[Chappers 71]

I only drive my 335i at weekends & last Saturday I noticed that the steering wheel is juddering slightly when braking. I drove the car yesterday & today & it feels worse. I took it to my local STS for a free brake check & the testing machine says passenger side front brake is out of balance.
Got the car home & had a look to see if I could find something obviously wrong, after taking the wheel off I took the bottom caliper bolt/slider pin out & noticed the outer sleeve was siezed, no problem I thought I'll give it a clean & soak it in some penetrating oil, only to find its seized soild, tried everything but can't unseize it. I have ordered a new one from my local main dealer but unfortunately it won't be in until Wednesday. Once I have fitted it I'll post up if it's cured the judder.
I suspect it is the cause of the problem & at a cost of £19 a lot cheaper than it could have been.

[charliewaqs]

Hmm post some pics if you can of affected parts. This was happening to me on my pre lci e92

[Andy198712]

Must be the cheapest fix of a 335i ever

[Chappers 71]

Originally Posted by charliewaqs

Hmm post some pics if you can of affected parts. This was happening to me on my pre lci e92

It's the bottom bolt that holds the front calipers in place & lives behind a plastic cap. You need a spliney bit to remove them.
Not sure about other models but on a 335i the bottom bolt/slider pin is longer & the bottom section of the pin has an outer sleeve which moves up, down & around on the pin. I suspect the moving outer sleeve helps maintain even pressure on the pad.
Pic of pin below with the outer sleeve pulled back

[Chappers 71]

Pic with the outer sleeve in closed position

[Philrox]

I'd expect that the dragging calliper has warped the rotor due to overheating. Best check the wheel spins freely and doesn't drag. If the shudder persists new rotors and pads may be needed

[mjn77]

Keep us to date

I’ll probably replace all slide pins when fitting new pads.

[Chappers 71]

Originally Posted by Philrox

I'd expect that the dragging calliper has warped the rotor due to overheating. Best check the wheel spins freely and doesn't drag. If the shudder persists new rotors and pads may be needed

The wheel spins freely, I'm confident that the disc will be fine. Have only done a couple hundred miles since I noticed the brakes didn't feel right.
If the moving outer sleeve on the bottom pin helps the pad maintain even contact with the disc, it being seized should be the cause of the uneven braking.

[charliewaqs]

Wow I never noticed that! Yep I have the same pins. Lower one is longer on the front calipers. So what's the default position open or closed? I think mine has seized too on both sides as I experience vibration too under heavy braking at higher speeds (once things heat up a bit). I replaced all pads and discs but the issue persisted still. I think next step is to replace all sliding pins.

What's the part number for these?

[mjn77]

Originally Posted by charliewaqs

Wow I never noticed that! Yep I have the same pins. Lower one is longer on the front calipers. So what's the default position open or closed? I think mine has seized too on both sides as I experience vibration too under heavy braking at higher speeds (once things heat up a bit). I replaced all pads and discs but the issue persisted still. I think next step is to replace all sliding pins.

What's the part number for these?

Use www.bmwfans.info

[charliewaqs]

Found on realoem

34111157041
34116757036 (longer one at the bottom)

[AWSAWS]

Nice job, I had a rear brake pad wear down past the minimum. A crap garage had reset my brake wear settings and somehow cocked things up. Felt vibration under braking also and later a really bad noise while driving. After that the caliper seemed to stick. Took the caliper off and removed those pins. Tried copper grease on the moving parts. Had it off a few more times but it never seemed to work properly again so I replaced the caliper.

I didn't realise those pins themselves opened? Maybe that was the problem. I still have the old caliper.

[Chappers 71]

Originally Posted by AWSAWS

Nice job, I had a rear brake pad wear down past the minimum. A crap garage had reset my brake wear settings and somehow cocked things up. Felt vibration under braking also and later a really bad noise while driving. After that the caliper seemed to stick. Took the caliper off and removed those pins. Tried copper grease on the moving parts. Had it off a few more times but it never seemed to work properly again so I replaced the caliper.

I didn't realise those pins themselves opened? Maybe that was the problem. I still have the old caliper.

I don't remember if the rears are solid or have the moving outer sleeve.
I have found conflicting views on greasing the pins. I used copper ease on the front pins last time I changed the pads. Maybe that was the cause of the outer sleeve seizing. I have since taken the pins out, cleaned them & reinstalled with no lube.

[charliewaqs]

The rears are the smaller sliding pins. Pretty sure they're solid. I've also heard and read that BMW advises not to grease the pins.

[Chappers 71]

Little update, Mrs Chappers picked up the pin today. I have just gone to fit it & it appears to be either the wrong part or only one side has the moving outer sleeve, which surely can't be the case. I am fairly sure that both bottom pins had the moving sleeve but am now doubting myself. The new one does have a groove around its circumference that looks as though the bottom section would slide & rotate but alas it doesn't. I suspect the parts department guy will be useless & my local main dealer has moved their workshop of site so as the customers can't speak with the tech's.
Hopefully they'll be able to finda tech that has a bit of 335i brake knowledge

[david in germany]

Neither of my cars have a two part pin. Only solid pins front and rear.

[Chappers 71]

Originally Posted by david in germany

Neither of my cars have a two part pin. Only solid pins front and rear.

I suspect it's a 335 thing

[david in germany]

Originally Posted by Philrox

I'd expect that the dragging calliper has warped the rotor due to overheating. Best check the wheel spins freely and doesn't drag. If the shudder persists new rotors and pads may be needed

Please refrain from using the term "warped rotors" and take a couple of minutes to read this thread. http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1459034

[david in germany]

Originally Posted by Chappers 71

I suspect it's a 335 thing

Dunno? My 335i didn't have them nor did my 328i. I have only ever seen the solid pins.

[mjn77]

Originally Posted by Chappers 71

Little update, Mrs Chappers picked up the pin today. I have just gone to fit it & it appears to be either the wrong part or only one side has the moving outer sleeve, which surely can't be the case. I am fairly sure that both bottom pins had the moving sleeve but am now doubting myself. The new one does have a groove around its circumference that looks as though the bottom section would slide & rotate but alas it doesn't. I suspect the parts department guy will be useless & my local main dealer has moved their workshop of site so as the customers can't speak with the tech's.
Hopefully they'll be able to finda tech that has a bit of 335i brake knowledge

Top and bottom pins are different, as per here: http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/E9...d_wear_sensor/

Item 9 shows two part numbers, i assume for top and bottom pins. A quick image search shows one pin to be indeed split.

[Chappers 71]

Well according to BMWs computer they sold me the correct part. So I showed the parts guy pics of the working bolt/slider pin & they are going to email head office.
In the meantime I have brakes that are feeling a bit 'snatchey' & a bit of judder,
Pic of the wrong pin

[dragerboy]

2 pins are different lengths as pictured. Longer pin has line through it which I guess means its 2 pieces.