#51
Zero_09 Captain 38 Rep 627 Posts Drives: 07 E90, 2011 E90 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: = iTrader: (1)	I still have a lot of brake pad material left but I want to service my brakes by cleaning it up and putting on some anti-squeal material on the shims or where ever it's needed to stop it from squealing. Before I do this I'm wondering will I trip anything if I take the brake sensor off while cleaning the brake components?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-04-2013, 11:43 AM	#54
Sensible_ Colonel 529 Rep 2,505 Posts Drives: 2008 E90 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: London iTrader: (1)	Just for everyone's information the e90 does have 2x dedicated central jack points. One front one rear on the sub frame I believe. No point jacking anywhere else. The central points make it a doddle. Nice write up tho! I usually apply a thin film of copper grease / anti seize to pins / disc mounting surface aswell.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-02-2016, 02:17 AM	#55
Kenneykickin ///Kenney 79 Rep 738 Posts Drives: 09 335i / 06 330xi Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Idaho iTrader: (0)	Most cars the bolts holding the calipers will be a torx you're bolts must have been replaced?
	Appreciate 0 Quote