brake failure !!

steveb · #1 09-12-2009, 03:52 PM

some of you may be aware I changed my front 'thrust arm bushes' 6 weeks
ago after only 52k miles .....
now they need changing again

looking into the problem I have discovered the rear brakes do not engage
so all the stopping is carried out by the front ( hence the bushes going )

After bleeding the brakes yesterday and a full diagnostic £117 !!......no change
The diagnostic could not find anything ??

I bought some ramps and jacks today to lift her up tommorrow for me
to investigate for myself ......

.........Any tips on what I should be looking/checking out for ??

any help mucho thanks !!

_________________
If Life Was Meant To Be Easy, Michaelangelo Would Have Painted The Floor

X5girl · #2 09-12-2009, 04:17 PM

For a start, I bet you fitted another set of soggy OEM bushes or didn't pre-load them properly! You should have fitted the polyurethane ones.

As for the brakes, if it is possible to bleed the rears then I presume there is fluid flow to them so I would suspect seized calipers.

X5Girl, xxx

Weasel · #3 09-12-2009, 04:18 PM

How did you determine the rear brakes aren't engaging? Also, when you replaced the bushings was the vehicle still off the ground (on jacks or lift) when the bolts were all tightned, or was it back in it's wheels...?

steveb · #4 09-12-2009, 04:30 PM

Thanks for the replies so far....

x5girl...... for a start your right ...oem bushes put back on... full brake system was bled (green bowers of haverfordwest)

weasel.... tested all 4 wheels on a 4wheel roller after i noticed my rear
discs were 'cold' even after 3 hours of driving .... dealer confirmed rear
brakes were not engaging .......

any advice is so thankful

Weasel · #5 09-12-2009, 04:37 PM

If there was normal fluid pressure while bleeding, then I'd concur with X5girl, seized calipers... But for both to seize at the same time is kinda weird.

But rear discs cold after 3 hours of driving, yeah... I'd think there could be a problem. Are the rotors rusting at all from the lack of brake engagement?

steveb · #6 09-12-2009, 04:56 PM

cheers again 'weasel'.... glad the both of you have the same opinion as myself..... i will be checking them tommorrow !!....
regarding the rust on the rear discs......always there !!.....front nice and shiny !!

your black kidneys look good ......

killcrap · #7 09-12-2009, 08:43 PM

there is nothing wrong with the OEM bushings, the suspension on BMWs are not designed to last forever, they are maintance items, if you want to put aftermarket ones on, go ahead, but dont knock the OEM ones as they are good for 30K miles.

motordavid · #8 09-12-2009, 08:56 PM

Thrust arm bushings...no tech or even susp. smartie here, but I just had thrust arm bushing replaced in my '01 with 73k miles; first time.
Done by a very thorough and trusted Indie, German MotorWerks of Asheville. Their head tech went through my front suspension for almost
an hour, (he had done it a year ago in my quest to eliminate/reduce my wheel shimmy under high speed braking.). He changed them out this
time, using OE parts, and showed me the oe bushings were still firm, pliable, usable, etc. But, as my WD ext warranty was expiring this weekend,
we were afterw hatever we could "fix", w/out being a predatory azzhole.

My point is, the TA bushings on my car were still very serviceable...but replaced.
And, guess what, I still have the shimmy, lmao!

So, I guess I am agreeing with killcrap, though that wasn't my point. Nothing "wrong" with oe bushings as original parts, or replacements.
Back at the ranch, I suspect the OP has some serious other problems that aren't necessarily bushings or, simply front end related, but wtfdik.

amacman · #9 09-14-2009, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motordavid

Thrust arm bushings...no tech or even susp. smartie here, but I just had thrust arm bushing replaced in my '01 with 73k miles; first time.
Done by a very thorough and trusted Indie, German MotorWerks of Asheville. Their head tech went through my front suspension for almost
an hour, (he had done it a year ago in my quest to eliminate/reduce my wheel shimmy under high speed braking.). He changed them out this
time, using OE parts, and showed me the oe bushings were still firm, pliable, usable, etc. But, as my WD ext warranty was expiring this weekend,
we were afterw hatever we could "fix", w/out being a predatory azzhole.

My point is, the TA bushings on my car were still very serviceable...but replaced.
And, guess what, I still have the shimmy, lmao!

So, I guess I am agreeing with killcrap, though that wasn't my point. Nothing "wrong" with oe bushings as original parts, or replacements.
Back at the ranch, I suspect the OP has some serious other problems that aren't necessarily bushings or, simply front end related, but wtfdik.

MD , Zekhausen racing has a link to stop tech where you will learn that brake pads can burn imprint onto the disc causing the shimmy or at worst , cementite can form in the disc if it`s really cooked .

motordavid · #10 09-14-2009, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amacman

MD , Zekhausen racing has a link to stop tech where you will learn that brake pads can burn imprint onto the disc causing the shimmy or at worst , cementite can form in the disc if it`s really cooked .

amacman, thanks...I know of Z Racing and that info. This may or may not a be pad/rotor situ,
and in terms of new ones, (regardless of brand), fixing the situ, more than temporarily, I have my doubts.

I have had new pads/rotors, (oem), etc. Same situ.

I got new TA bushings the other day and I am getting a set of new Michey Diamaris on Thursday. The orig Bridgestone
Turanzas on my 132s, are nearly gone. I suspect the new TA bushings and new tires will cure most/all of my ills. If not,
I will live with it, as I have for the past 4+ years.
GL,mD