anyone else having JCW brake problems???
#1
anyone else having JCW brake problems???
My poor Samantha has been in the shop for almost a week now (6 days) and she is having a problem with her newly installed JCW brakes- there seems to be air continously flowing into the brake lines... (I dont fully understand this, I just know it is bad...) Anyone else have problems or solutions??? Thanks!
#2
#3
Originally Posted by Zociac
Bleeding brakes is not exactly a rocket science. Why is your dealer keeping your car for a week when you pay big bucks for the brakes. I would be very surprised if the problem has anything to do with the JCW kit. Sound more like poor customer service.
#4
Here are a couple of thoughts for you.
First, if 'air is getting into the system' then fluid is getting out. No way around that. The hose fittings and pistons are the only points of entry and exit. This should be evident by trails of fluid somewhere. Air does not just find a way in.
The other thing to look for is bleeder location. I'm not familiar with the caliper but if the bleeder nipple is not the highest point in the caliper when mounted it can have air become trapped. I have some kits that can do this.
The nipple must be the high point. If the caliper is mounted at a slight angle or the nipple is not by design at the high point then you need to jack up the car to place this point at the top. Sometimes the crown of the upper piston is actually a bit higher than the passage drilled for the fluid to bleed. By moving this you allow this air to escape and bleed completely.
If they are using some sort of bleeder contraption tell them to toss it and do it with a small vinyl hose and a catch can. There are no bleeder tools that can compete with the most basic 'two men and a hose' system. Most are just marginal at best.
First, if 'air is getting into the system' then fluid is getting out. No way around that. The hose fittings and pistons are the only points of entry and exit. This should be evident by trails of fluid somewhere. Air does not just find a way in.
The other thing to look for is bleeder location. I'm not familiar with the caliper but if the bleeder nipple is not the highest point in the caliper when mounted it can have air become trapped. I have some kits that can do this.
The nipple must be the high point. If the caliper is mounted at a slight angle or the nipple is not by design at the high point then you need to jack up the car to place this point at the top. Sometimes the crown of the upper piston is actually a bit higher than the passage drilled for the fluid to bleed. By moving this you allow this air to escape and bleed completely.
If they are using some sort of bleeder contraption tell them to toss it and do it with a small vinyl hose and a catch can. There are no bleeder tools that can compete with the most basic 'two men and a hose' system. Most are just marginal at best.
#5
As you know (because we exchanged PMs) I don't have experience to share. But I want to express my sympathy that your new MINI with JCW equipment should be giving you and Niello (actually more you than Niello) such trouble. Seems unfair after waiting so long, tracking production, and then arrival. Bummer.
#6
Originally Posted by thefuturequeenofnebraska
They are bleeding the brakes again today... I dont think that it is poor customer service or the JCW kit... but the inexperience mechanics... I was just wondering if anyone had problems too... stupid niello. arg.
I wouldn't let them near my car.
maybe they installed them on the wrong side of the car
#7
Originally Posted by polmear
if these tech can't do a simple install and bleed of brakes...certainly no rocket scientists needed for this...how do they do a JCW engine upgrade?
I wouldn't let them near my car.
maybe they installed them on the wrong side of the car
I wouldn't let them near my car.
maybe they installed them on the wrong side of the car
It is taking so long may be the dealer is flying in a brake expert from JC Garage in UK.
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#8
Not sure about 'too simple' but if I'd taken the car in and the tech didn't know which end of the caliper was up....well, I'd be looking for a new service center very quickly.
***Actually I had this happen not more than a month ago. Kit buyer buys kit and installs.
Calls complaining of poor braking, pad wear etc.etc. "I've installed lots of brakes and I'm an expert, know what I'm doing, done this, done that, owned one of these, one of those etc. etc. Your kit doesn't feel nearly as good as my old XXX whatever....Send me some different pads these suck yada yada.
Me, I ship him new pads and talk about bedding etc.
Call back; "same as before, disappointed, poor pedal, I KNOW WHAT I'M talking about blah, blah, blah.
Me, send me a pic of the pads and the wear you see and are upset about.
So he does.
Me, Umm, (wanting to call him Mr. Expert) before we go any further on all of this, how about you swap sides on the calipers. Put the bleeders on the top. Or follow the directions about 'bleeders pointing up' or maybe read the R and L on the box?
No more calls, alls fine now. Now he want one of the rear kits. Think he'll know which end is up?
Sheese. (not a MINI)
***Actually I had this happen not more than a month ago. Kit buyer buys kit and installs.
Calls complaining of poor braking, pad wear etc.etc. "I've installed lots of brakes and I'm an expert, know what I'm doing, done this, done that, owned one of these, one of those etc. etc. Your kit doesn't feel nearly as good as my old XXX whatever....Send me some different pads these suck yada yada.
Me, I ship him new pads and talk about bedding etc.
Call back; "same as before, disappointed, poor pedal, I KNOW WHAT I'M talking about blah, blah, blah.
Me, send me a pic of the pads and the wear you see and are upset about.
So he does.
Me, Umm, (wanting to call him Mr. Expert) before we go any further on all of this, how about you swap sides on the calipers. Put the bleeders on the top. Or follow the directions about 'bleeders pointing up' or maybe read the R and L on the box?
No more calls, alls fine now. Now he want one of the rear kits. Think he'll know which end is up?
Sheese. (not a MINI)
Last edited by toddtce; 04-18-2005 at 07:56 PM.
#9
Originally Posted by thefuturequeenofnebraska
They are bleeding the brakes again today... I dont think that it is poor customer service or the JCW kit... but the inexperience mechanics... I was just wondering if anyone had problems too... stupid niello. arg.
If you don't understand the reason excuse they give you should find a friend who understand the principle of hydraulic brake to go with you and demand a timely resolution. Another avenue is to escalate the matter with Mini USA.
This is unacceptable. I wonder how much they are charging for the installation.
#10
shes home now...
after a week in the shop dealing with all sorts of problems... mostly with the brake lines... she is home. and now that i am able to motor again... (behind the wheel of a REAL MINI... -for a while i had a counterfeit) they will be forgiven... and hopefully this wont happen with the next set of JCW brakes they install!
#12
Originally Posted by Zociac
The calipers may be handed,
Originally Posted by thefuturequeenofnebraska
all sorts of problems... mostly with the brake lines...
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#15
This sure sets a new standard for Factory Trained BMW Mechanic. The best part is there are som many owners were told their cars has no problem because there is no fault code registered. Good that they are trained the indispensable skill of reading the fault codes.
I have a suggestion for BMW. Why not just display the fault code on the dash board so the owners don't have to inconvenient the service department when they don't have a code.
I am sorry you have to live through this ordeal.
I have a suggestion for BMW. Why not just display the fault code on the dash board so the owners don't have to inconvenient the service department when they don't have a code.
I am sorry you have to live through this ordeal.
Originally Posted by thefuturequeenofnebraska
the problem was that they calipers (spelling?) had been installed either backwards or upside down (i forget which)... and that was causing the problem...
I got to be the Niello guinea pig, so if any of you have to go in now, they should know what they are doing
I got to be the Niello guinea pig, so if any of you have to go in now, they should know what they are doing
#16
Wow! I just installed the JCW brake kit on my own car last Friday and it seems a little strange to me that a dealer could boof up the install that bad. The calipers install very easily and if you match them up to the stock ones you're taking off the car (i.e. with the bleeder valve on the top of the caliper), I would think that it would be a no brainer. Not to mention the fact that if they installed them upside-down, the bleeder valve would be on the bottom and it would be quite hard to get all of the air out of the system to begin with. No?
However, I don't see how installing the calipers upside-down would cause the system to take in air??? It's a closed system and so it shouldn't matter what direction the caliper is facing. The only thing I can think of is that by installing them the wrong way up, it was causing the brake line to be pulled on (and hence come lose) as the suspension worked and that's what was causing air to enter the system. Oy!
Anyway, I'm very glad to hear that you got your car back. The JCW brakes are AWESOME! I really like mine so far.
BTW... Here's a shot of a JCW caliper properly installed (with the bleeder valve on top as it should be):
However, I don't see how installing the calipers upside-down would cause the system to take in air??? It's a closed system and so it shouldn't matter what direction the caliper is facing. The only thing I can think of is that by installing them the wrong way up, it was causing the brake line to be pulled on (and hence come lose) as the suspension worked and that's what was causing air to enter the system. Oy!
Anyway, I'm very glad to hear that you got your car back. The JCW brakes are AWESOME! I really like mine so far.
BTW... Here's a shot of a JCW caliper properly installed (with the bleeder valve on top as it should be):
#17
Originally Posted by TheOfficeMaven
Not to mention the fact that if they installed them upside-down, the bleeder valve would be on the bottom and it would be quite hard to get all of the air out of the system to begin with. No?
However, I don't see how installing the calipers upside-down would cause the system to take in air??? It's a closed system and so it shouldn't matter what direction the caliper is facing
However, I don't see how installing the calipers upside-down would cause the system to take in air??? It's a closed system and so it shouldn't matter what direction the caliper is facing
on another note: OfficeMaven: who makes the rotor for the JCW kit? their name should be cast in that ring around the hat. thx
also, is that the dust shoield that comes with the JCW kit, or is it the original?
#18
#20
Originally Posted by polmear
...on another note: OfficeMaven: who makes the rotor for the JCW kit? their name should be cast in that ring around the hat. thx
also, is that the dust shoield that comes with the JCW kit, or is it the original?
also, is that the dust shoield that comes with the JCW kit, or is it the original?
As for the dust shield/backing plate shown in the picture... It's the stock one. The JCW kit doesn't include a new shield. All the kit comes with are two new front calipers (completely pre-assembled with the pads pre-installed), two new rotors, two new banjo bolts with seals (for hooking up the brake lines), and a set of new rear brake pads.
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