Help!!! Rotor or Caliper or Something Else!

[gregwx5]

I've had both of my calipers lock up within a year of each other, both times at highway speeds. The first time was pretty scary going 85 then the steering wheel started shaking violently....second time I knew what happened once the steering wheel started shaking! Luckily got repaired by CPO and got new front brakes twice in about a year!

[Stewthebassman]

We're on CPO also.....at what point in the X5's life did this happen???

[flatlander]

Same thing happened to me this last month. It was pretty similar to what you describe. This is the second time between 60,000 and 90,000 miles that the same side caliper has started dragging. The first one I replaced with a caliper from bavarian auto at $99. The calipers have gone up in price now. I paid $125 for the BMW part (plus a core charge of around $80).

I think I'll do a complete fluid flush this time. Anyone know where to go for new brake lines?

[Stewthebassman]

We're at about 118,000kms now, and the brake fluid was changed at 113,000 kms.....

[Weasel]

Originally Posted by Stewthebassman

So my wife has complained about the same thing....here I am on X5world trying to figure out the problem...

Just did a full fluids checkup....they did the brake fluids 3,000 miles ago....and now the seizing has begun!

So should I complain that there is air in the brake lines causing this to happen???? Was it because the technician did a bad job?

At the dealerships we use fancy equiptment to flush the brakes that pumps fresh fluid into the resevoir while accepting the old fluid from the calipers one at a time... So unless not much of a chance the tech botched the flush with an air pocket as that would also likely throw DSC faults.

Usually that described problem is the caliper seizing, but on some occasions it is strange things like a flap of rubber coming loose on the inside of the rubber brake line acting like a one way valve for the fluid. (though I haven't seen that one at BMW yet)

[Stewthebassman]

Thanks for the input, weasel. That's fair...but this problem has only exhibited itself since the flush...





Sometimes I wonder...."if it ain't broke, don't fix it"??!!!

[Weasel]

Well, with the brake fluid... as it gets older and darker it loses some of its lubricatins abilities and gets a lower boiling point as it hydroscopic and actually absorbs water. While I do agree that the flush may have helped this problem surface, just the number of replies to this thread tell me it isn't an isolated event. I would still try to get the dealer to help you on it... actually you hace CPO, so it should be covered anyways.

[Stewthebassman]

Excellent. That's why BMW CPOs continue to be the best automotive investment in cardom!!!!

Thanks.

[Stewthebassman]

So they fixed my right caliper and changed both disks....one on warranty, and they made me pay for the other one.

A week later the left caliper seizes and now that gets changed also.....but I WILL ask for them to refund me on the left disk as well....

Both disks were hot (the right was hotter) 2 weeks ago, yet only the right was seized at the time....

[jayjay_dee]

Originally Posted by Stewthebassman

So they fixed my right caliper and changed both disks....one on warranty, and they made me pay for the other one.

did they tell you why you have to pay for one disk/rotor?