Tips for J30 Rotor R&R?

[VimyJ]

Going to tackle replacement of my front rotors and brake pads. Got the OEM parts from Joe. Never tried this before so any tips would be most welcome.

To show my naivitee:

What's best to get the packing grease off the rotors?

Should I lubricate the caliper sliders while I'm there and what would I use for that?

Can't wait to get to get at it!

[WAMP]

Has anyone tried resurfacing J rotors? Sorry to hijack. Pads are easy, make sure you have the shims.

[VimyJ]

Shims are already present, correct? Can I reuse the existing ones?

My rotors are past the point of resurfacing.

[DAEDALUS]

Unless J brakes are significantly different, there shouldn't be any packing grease to deal with. The bearings are sealed. Once you unbolt and remove the calipers, the rotor should come off pretty easily. Sometimes you have drive 2 screws into the cap to separate the rotor from the hub. The shims you can reuse if they're in good shape. Use disc brake lube on the pins after cleaning them up real well. They should be smooth and shiny before you lube them up.

[Q45tech]

Usually best to replace the caliper pins as, if you use sand paper to clean them up the anticorrosion coating will come off.

I just budget for new pins and noise shims at each pad replacement..........that might be over kill for some.........but sometimes every stopping foot counts or ease of assembly.

[WAMP]

Any experience w/ resurfacing? How can I tell if they are still good or if they are too warped to even bother. Thanks.

[DAEDALUS]

Almost impossible to tell visually...looking for any warpage over .0025" across a disc that's 11" in diameter. (If you can tell visually, may be better to replace the rotor.) Some people turn them at every brake job. Some only do it when they notice vibrations during braking. Some people don't give a damn. The local Pep Boys will turn rotors off the car for $8 each.

[Eswift]

if you decide to reuse the shims, be sure to use the disc brake quiet silicone to dampen out some brake squeal.

[VimyJ]

How come nothing is ever easy? I got my rotors and pads from Joe. No problem there. Great service. I get the car jacked up and the first thing I notice is a little oil hanging from the lower engine cover!

I changed to 0/30 oil for the cold starts. I 've heard that he lighter weight oil can be hard on gaskets. I'm hoping that it is just a loose oil filter. I'll check it out. Damn.

Now I get the take the brake pads out and there are NO SHIMS! None! Crap!:mad: I've been driving that way for 60K! I was hoping to reuse them but looks like that is rather immpossible. MotorWerks is the closest dealer so I'll give them a call. Jeeze Louise!

[AZhitman]

I have never used shims on mine, Mike.

Metal masters from Stillen, put a coating of "disc brake quiet" on the back of each pad.

I change pads every 15K REGARDLESS of condition, so....

[Q45tech]

Why are you buying MM from Stillen when World Pack sell them to shops for less than $35-40 delivered?

That my secret to good brakes throw the pads away every 20k [when half worn] or once per year.

The J30 and 90-95Q fronts have identical rotors and calipers......the master cylinder/ABS is different to adjust the pressure.

FYI: The BMW 740/750/745/760 use a single piston front/rear caliper.......the point is 2 or 4 or 6 pistons are not always better in street applications........when you use soft fast wearing pads.

[VimyJ]

Well, I got the job done. Shim kit cost me $40. Oh well, saved on the labor cost. Maybe I'll try MMs next time.

One thing I did notice about the old rotor compared to the new was that the air slots are bigger on the new ones. Overall thickness is the same (less the wear) but the inner side seems to be thinner than the originals. Diameter is the same. Had a some brake fluid over flow from the resevoir but all in all it was a successful operation. Survived the test drive.

Talked with the father of one of my wife's new students who is a frequent DIYer on his older BMW. Says his rotors warp very quickly. He needs a new CC and the dealer told him $1800.

[VimyJ]

Well, the new rotors and pads are excellent. Quiet, smooth and grippy.

So in the last couple of months I've had new struts installed. Sweet. Expensive. But still sweet.

Couple of days ago had a transmission fluid exchange using Mobil syn ATF and added half a bottle of red Duralube and 3 oz. of the black. Shifts really smooth.

Today: tires rotated and rebalanced. Arrow straight and smooth as glass.

Rail flush next?

Next on the list: buzzing heat shield and bulbs for the climate/radio display.

Sweet drivng ride.