Rear Brake questions

clairvoyant · 04-12-2011, 02:06 PM

Well, soon I have to replace the rear brake pads.
The dealer off course recommended that I replaced the rear brake pads + the rear brake rotors.
Can I just replace the brake pads? My brake rotors are still within the thickness guidelines.
Thank You

UncleWede · 04-13-2011, 09:54 AM

Under warranty, I let them do what they want.

Once it become MY dollar, I'm going with what the specs recommend, not the salesman at the service desk.

BKV122 · 04-13-2011, 08:07 PM

Yes you can just do pads

ENINTY · 04-14-2011, 05:33 AM

The issue is rotor surface condition. You can just replace the pads and they will bed into the old rotor surface and you probably will not have an issue. However, a proper brake job is to have the flattest and smoothest surface for the new pads to bed together with. Resurfacing the rotors is usually done to get the best surface situation for the new pads to bed too.

Resurfacing usually cuts down the thickness of the rotor, which could lead to, over the life of the second pads, a condition where the rotor gets out of spec. However this more of a concern with front brakes (that do more work than rear brakes) rather than the rear brakes, but E90s use a balanced braking system which maximizes the rear brakes, so it is a tough call (and dependent on how you drive).

Replacing the rear rotors just gives insurance that the rotors will not go out of spec during the life of the second set of pads. Also, the cost of resurfacing the rotors is sometimes better used towards a new set of rotors.

UncleWede · 04-20-2011, 06:01 PM

What's resurfacing run, $15-20?

04-12-2011, 02:06 PM	#1
clairvoyant Major 79 Rep 1,032 Posts Drives: Bavarian Manure Wagon (BMW) Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: 45°19′20″N, 75°50′0″W iTrader: (5) Garage List 2007 335i [5.24]	Rear Brake questions Well, soon I have to replace the rear brake pads. The dealer off course recommended that I replaced the rear brake pads + the rear brake rotors. Can I just replace the brake pads? My brake rotors are still within the thickness guidelines. Thank You
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04-13-2011, 09:54 AM	#2
UncleWede Long Time Admirer, First Time Owner 17998 Rep 9,378 Posts Drives: G01 X3 M40i Dark Graphite Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oxnard, CA iTrader: (0)	Under warranty, I let them do what they want. Once it become MY dollar, I'm going with what the specs recommend, not the salesman at the service desk.
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04-13-2011, 08:07 PM	#3
BKV122 Major 47 Rep 1,160 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NY iTrader: (1) Garage List 2006 330xi [9.50]	Yes you can just do pads __________________ Monaco Blue 330xi - Terra Interior/6-MT/Sport/Premium/Cold/CSL's/M3 Spoiler Lip/Black Kidney's
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04-14-2011, 05:33 AM	#4
ENINTY Banned 173 Rep 3,415 Posts Drives: 2006 325i Sport Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	The issue is rotor surface condition. You can just replace the pads and they will bed into the old rotor surface and you probably will not have an issue. However, a proper brake job is to have the flattest and smoothest surface for the new pads to bed together with. Resurfacing the rotors is usually done to get the best surface situation for the new pads to bed too. Resurfacing usually cuts down the thickness of the rotor, which could lead to, over the life of the second pads, a condition where the rotor gets out of spec. However this more of a concern with front brakes (that do more work than rear brakes) rather than the rear brakes, but E90s use a balanced braking system which maximizes the rear brakes, so it is a tough call (and dependent on how you drive). Replacing the rear rotors just gives insurance that the rotors will not go out of spec during the life of the second set of pads. Also, the cost of resurfacing the rotors is sometimes better used towards a new set of rotors.
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04-20-2011, 06:01 PM	#5
UncleWede Long Time Admirer, First Time Owner 17998 Rep 9,378 Posts Drives: G01 X3 M40i Dark Graphite Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oxnard, CA iTrader: (0)	What's resurfacing run, $15-20?
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