e60 brake pad change
#1
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Joined: Apr 2017
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From: pa
My Ride: 528i
Model Year: 2010 528i e60
Engine: N52k
e60 brake pad change
I've been watching a number of e60 brake pad changes.
When the DIY'ers compress the piston back into the caliper on all 4 wheels, they never check the brake master cylinder fluid level.
Why don't they check to see if the brake fluid is overflowing and it needs to be siphoned out?
Isn't that a critical step?
When the DIY'ers compress the piston back into the caliper on all 4 wheels, they never check the brake master cylinder fluid level.
Why don't they check to see if the brake fluid is overflowing and it needs to be siphoned out?
Isn't that a critical step?
#3
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Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Indiana, USA
My Ride: 2007 530xi: Sport, NAV, PDC, HUD, Cold Wthr, CA, Logic 7, HD Radio, SAT, Custom NCS coded options 2008 535xi: Sport, Night Vision, NAV, PDC, HUD, Cold Wthr, CA, Logic 7, SAT, Custom NCS coded options, Rear Seat Heat Retrofit, Passport 9500ci
Model Year: 2008
Engine: N54
I do.... But you shouldn't have to.
When the pads are new and the fluid level is correct, there is no reason someone should add fluid to the reservoir as the pads wear down. The fluid level is OK at the minimum thickness of the pads. I do not add fluid to my own cars.
However, if I buy a used car, best not to assume anything and I keep a close eye on it.
When the pads are new and the fluid level is correct, there is no reason someone should add fluid to the reservoir as the pads wear down. The fluid level is OK at the minimum thickness of the pads. I do not add fluid to my own cars.
However, if I buy a used car, best not to assume anything and I keep a close eye on it.
#4
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Joined: Jul 2014
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From: brisbane
My Ride: 2007 E60 530d
Model Year: 2007
Engine: M57
Some people recommend loosening the bleed nipple on the caliper and let the old fluid in the caliper out at that point and then to up the reservoir if needed.
#5
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Joined: Jun 2014
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From: Boston
My Ride: 2008 535xi
Model Year: 2008
Engine: n54
As stated above.. if it was proper level when there was new pads, it should not overflow, there's not that much fluid that goes up when you compress the pads... if not it was someone that always topped it to the max all the time, even then it shouldn't overflow but you could always take a peek when you're walking over to the next set of brakes. Literally just finished doing my cousins minivan this weekend and he asked the same question, I told him to go look and he said it didn't move high enough for him to see. When we were done I told him to check it again and he said it was the same level. Of course his pads were probably still 30-40% life left, he was asking if he should leave the pads. My answer is... we had it all taken apart, and for the $30/$40 worth of pads, might as well all use new hardware than to bother putting new pads in before/after/during winter
#6
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 597
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From: Birmingham, AL
My Ride: 535i 6-speed
Model Year: 2008
I've been watching a number of e60 brake pad changes.
When the DIY'ers compress the piston back into the caliper on all 4 wheels, they never check the brake master cylinder fluid level.
Why don't they check to see if the brake fluid is overflowing and it needs to be siphoned out?
Isn't that a critical step?
When the DIY'ers compress the piston back into the caliper on all 4 wheels, they never check the brake master cylinder fluid level.
Why don't they check to see if the brake fluid is overflowing and it needs to be siphoned out?
Isn't that a critical step?
#7
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Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 517
Likes: 6
From: Boston
My Ride: 2008 535xi
Model Year: 2008
Engine: n54
hella yes it makes a difference compressing the caliper.. The reservoir is pretty sealed so that air doesn't go in to contaminate the fluid.. so if you compress the piston, the fluid has to go somewhere!
If the brakes aren't super worn down, your brake fluid will not overflow, but this weekend I did a job on a volvo suv that literally hit the metal of the pads. Upon compressing it, the reservoir pretty much overflowed.
If the brakes aren't super worn down, your brake fluid will not overflow, but this weekend I did a job on a volvo suv that literally hit the metal of the pads. Upon compressing it, the reservoir pretty much overflowed.
#8
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,380
Likes: 3
From: Indiana, USA
My Ride: 2007 530xi: Sport, NAV, PDC, HUD, Cold Wthr, CA, Logic 7, HD Radio, SAT, Custom NCS coded options 2008 535xi: Sport, Night Vision, NAV, PDC, HUD, Cold Wthr, CA, Logic 7, SAT, Custom NCS coded options, Rear Seat Heat Retrofit, Passport 9500ci
Model Year: 2008
Engine: N54
edit: to add that I don't think these are as sealed as you think. As the fluid level decreases, a vacuum would form. However, opening the cap is certainly easier than pushing the air back out through a small opening.
Last edited by NoQuarter; 10-05-2017 at 09:29 AM.
#10
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 81
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From: Ft.Lauderdale and Connecticut
My Ride: 530i base, blue with saddle leather
Model Year: 2007
Engine: N52
Then when I'm bleeding the brakes the volume in the caliper is small and what's left in there is easier to force out with new fluid.
Sure, detail oriented, but it gets the old fluid directly to where it belongs: in the waste can.