Brake Job

[CrazyOneToo]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

Generally, yes.

You can visually check the pads to see how much brake pad material remains. If the pads are good, check the sensor wire, the connection at the pads and the connection at the other end of the sensor wire.

OK. I first checked the fluid level and its fine. Did the 2 minute key on brake reset to see if it might have been a momentary glitch in the sensors. But alas I will have to check the pads and sensors sometime soon. I think maybe I can use my BMW Scanner to tell me which sensor is showing up as bad. I hope that the rotors are still in good shape and not needing replacement also. On my E46 I had an issue with the rear sensor collecting dust and debris enought to make it appear the brakes were low. I blew it out twice with air and it work well for about two weeks or so each time. Then I took the brakes apart and cleaned the sensor well and it has worked fine for about 2 years now. Thanks for the info.


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[JCL]

Originally Posted by CrazyOneToo

But alas I will have to check the pads and sensors sometime soon. I think maybe I can use my BMW Scanner to tell me which sensor is showing up as bad. I hope that the rotors are still in good shape and not needing replacement also.

You need to physically inspect the brakes, front and rear.

Good practice is to replace the rotors and maintain full braking performance. You may be able to reuse them but many of us won't typically do so.

ps: Can you turn bold off?

[StephenVA]

Baum Tools - brake thickness measurement tool. No need to remove the wheel, just insert the tip into the back of the brake pad and see the measument in MM. Yes, it is pricy but it beats the heck out of pulling multiple wheels on my stable of of BMWs. 5 mins of effort beats pulling wheels each quarter. Those of you who do this for a living already own one. After seeing one in action, I added it to my Christmas list and ordered it!
Multiple tool vendors sell it, all at the same $$$. Welcome to special tools...
For gauging brake lining thickness w/o wheel removal, PN: 341260
Tool Listing

[racingbmwm3]

Yes, but not all aftermarket pads accommodate this tool. And remember that the inner pad may be 1-2mm thinner than the outer pad sometimes (and vice-versa). Unless you have a lift, I recommend taking the extra time to pull your wheels off anyway. This allows you to see more and possibly identify issues you wouldn't otherwise have known about by leaving the wheel on. If you have a lift, then yes, definitely don't take the wheels off to check brake pads. Take the extra couple minutes to instead snoop around under the car while up in the air.

[StephenVA]

Agreed.
The tool is just that, a brake pad measurement device, not a solution solver to ever pulling wheels. That would come under the heading of a BAD PRACTICE.
I pull the wheels a min of 2x a year to wash the wheels, wells and do a visual inspection of the brakes, suspension, drive axles, etc. Most of my service work is ramps and jack stands, no room for a lift in the attached garage. The X5 only sees approx 2,000 miles per year, The M5 a whole 500 miles and the 528 approx 2,500. I have another daily driver for rain and slush duty.

I use the tool to determine replacement time and to check for rapid wear. This tool and a good infared temp sensor like Fuke's, will help spot brake issues..like calipers hanging up, etc.


Now if I have a great 2014 year, I can build the stand alone 3 car garage with lift and hot/cold wash bay. Man cave included. Plans have been on hold due to the down turn in business.

[bcredliner]

A tool to check pads? You can't be serious.

Pads don't wear out that often and that is what pad sensors are for-to let you know it is time to change pads. A couple pumps of a floor jack and spin the lugnuts off with an impact gun--zip zip zip--and you can see both sides of the pad which is the correct method to check pads. If the brake pad light is on there is no need to remove other than the two wheels with the sensors to find out if it is a sensor or worn pads. I can never have to many cool tools but do you really think OP should buy one?

And yes, change the rotors when you change the pads.

[StephenVA]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

A tool to check pads? You can't be serious.

Pads don't wear out that often and that is what pad sensors are for-to let you know it is time to change pads. A couple pumps of a floor jack and spin the lugnuts off with an impact gun--zip zip zip--and you can see both sides of the pad which is the correct method to check pads. If the brake pad light is on there is no need to remove other than the two wheels with the sensors to find out if it is a sensor or worn pads. I can never have to many cool tools but do you really think OP should buy one?

Nope just bringing up a cool tool. Don't like it? No problem as I lived without one and have sucessfully played with race cars, street Hi-po, restorations and now just BMWs without a hitch.

For me, it makes it easier to record thickness when I check the vechicles on each oil change or on an annual basis as I do with the garage queens. I pull the wheels 2x a year to visually inspect and to wash and detail the wheels, wells, suspension parts, and drive axles. Cars are fun. The right tools just makes the job easier to do, faster, better, and sometimes just for the hell of it.
Why buy a 12volt test light, when a bulb, a little wire and a sodering gun will do? Homemade Test Light

[racingbmwm3]

When I was a pro mechanic, that tool was very handy, as we would only see some cars once every couple of years. If it was there for an oil change, it takes 30 seconds to check the brakes to see how much pad is remaining, and if any of the brakes were at 3-4mm remaining it was good practice to let them know they would need brakes soon. Especially if they were at 3mm or less, as it looks really bad when their brake lining light comes on a week after they were just at the shop and they live 3 hours away...

I've never bothered using tools like that on my bimmers since I can just rely on the warning light telling me I have 20% pad remaining (which could be another 5-10k miles). That gives me plenty of time to check which brakes are worn, then order a new set of pads, discs, and sensor, and plan a weekend in the next month or two for replacing them.

Growing up with cars that are heavily electronic laden, I don't recommend test lights. I have a multimeter so I'm not creating a low impedance circuit and thus a high current draw on a circuit not meant for high currents. It's better to know if your 5V circuit is actually outputting 5V and not 12V, and vice versa.

[racingbmwm3]

When I was a pro mechanic, that tool was very handy, as we would only see some cars once every couple of years. If it was there for an oil change, it takes 30 seconds to check the brakes to see how much pad is remaining, and if any of the brakes were at 3-4mm remaining it was good practice to let them know they would need brakes soon. Especially if they were at 3mm or less, as it looks really bad when their brake lining light comes on a week after they were just at the shop and they live 3 hours away...

I've never bothered using tools like that on my bimmers since I can just rely on the warning light telling me I have 20% pad remaining (which could be another 5-10k miles). That gives me plenty of time to check which brakes are worn, then order a new set of pads, discs, and sensor, and plan a weekend in the next month or two for replacing them.

Growing up with cars that are heavily electronic laden, I don't recommend test lights. I have a multimeter so I'm not creating a low impedance circuit and thus a high current draw on a circuit not meant for high currents. It's better to know if your 5V circuit is actually outputting 5V and not 12V, and vice versa.

[CrazyOneToo]

Originally Posted by JCL

You need to physically inspect the brakes, front and rear.

Good practice is to replace the rotors and maintain full braking performance. You may be able to reuse them but many of us won't typically do so.

ps: Can you turn bold off?

I'll check them all this weekend