Don't reuse rear caliper bolts? Missing brake wear sensor
#1
Don't reuse rear caliper bolts? Missing brake wear sensor
Hello,.
I started looking at my rear brakes tonight. There's no wear sensor there at all, I guess that's why the brake pad light never came on. I was thinking about putting one on it. Does anyone have a suggested routing for it? Where is the connector that it plugs into?
According to my Haynes manual, the rear caliper bolts go to 22 lb*ft and shouldn't be reused. I've never seen anybody mention this before. What does BMW say about that?
Also, the Haynes manual makes a big deal about clamping the lines and opening the bleeder screw when retracting the pads to prevent gunk in the caliper's brake fluid from damaging the ABS unit. Where is the ABS unit located? I assume somewhere under the hood.
-Eric
I started looking at my rear brakes tonight. There's no wear sensor there at all, I guess that's why the brake pad light never came on. I was thinking about putting one on it. Does anyone have a suggested routing for it? Where is the connector that it plugs into?
According to my Haynes manual, the rear caliper bolts go to 22 lb*ft and shouldn't be reused. I've never seen anybody mention this before. What does BMW say about that?
Also, the Haynes manual makes a big deal about clamping the lines and opening the bleeder screw when retracting the pads to prevent gunk in the caliper's brake fluid from damaging the ABS unit. Where is the ABS unit located? I assume somewhere under the hood.
-Eric
#2
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We reuse the bolts all the time no issues if you make em tight.
Also no need to crimp the line or open the bleeder screw. Just use the tool and slowly compress it and make sure you don't tare the boot.
Also no need to crimp the line or open the bleeder screw. Just use the tool and slowly compress it and make sure you don't tare the boot.
#3
And BMW supply only one bolt as their method is to only undo the bottom bolt and then rotate the caliper around the top bolt.
#4
#5
Hello,.
I started looking at my rear brakes tonight. There's no wear sensor there at all, I guess that's why the brake pad light never came on. I was thinking about putting one on it. Does anyone have a suggested routing for it? Where is the connector that it plugs into?
According to my Haynes manual, the rear caliper bolts go to 22 lb*ft and shouldn't be reused. I've never seen anybody mention this before. What does BMW say about that?
Also, the Haynes manual makes a big deal about clamping the lines and opening the bleeder screw when retracting the pads to prevent gunk in the caliper's brake fluid from damaging the ABS unit. Where is the ABS unit located? I assume somewhere under the hood.
-Eric
I started looking at my rear brakes tonight. There's no wear sensor there at all, I guess that's why the brake pad light never came on. I was thinking about putting one on it. Does anyone have a suggested routing for it? Where is the connector that it plugs into?
According to my Haynes manual, the rear caliper bolts go to 22 lb*ft and shouldn't be reused. I've never seen anybody mention this before. What does BMW say about that?
Also, the Haynes manual makes a big deal about clamping the lines and opening the bleeder screw when retracting the pads to prevent gunk in the caliper's brake fluid from damaging the ABS unit. Where is the ABS unit located? I assume somewhere under the hood.
-Eric
#6
PO does not mention what year
02 had no sensors 4 brake wear ... they came later
if the car DID come with sensors, a missing sensor would result in the wear light being on and you could not reset it - the open circuit causes the warning
possibly, if the car is 03 or later, and there are no sensors on the lf and rr, they may have been jumpered out; that is the sensor end cut off and the wire ends spliced together to fool the system. I did this, the sensors do nothing for me - I visually check my pads monthly. Look for the sensor line to be zip-tied somewhere back towards or behind the wheel well liner
02 had no sensors 4 brake wear ... they came later
if the car DID come with sensors, a missing sensor would result in the wear light being on and you could not reset it - the open circuit causes the warning
possibly, if the car is 03 or later, and there are no sensors on the lf and rr, they may have been jumpered out; that is the sensor end cut off and the wire ends spliced together to fool the system. I did this, the sensors do nothing for me - I visually check my pads monthly. Look for the sensor line to be zip-tied somewhere back towards or behind the wheel well liner
Last edited by Capt_bj; 02-25-2013 at 08:09 AM.
#7
I don't know if we're talking about a gen 1 or gen 2 car here, but aren't the brake wear sensors different between the two? Not just in appearance, but also function?
When we change pads on club members cars, I try to get them to flush the brake fluid at the same time. We use a pressure bleeder, so the ABS unit sees the fresh fluid first and the old stuff is washed out thru the caliper bleeders. For the cost of a can of fluid and a few minutes time it's a good preventative.....we also open the bleed screws as we push the pistons back in, so the old fluid doesn't back flush. I'm not worried about contamination, but it makes it easier not pushing fluid all the way back to the master cylinder.
The brake wear sensors go on the left front and right rear only.
I reuse the caliper bolts too, just be sure to tighten them properly.
When we change pads on club members cars, I try to get them to flush the brake fluid at the same time. We use a pressure bleeder, so the ABS unit sees the fresh fluid first and the old stuff is washed out thru the caliper bleeders. For the cost of a can of fluid and a few minutes time it's a good preventative.....we also open the bleed screws as we push the pistons back in, so the old fluid doesn't back flush. I'm not worried about contamination, but it makes it easier not pushing fluid all the way back to the master cylinder.
The brake wear sensors go on the left front and right rear only.
I reuse the caliper bolts too, just be sure to tighten them properly.
Last edited by MINIdave; 02-25-2013 at 09:30 AM.
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#10
I don't know if we're talking about a gen 1 or gen 2 car here, but aren't the brake wear sensors different between the two? Not just in appearance, but also function?
The GEN2 supposedly has the two stage functionality that gives you an early warning then the change 'em now version (altho dissecting a GEN2 sensor I don't see evidence of such magic circuitry) and the process for resetting things is different. But you can most certainly jump both systems .... I've done it on both GENs.
The GEN2 supposedly has the two stage functionality that gives you an early warning then the change 'em now version (altho dissecting a GEN2 sensor I don't see evidence of such magic circuitry) and the process for resetting things is different. But you can most certainly jump both systems .... I've done it on both GENs.
#12
Thanks Captn for the tip about cutting off the Brake Wear Sensor... Just finished my brake job and I cut/soldered the sensor ends togther and used heat shrink tubing - left them in the caliper mount bleed clip where it is easy to see just to **** off any mechanics that might want to sell me one!
#13
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