Front Caliper replacement + pads cost ?

[Alan Slade]

This could be the start of the West Sussex Zed Shed

 

[Mazza]

I think the Bognor Lean-to is a better description.......might have a garage and some tools, but unfortunately nowhere near the knowledge and skills of a real Zed Shed.
You and Maxine are welcome to come over to supervise proceedings.

 

[Bumpa]

When I had a sticking caliper last year I decided it was time to look at all four as they are 17 years old and quite probably have never been touched from new. I bought new pistons and seals for them all from Brakes International and refurbished all four for a total cost of about £73. As I disconnected each caliper I plugged the flexible line with a female M10 x 1mm blanking plug and lost almost no fluid. Once the job was complete I used a manual vacuum bleeder to gently suck out the bubbles in the calipers and bob's your uncle! All done. It was helpful folk on this forum who gave me the technique.

 

[IainP]

THAT, is almost exactly the way I do it ;-)
Only difference is I a have a hose clamp I can use on the flexi before/while I fit the blank. Use the pedal to push the piston almost all the way out, clamp, fit whatever blank I need from my collection, remove clamp. You can do them one at a time, or all at once if you have enough blanks.

 

[mrscalex]

You flexi clampers. Watch out in case @t-tony tells you off

It was on his advice I just use the depressed brake pedal technique. Which believe it or not results in virtually no loss of fluid.

Just couldn't get on with manual bleeding though.

 

[Bumpa]

Yes, I've never liked the idea of hose clamps. They are probably fine, but I worry about damaging the walls. The brass blanking plug was an ideal solution for me.

 

[t-tony]

Hose clamps in general are not a good idea unless they have wide flat jaws. The best thing to do is use one of these. You will lose a tiny drop of fluid as you loosen the first fitting but that will be all you lose. This is a shop bought item.

However it's very easy to make one like I did. 30" of 1/2" copper pipe and an "Octoplus" bar available from fishing tackle shops. The one I had spare is only just long enough, if you bought an 8 or 10 inch one you could make two push rods.

Cheap as chips!

Tony.

 

[IainP]

I have something very similar, though mine has a trigger I can press to adjust the length/pressure in place, so I can do easy one man bleeding.
My clamp is an ancient thing, rounded ends, you can't exert massive pressure with it. I don't like these modern bladed plastic things, or the rag and vice grip method I see a lot of people use, far too scary for me.

 

[Mazza]

Hose clamps in general are not a good idea unless they have wide flat jaws. The best thing to do is use one of these. You will lose a tiny drop of fluid as you loosen the first fitting but that will be all you lose. This is a shop bought item.
View attachment 97919 View attachment 97920 View attachment 97926
However it's very easy to make one like I did. 30" of 1/2" copper pipe and an "Octoplus" bar available from fishing tackle shops. The one I had spare is only just long enough, if you bought an 8 or 10 inch one you could make two push rods.
View attachment 97925 View attachment 97923 View attachment 97924
Cheap as chips!

Tony.

Just seen the price of one made by Sealey.....just under £40.00

So I will see what I have laying about and cobble one together.
Just one question....by how much do you have to depress the brake pedal?

 

[t-tony]

Only by as much as it needs to apply pressure to the system. It's hard to describe really.

Tony.

 

[Sean d]

Only by as much as it needs to apply pressure to the system. It's hard to describe really.

Tony.

I assume you put this on before removing the caliper, when you take the caliper off doesn't the pedal go down and the bar drop off

 

[t-tony]

No mate it doesn't. But it moves the piston in the master cylinder just enough to block the ports where fluid runs in from the reservoir.

Tony.

ps. Hopefully we'll get a reason to demo it on the 30th.

 

[Mazza]

A cut down broom handle and a bit of clean MDF....and it works ok

 

[Nodzed]

Just get 2 new pistons and a seal set and re-seal them, much cheaper, very easy repair

 

[Retrospective Soothsayer]

A cut down broom handle and a bit of clean MDF....and it works ok

That looks just the job Mazza

 

[Mazza]

You’ll have the honour of being the first one that uses it
Also got 4 hose blanking plugs to fit over the ends of the hose when the caliper is removed.
Dont worry about copper grease ...got a tub of the stuff.

 

[Retrospective Soothsayer]

Mazda, you're a 100% star - Thank you !

 

[Retrospective Soothsayer]

Are there any recommendations for best brake pads to use...ive read somewhere on here that Pagid were good.

Any thoughts on Mintex pads ?

 

[the Nefyn cat]

There's not much in the way of cr4p pads around these days, if it's just for general use (not track-days/racing) Pagid Mintex Meyle are all fine. Having watched this

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzeNFJ8ThqY
fancy discs and pads didn't make much difference.

 

[Retrospective Soothsayer]

Ive found these pads & calipers items on e-bay...do i need anything else ?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-OE-Textar-Front-Disc-Brake-Pads-Set-2328702/192306625425

[URL]https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-x-BMW-3-Series-E36-E46-Z3-Z4-Front-Right-Left-Brake-Calipers/263996020885[/URL]

Thanks everyone for all you help guiding numpty like me