Attempting to change brakes - some issues

Hi there,
I just bought the Turnermotorsports standard brake kit for my 330CI. I'm facing some issues. I changed the rear brake pads and rotor without issues. Now I'm trying to change the front one, and it seems that either the rotor is too thick or the brake pads are too thick as I can't get the caliper / brakepad assembly back on over the rotor to bolt on.

Does anyone have any ideas? I'm a novice and this is my first attempt at ever changing brakes.

Any help would be much appreciated.

A

Did you push the piston all the way back into the caliper?

Originally Posted by BodyMan

Did you push the piston all the way back into the caliper?

x2

You can pick up a pad splitter at your auto parts store. When I did mine I tried a few different things to get that piston back in place...takes about 30 seconds with that little $5 tool!

Originally Posted by BodyMan

Did you push the piston all the way back into the caliper?

+1

Basicall, under your hood, open the brake fluid resivior cap.

Make sure the fluid isn't at the very top and will spill over.

Using a C Clamp or something like that, with the old back pad in place, press the pad in with the clamp, which in turn pushes the caliper piston back into the caliper. This will cause the brake fluid level in the resivior to rise, so be careful and have someone keep an eye one it for you. Once you have pressed the piston all the way back in, put the new pads in place and you should be able to put the whole assembly back in place.

Just remember to be careful when you start to drive the car for the first time because the pedal will go all the way to the floor and you'll feel like you have no brakes until they have been pumped a few times.

Originally Posted by TKC

+1

Basicall, under your hood, open the brake fluid resivior cap.

Make sure the fluid isn't at the very top and will spill over.

Using a C Clamp or something like that, with the old back pad in place, press the pad in with the clamp, which in turn pushes the caliper piston back into the caliper. This will cause the brake fluid level in the resivior to rise, so be careful and have someone keep an eye one it for you. Once you have pressed the piston all the way back in, put the new pads in place and you should be able to put the whole assembly back in place.

Just remember to be careful when you start to drive the car for the first time because the pedal will go all the way to the floor and you'll feel like you have no brakes until they have been pumped a few times.

Let me add to this and make a suggestion. Get yourself the proper tool to push the brake caliper piston back into the caliper. A C-clamp will work but you have to be absolutely sure that you don't push it in side ways. I'm not saying it will definitely happen, but it's possible the piston doesn't go in straight which can lead to irregular pad and rotor wear. It's rare this happen, but entirely possible.

Since you are doing this service yourself, which isn't hard for anyone who has a mechanical brain, you'll find the proper tool much easier...let me find a picture of one....

Here you go this is what I have. Basically it pushes the piston into the caliper at the right angle. It works similar to a C-clamp and is easy to use. The one pictures goes as a "Master" set but you could easily get away with a smaller kit. Do a Google search for "Brake Caliper Piston Tool" or "Brake Caliper Set" you should to where you're going.

Thanks for the replies. I'm pretty sure I did push the caliper back in, let me put the old pads in and try to push it in further.

It just seems that the pads combined with the rotor aren't going to fit.

Will update in once i give it a shot.

Originally Posted by Cliff.Claven

Let me add to this and make a suggestion. Get yourself the proper tool to push the brake caliper piston back into the caliper. A C-clamp will work but you have to be absolutely sure that you don't push it in side ways. I'm not saying it will definitely happen, but it's possible the piston doesn't go in straight which can lead to irregular pad and rotor wear. It's rare this happen, but entirely possible.

Since you are doing this service yourself, which isn't hard for anyone who has a mechanical brain, you'll find the proper tool much easier...let me find a picture of one....

Here you go this is what I have. Basically it pushes the piston into the caliper at the right angle. It works similar to a C-clamp and is easy to use. The one pictures goes as a "Master" set but you could easily get away with a smaller kit. Do a Google search for "Brake Caliper Piston Tool" or "Brake Caliper Set" you should to where you're going.

There's another (and better?) way to do this. Basically, before you get the caliper off the car, with the rotor still present, you can push the piston in very easily. The C-clamp needs to be aligned in a certain way and it's quite easy to move the piston thereon.

What he says ---> http://m3.madrussian.net/diy_front_brake_pads.shtml (Step 6)

Seriously...put your pads in the caliper and spread them with this tool....it resets the piston and costs $6. I called it a "pad splitter"...meant "pad spreader"

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...6091_200396091

Guys thanks for all your help. I was able to use a simple c clamp and get it taken care of. looks like the issue was that the piston wasn't fully compressed.

Thanks again!

I just took it out for a spin, took a few miles to get the brakes settled.

One more question - so the brake light is on now - any ideas how to turn it off? I reset the system with an OBDII but no dice.

Was the brake light on before you changed the pads? If so, it means you tripped the break pad wear sensor. There is one in the front and one in the rear.

Whichever one was tripped, you have to replace it.

In the future, if you change your pads before that sensor trips, you can re-use the sensor without replacing it.

IF you DID replace the sensor, just turn the key to position 2 and wait like 2-5 minutes and the light will turn off.