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Front brakes and new rotors?

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Old 11-04-2008, 05:07 AM
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The sensor does not have to be replaced. I'm on my fourth BMW (E28, E39, still have the E46, and the E60). I have replaced the pads and rotors on all four vehicles and have never replaced the sensors. You only NEED to replace the sensors under the following circumstances:

- You broke it when removing it
- You ran the brake pads down to the point where they came in contact with the sensor
- The cabling attached to the sensor is so old and brittle that it's about to break

Both my E28 and my E39 were over seven years old when I sold them, and they were still running on the original sensors.
Old 11-04-2008, 05:33 AM
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Ive got 74K on my 05 545i and have had a number of brake jobs. On all occassions, the rotors were found to be within spec and did not require changing. Typically, the rotors need replacing every 100K or so. This depends on your pads but that's what my SA told me their practice is here. With this, my second pad and sensor change, the car bakes and behaves like new. Note that BMW changed the config on their rear sensor so that there is no longer an annoying squeak anymore, a problem that plagued me for the past 20K miles! Much better now. Leave the OEM rotors on unless absolutely necessary. My vehicle brakes perfect with this setup and has quite a few miles on it compared to the OP....
Old 11-04-2008, 06:33 AM
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Is there a good DIY step by step somewhere for brake jobs??
Old 11-04-2008, 07:24 AM
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Originally Posted by Ricracing' post='694782' date='Oct 16 2008, 10:54 AM
The disk are changed every second time with the pads.

Sensors need renewal at every change.
+1 exactly what the service adviser said he does to his own BMW, but BMW changes it all anyway just to stick by their standards.
Old 11-04-2008, 07:33 PM
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Originally Posted by bespoke1' post='711884' date='Nov 4 2008, 09:33 AM
Is there a good DIY step by step somewhere for brake jobs??
It's what I wrote for E39's, but most of it still applies. I answered one of my own questions at the bottom - when replacing pads with factory pads, no shims required. When using aftermarket pads, I have had much less squeal when using shims. I don't use the anti-squeal goop - just shims.

http://www.bmwtips.com/tipsntricks/Changin...ngBrakePads.htm
Old 11-04-2008, 07:35 PM
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Originally Posted by RobertB' post='712579' date='Nov 4 2008, 08:33 PM
It's what I wrote for E39's, but most of it still applies. I answered one of my own questions at the bottom - when replacing pads with factory pads, no shims required. When using aftermarket pads, I have had much less squeal when using shims.

http://www.bmwtips.com/tipsntricks/Changin...ngBrakePads.htm
Rudy's technical gallery might help

http://forums.e60.net/index.php?autocom=ga...m&album=213
Old 11-05-2008, 03:28 AM
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Originally Posted by GENEaTALS' post='712583' date='Nov 4 2008, 10:35 PM
I like what Rudy put up much better! More information about where to clean, lube, and apply anti-squeal compound (or "anti-squeak", as they call it), minimum rotor thickness, and it even states:

The brake pad wear sensor must be replaced once it has
been removed (brake pad wear sensor loses its retention
capability in the brake pad).

I stand by what I said earlier about replacing the sensor, but this shows another reason why you would replace the sensor.
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