How to change your brake pads. ( BMW )

[rtzapper]

thanks for the video or I should say videos, you've been busy

[briansmobile1]

@rtzapper You're welcome- thanks for watching and commenting. 

[bmwnasher]

Did my rear pads today the pry bar method is a great way to push the piston back ..

THANKS FOR THE VIDEO....

[briansmobile1]

@bmwnasher you're welcome- you'll find that the springy-ness of the bars also makes them smooth to collapse which protects the master cylinder and caliper piston seals. ; )

[bmwnasher]

@briansmobile1 is this pry bar method well know?, its so stupidly easy you should patent it . again many many thanks

[briansmobile1]

@bmwnasher :"Would you patent the Sun?" - Dr. Jonas Salk

[MrVmax05]

Nice!

Thanks for the brake sensor solder trick!!

[briansmobile1]

@MrVmax05 You're welcome- MAKE SURE to turn the key on for 45 seconds with the engine off so the computer will register the fixed sensor as good or the warning will just keep coming back on again.

[shinbetUK]

BMW advice that you replace the brake sensors when you change the pads. The rear is a pain as it routes off behind the trim.

[1800NoviceVillage]

@shinbetUK if the lights not on you can reuse it.

[shinbetUK]

@1800NoviceVillage

yes. Should have added that point.

[salchipapa8000]

thanks !

[escorpiomg1]

thank u !! and how do I find out the thickness number ?? last year i changed both pats and rotor

[escorpiomg1]

hi ..do u have to change the rotor too when u change pads bmw x5

[briansmobile1]

@escorpiomg1 The rotor is marked a number for thickness. If it's thinner than the number on it. Then you need to replace it. Otherwise no.

[bfree007]

Hey man I changed out the pads and rotors on the front of my 03 z4 without any problem. Seems that when I go in reverse and then forwards that there is some clamping noise or clicking noise like the outer pads sliding just a little. Any suggestions for this?

[briansmobile1]

@bfree007 There are shims on the caliper bracket that the pads fit into. If they are omitted you get that. The shims hold the pads in place.

[bfree007]

@briansmobile1 I know there are shims on the inner pads but I don't have any on the outside. Is there anywhere I can pick up shims to solve this problem?

[briansmobile1]

@bfree007 You can search for a disc brake hardware kit for it. They also come with many high grade brake pads. Many Thermoquiet ceramic pads come with them in the box.

[patmx1992]

go ron paul! also helpful video thanks bud

[briansmobile1]

@patmx1992 Amen to that! And you're welcome!

[glennvose]

Thanks! After watching this was able to do each caliper in about 30 minutes each. Awesome, you saved me about $500 bucks.

[briansmobile1]

@glennvose You're welcome.  Now you have the power of that money to do something awesome for yourself and those around you.

[redgts00]

Your'e a beast dude... thanks.

[briansmobile1]

@redgts00 You're welcome!

[contagiousFX]

Is it bad to use a flat screwdriver against the rotor and the caliper to compress it in? Cuz I do that all the times lol

[briansmobile1]

@contagiousFX Done properly damages are negligible (insignificant)

[Vacmasterthegreat]

not relating to a BMW, but what do you think the lowest price should be that I should charge a friend for labor on replacing most of the brakelines in his 1992 s10 blazer? I want to help him out but I know I have to make something for my time and dirtyness

[briansmobile1]

@Vacmasterthegreat Man that's a tough one. It's all relative to what a shop charges for it, how professional you are, what you normally could make in the same time, and how good a friend he is an what he'd do or has done for you in the past.

[Vacmasterthegreat]

@briansmobile1 well that's just it. I don't know what a shop would charge for replacing several brake lines and then bleeding the system, and thought maybe you'd done a similar job before and would have a price idea. My main thought is should I charge him hourly or give a full job estimate? I'm guessing that all attributes to my professionalism.

[briansmobile1]

@Vacmasterthegreat Book on it would be around $300-$400

[mrmrlee]

C clamp, sorry!

[mrmrlee]

Instead of prying against the caliper with a crowbar, just remove the brake reservoir cover and compress the brake piston in the caliper with a large c clap, the caliper will drop right off no prying needed!

[reneonlineg1]

PumP Brakes a few times in park before you drive off.. then make sure the car doesnt roll in drive while holding down brake. like at a red light .

[briansmobile1]

@reneonlineg1 GOOD CALL! I forgot to put that one on this vid. It's automatic for me to know to do that. Thanks.

[Bravo97779]

Great video sir! I feel much better about changing the brakes on my Z4 now. :)

[briansmobile1]

@Bravo97779 Glad you like it.

[Bravo97779]

@briansmobile1 Just so you know. I did my brakes after watching this video. It was very simple because I knew what I was doing after seeing this and saved me 110 bucks! Thanks again.

[briansmobile1]

@Bravo97779 You're welcome- congratulations man!

[SandDogSmith]

Thank you!

Definitely need instruction on this job.

ALSO, loved the RON PAUL 2012 sticker!!

Cheers to you!

[briansmobile1]

@SandDogSmith I confirm, diagnose and fix problems in complex systems all day long. Ron Paul is my kind of man!

[josephfoster30]

Your brake pads won't last as long if you don't machine the rotors right?

[briansmobile1]

@josephfoster30 They can still last long. I own a little cash cow lathe, but it's not needed as often as previously prescribed. Newer cars have thinner rotors that can't tolerate multiple turnings. Less is more.

[johntracey523]

Neat tip about holding the old brake pads to the new ones to put the orange goop in the right place from the outline on the old ones. Oh well 4 am and the cat is crying to come in the house. good flick on the chickens too. Blessings, John

[briansmobile1]

@johntracey523 Thanks for watching.

[Bonfield2002]

Friend of mine turns wrenches at the dealership ,uses one everyday with one hand where his snap on would pull like a mule. He uses it on all but the highest torque fasteners. at 180 ft/lbs it does it all. At $300 a bit pricey for me , but for a high teck,teck it would be a real arm saver. Hope you do get one

[briansmobile1]

@Bonfield2002 I might. I just ordered a powerprobe 3 on everybodys recommendation. It should come in tomorrow.

[Bonfield2002]

do yourself a favour and get one of those ingersoll rand hammerhead impact ratchets, you will wonder how you ever done work without it. Even bettter Brian do a tool review when you get one. Great vid as usual.

[briansmobile1]

@Bonfield2002 Thanks- do you have one? They're over $300 where I'm at. I have looked at them and I am due to replace mine.

[ocpm4tt]

No grease where the pads slide on the caliper bracket?

[briansmobile1]

@ocpm4tt It sure doesn't hurt. On Chrysler vehicles it's a MUST. Many others like this it isn't mandatory. Great question! Had I thought of it I would have mentioned it for sure.

[AllenTrucks]

what brand pry bars are those, and great video

[briansmobile1]

@AllenTrucks They're just cheap Napa ones I think. That or Autozone.

[watuzi]

Watch out for those brake sensors, they can be be very brittle, it's very easy to break those. Costs $20 each.

[briansmobile1]

@watuzi That's right. They are made from brake pad lining material with a wire cast into it.  I was talking to a BMW technician from Germany and he laughed at me for re using them- like I was dumpster diving or something. lol

[watuzi]

You make it look so easy. I will use your tip of prying the old pads loose before removing them from the caliper, wish you'd made this video before hehe. I used a screwdriver to rock the caliper back and forth till it finally came off the disc. Now I know better. Thanks.

[jbernhoft]

That air rachet impact is bad ass, I have one on order, will do a video review when I get it. Love the video Brian keep them coming

[84W150]

Just curious, why didn't you machine the rotors? I saw an ammco brake lathe in your shop. I don't think I've ever put brakes on a BMW car before so I don't know if the rotors are a bastard to take off. Maybe they take some sort of a special BMW adapter or you just didn't want to ruin your carbide bits on that big lip the rotors had.

[msgmonly]

mr. clean

[lmlm400b]

RON PAUL sign!!! not only you know how to fix cars but also you know your politics!!

but its too bad not many folks r like u Brian!

good vid thanks!

RonPaul 2012!

[SiRHumpAlot924]

Great Vid Brian thanks for the tips andi also saw that Wrencg on ETCG lol you two guys i both watch. Keep em comeing,

[CURBECK]

I leave the old inner pad in and get my big dog channelocks to stuff em back in. Lol then there's those "other guys" than have the $25 specialty tool for it..lol

[CURBECK]

Loving the way you push the pistons back in

[briansmobile1]

@CURBECK How do you do it?

[peelout40]

@briansmobile1 I use C-clamp...your method seems awesomer...and I watched ALL 4 of ETCG's tool expo vids...was like a movie with all good parts.

[briansmobile1]

@peelout40 Eric rules. He's got his stuff together for making cool videos doesn't he?

[1elAguila]

great tip brian

thanks amigo

[briansmobile1]

@1elAguila You're welcome- I always love to hear from you amigo! How's the Toyota?

[1elAguila]

@briansmobile1 the toyota is ruaning good so far amigo

thanks

[mrstarman57]

Great tips,thanks for sharing!

[briansmobile1]

@mrstarman57 You're totally welcome. Thanks for let'n me know it did it for you!

[RAHMX145]

Yeaaaaaaaaaaaa I'm awesome! And so are you and your videos!

[briansmobile1]

@RAHMX145 You are awesome!

[JamesRoyful]

THANK YOU ^__^

[briansmobile1]

@JamesRoyful THANK YOU!

[RockieSc]

Thanx ! ;-)

Greetings from the Netherlands

[briansmobile1]

@RockieSc Dat is geweldig! Ik ben blij van u te horen!

[choidj]

Ha, I just came here after watching ericthecarguy's tool show video.You guys are both great mechanics and the only real ones I watch on a regular basis on youtube.

[briansmobile1]

@choidj Glad to have you along! Check out Scotttykilmer and Realfixesrealfast too they've got some good stuff as well.

[blackdusterv8]

Thanks, you are AWESOME, but I am still afraid to do it myself... ;(

I want more of this!!!! :D

[briansmobile1]

@blackdusterv8 Thanks- I'll do it.

[ak12543]

Rightous!...Salmon are running so gotta go... want some? Nice hair Brian, looks FRESH.

[briansmobile1]

@ak12543 Are you in Alaska?  I use to fish Kasilof and Ninilchik.

[spelunkerd]

Oops, I guess I wrote too soon, since you said you use 'disc quiet'. I don't think that is available here in the north.

Regarding the hammer ratchet, looking at the Ingersol Rand website, the power of that ratchet is not as strong as a typical air wrench. They beat out other ratchets, but the design is significantly weaker than most air tools. Unless I'm mistaken, 180 ft-pounds won't do for most harmonic balancers....

[briansmobile1]

@spelunkerd I don't think it's available/listed yet.

[spelunkerd]

I've always been confused by what to put on the back of the pads. "you can glue em or lube em... ". I like your idea of glue, although I do have silicone paste. What exactly do you use?

[briansmobile1]

@spelunkerd CRC brand Disc Brake Quiet.

[beefystik]

Oh yeh, I knew I meant to ask you something else. I haven't had the pleasure of working on a BMW at this point. If the brake light comes on due to low brake pad material, does it just reset when the pads are replaced? And I'm a little confused about the solder on the sensor? Guess I'll see what you mean should I work on one.

[briansmobile1]

@beefystik You get a digital message that says "Check disc brake linings". There's a copper wire inside that gets smeared off on the rotor. Then you just close the circuit by melting a solder "bridge" from one wire to the other.

[beefystik]

Yo Brian. Another awesome video. I LOVE the tip about using the prybars to push in the caliper piston, I've always fought with a crappy c-clamp. So, THANK YOU again. I learn something new everytime i watch yer stuff. Keep 'em comin!

[briansmobile1]

@beefystik Will do. I always love hearing from you. I value your input on what is helpful/beneficial to have in the vids.

[turbobuick33]

What year and model BMW is that?

[briansmobile1]

@turbobuick33 Good question. It's the 2005 BMW X3 with the 3.0L straight or inline six cylinder.

[5jgibbs8]

The hammerhead is great!

[briansmobile1]

@5jgibbs8 Is that slang for shaved head?

[5jgibbs8]

@briansmobile1 Thats the ingersoll rand impact air ratchet thing..

[hp11208]

cool thanks.

[briansmobile1]

@hp11208 Thank you!

[youtubasoarus]

Great stuff Brian. I did this job on my car about a month back. Done it a few times. Looks much more complicated on the BMW. No sensors on my old ride. But then i'd expect a million sensors on a BMW. Do you know if you can reset the warning lights on the dash in the BMW just by replacing the parts? (eg. brake pads) or do they have to be reset by a dealer? I've seen several 3 series BMW's that have the dashes lit up from maintenance reminders.

[briansmobile1]

@youtubasoarus The sensor gets wiped out and you have to pay $25 for a new one. Or you have to repair it. Once you close the circuit the reminder will be gone.

[youtubasoarus]

@briansmobile1 - LOL that's kinda crazy. Engineered to destroy itself. Wonderful. But then again, 25 bucks for someone driving a BMW I wouldn't expect to be too much. Almost like buying new clips I guess. Thanks for the tip!

[briansmobile1]

@youtubasoarus You're welcome. A little blob of solder for 5 cents and she's golden.

[spazmonkey05]

Thanks!!!!!