Home Forums Articles How To's FAQ Register
Go Back   Xoutpost.com > BMW SAV Forums > X5 (E53) Forum
Fluid Motor Union
User Name
Password
Member List Premier Membership Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Xoutpost server transfer and maintenance is occurring....
Xoutpost is currently undergoing a planned server migration.... stay tuned for new developments.... sincerely, the management


Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 09-13-2019, 03:37 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 300
e39_touring is on a distinguished road
Upgrading to 4.6/4.8is brakes - problem for early cars

Finally getting around to putting the bigger brakes on my '01 3.0i 5MT, and I ran into an interesting problem. Apparently, there was a running change where production dates up to 9/2000 have these locating dowels/nubs on the front hub flanges. Since all is models were produced after 9/2000, the rotors don't have holes for them. Anyone run into this before?

It looks like they're pressed in to the flange. I have a press, but it seems like a lot of work to remove the hubs and press them out. Maybe I'll just grind them flat or combo grind and drill them out on the car. Nothing is every easy!
Attached Images
  
__________________
2012 xDrive35d
2001 BMW X5 3.0i 5MT
and two 1987 Corvettes - Callaway Twin Turbo and Guldstrand Grand Sport 80
Block Tester
Reply With Quote

Sponsored Links

  #2  
Old 09-13-2019, 04:19 AM
EODguy's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Saudi Arabia/Philippines/USA
Posts: 3,831
EODguy is on a distinguished road
I'd machine the holes instead...

Sent from my SM-A730F using Tapatalk
__________________
"When the Team Chief said.... You're trapped in a hole with nothing but a goat and a slinky, what do you do? Stubby said, I'm not sure but it won't end well for the goat...." ~(Overheard) Last day, Phase 3, Q Course
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 09-13-2019, 11:32 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 300
e39_touring is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by EODguy View Post
I'd machine the holes instead...

Sent from my SM-A730F using Tapatalk
I'm assuming you mean drill the extra holes in the new rotors. I could do that, but I'm not sure how precisely I could locate them. And, not that I go through rotors that often, but I'd have to do it to each new set in the future while it would be only once for the hubs.
__________________
2012 xDrive35d
2001 BMW X5 3.0i 5MT
and two 1987 Corvettes - Callaway Twin Turbo and Guldstrand Grand Sport 80
Block Tester
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 09-13-2019, 11:43 AM
EODguy's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Saudi Arabia/Philippines/USA
Posts: 3,831
EODguy is on a distinguished road
You have the old set to make a cardboard pattern from and if you wanted you could make a permanent template from a sheet of thin plywood for future use.

Sent from my SM-A730F using Tapatalk
__________________
"When the Team Chief said.... You're trapped in a hole with nothing but a goat and a slinky, what do you do? Stubby said, I'm not sure but it won't end well for the goat...." ~(Overheard) Last day, Phase 3, Q Course
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 09-13-2019, 10:16 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,099
Purplefade is on a distinguished road
If they're pressed you may be able to use a 6" cutoff wheel to remove the "nub" and then punch the "body" out of the spindle, may not need to drill.


Call me paranoid, but if you're taking a grinder, cutoff wheel, drill, etc to that spindle, I would probably keep it cool during the process, just to be safe.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 09-14-2019, 02:25 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 300
e39_touring is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by Purplefade View Post
If they're pressed you may be able to use a 6" cutoff wheel to remove the "nub" and then punch the "body" out of the spindle, may not need to drill.


Call me paranoid, but if you're taking a grinder, cutoff wheel, drill, etc to that spindle, I would probably keep it cool during the process, just to be safe.
The problem is that tin backing plate is very close to the hub flange and cannot be removed without removing the hub. Otherwise, I could put a big c-clamp style press and pull them out.

I did end up using a metal cutoff wheel and finishing up with a die grinder. Took like 5 minutes per wheel and seemed to work well. I didn't think of heat -figuring brakes can get pretty hot anyway, and there's a lot of metal there.

The cutoff wheel was fast. I did it in about two 5 second passes of cutting per nub. Then I ground smooth, trying not to take too much off or warp the flange. I could touch it with my finger as I was checking for flatness; so, I don't think heat was an issue. Haven't test-driven yet, but everything looks like it spins true.

Another FYI - I also had to clearance the brake dust shield every so slightly (about 3/32") at the bottom as the big brake caliper bracket was hitting it. Will test drive tomorrow.
__________________
2012 xDrive35d
2001 BMW X5 3.0i 5MT
and two 1987 Corvettes - Callaway Twin Turbo and Guldstrand Grand Sport 80
Block Tester
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 09-14-2019, 04:14 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,099
Purplefade is on a distinguished road
Nice work! And good thought on the brakes getting hot themselves... I go back to paranoid, lol... I never thought about the brakes themselves getting scorching hot - doh

Keep us posted on the test drive, I’m sure you’ll be fine


Sent from my iPhone using Xoutpost.com
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 09-15-2019, 03:18 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 300
e39_touring is on a distinguished road
Test drive went well - boy, do these new binders haul the 3.0 down fast! Very sports-car like; a lot more grip than before, although I think I had some kind of hard dustless pads on there before. I always felt like I had to stand on it to get any stopping power.

The pedal is a little soft so I may re-bleed the system. It's been a while, and it wasn't until I was on my 3rd caliper that I remembered the old trick of tapping the caliper with a hammer to dislodge any small bubbles that may have adhered to the rough casting inside. It's not so important when you're just flushing old fluid, but it can make a difference when starting with an empty system. I also replaced the front brake hoses and am not happy with the way one is oriented where it joins the hard line. It may rub on the fender liner in certain conditions - have to double-check that.

Anyway, geek's notes - I looked up the specs on the M/C and caliper pistons to see if the swap should change brake pedal travel. It shouldn't. The same master cylinder is used across the 3.0/4.4/4.6is and 4.8is. The rear calipers all have a single 42mm piston. The fronts on the 3.0/4.4 have a single 60mm piston. The fronts on the 4.6/4.8 have dual 42mm pistons. The piston area of the 3.0/4.4 fronts are 2,827.4 mm^2 while the 4.6/4.8 are 2770.9 mm^2, only a 2% difference. That shouldn't affect pedal travel noticeably, and if anything, the 4.6/4.8 setup would be shorter.

All in all a good upgrade and not very costly (about $500 for new rotors, pads, used calipers + rebuild kits). A set of good pads on the stock brakes will go a long way, but I occasionally tow a 2-3000lb trailer (w/o trailer brakes), and that's where I felt the standard brakes a little lacking.
__________________
2012 xDrive35d
2001 BMW X5 3.0i 5MT
and two 1987 Corvettes - Callaway Twin Turbo and Guldstrand Grand Sport 80
Block Tester
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:14 PM.
vBulletin, Copyright 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. SEO by vBSEO 3.6.0
© 2017 Xoutpost.com. All rights reserved. Xoutpost.com is a private enthusiast site not associated with BMW AG.
The BMW name, marks, M stripe logo, and Roundel logo as well as X3, X5 and X6 designations used in the pages of this Web Site are the property of BMW AG.
This web site is not sponsored or affiliated in any way with BMW AG or any of its subsidiaries.