This past weekend, I had four days off school, which allowed me to complete my long-needed front brake job. I had been experiencing occasional “check brake linings” messages, as well as squealing when stopping. Finally, I had the time to do the job.
While I was at the Bavarian Autosport Show and Shine this past September, I talked with a fellow E39 owner about changing the pads and rotors. He gave me a few tips that would be helpful should the rotors be seized onto the hubs. Luckily for me, they were not.
I began the job around 5pm on a Friday, using my mother’s garage bay, as hers has much more space and better lighting than mine. While I was down at Bavarian Autosport in New Hampshire prior to the Show and Shine, I bought new Meyle brake rotors and Jurid Pads. Unfortunately, I overlooked buying a new wear sensor, which I had to order at a later date (and pay criminal shipping charges from New Hampshire to Midcoast Maine).
The job started off well; my new jack worked smoothly and I was able to get my car securely lifted on a jack stand. I then proceeded to remove the passenger side wheel to access the brakes. I removed the caliper, which was held into the caliper bracket by two (7mm?) Allen key bolts. I placed the caliper on a fishing tackle box, which was the perfect height to prevent the caliper from hanging from the brake lines. It is often suggested to simply zip-tie the caliper to the coils of the springs to avoid hanging it from the lines, but the fishing-tackle-box idea seemed more secure. Next, I removed the caliper bracket by removing the two bolts with a six-point socket. Now, it was time to remove the rotor.
I had heard that the little Allen bolt that holds on the rotors can strip easily. Worse, I had heard that they are often seized. Knowing my car, I highly suspected this was the case. To my happiness, the bolt came right out with a little tap with a rubber mallet on the end of the racket. I was able to take off the rotor. Now, it was time to put things back together, which is always twice as difficult as taking them apart.
Luckily, the only problem I ran into during the reassembly process was getting the calipers back on the rotors, as I didn’t have a “piston pusher” to push the brake pads back. I was able to overcome this and complete the job successfully.
Exhaust Fumes 