Kennethmilesthethird
Newbie
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2022
- Points
- 3
Hey Gang - just bought a 96’ Z3. Vehicle history states the three owners before me have replaced exactly one set of pads (rears) over 26 years and 50,000 miles. Suffice it to say, a bit of brake work was needed. I need some advice about a Master Cylinder replacement….
It had squishy brakes during my first test drive - pedal decompressing further than normal, creeping while at a stop, reduced braking distance, signs I’ve associated with a failing master cylinder. I went ahead and changed the fluid (finally) using a pressure bleed - fluid was obviously very worn, to the point where I had to clear a bit of calculus at the nipple to get fluid flow. No improvement.
I am more confident it’s the master cylinder at this point. I’ve felt this before in other vehicles, and I’ve done this job on other vehicles with staggering improvement. My 2 questions to the forum is - This vehicle has an ABS system, but I’m not sure a modern reader is going to open the ABS valves for me - required after I introduce air at the master cylinder. How have you guys figured this out? Apart from bench bleeding the new Master cylinder, installing, and pressure bleeding while manipulating the ABS system, are there any other tips I’ll run into as a guy who has never done this in a Z3 before?
My mechanic skill comes from a lifetime of errors, a Haynes manual, and a bit of confidence with a wrench. The Z3 Haynes manual instructions for a master cylinder replacement states - “please don’t do this.” What’s the fun in that?
It had squishy brakes during my first test drive - pedal decompressing further than normal, creeping while at a stop, reduced braking distance, signs I’ve associated with a failing master cylinder. I went ahead and changed the fluid (finally) using a pressure bleed - fluid was obviously very worn, to the point where I had to clear a bit of calculus at the nipple to get fluid flow. No improvement.
I am more confident it’s the master cylinder at this point. I’ve felt this before in other vehicles, and I’ve done this job on other vehicles with staggering improvement. My 2 questions to the forum is - This vehicle has an ABS system, but I’m not sure a modern reader is going to open the ABS valves for me - required after I introduce air at the master cylinder. How have you guys figured this out? Apart from bench bleeding the new Master cylinder, installing, and pressure bleeding while manipulating the ABS system, are there any other tips I’ll run into as a guy who has never done this in a Z3 before?
My mechanic skill comes from a lifetime of errors, a Haynes manual, and a bit of confidence with a wrench. The Z3 Haynes manual instructions for a master cylinder replacement states - “please don’t do this.” What’s the fun in that?
