Should rebuilding brake calipers be a maintenance item?

legacyej25 · Mon, Nov-12-2018, 09:01:54 PM

Thinking ahead to the winter maintenance for my m3: should I rebuild the calipers? I'm planning on doing pads (needed) and most likely rotors.

The calipers feel fine and the car brakes in a straight line. Any thoughts? Or is this a worthless activity.

**terraphantm** · Mon, Nov-12-2018, 09:10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by legacyej25

Thinking ahead to the winter maintenance for my m3: should I rebuild the calipers? I'm planning on doing pads (needed) and most likely rotors.

The calipers feel fine and the car brakes in a straight line. Any thoughts? Or is this a worthless activity.

My experience tells me don't rebuild the calipers unless they're actually sticking. You may well cause them to stick if you rebuild them unnecessarily.

eacmen · Mon, Nov-12-2018, 09:37:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by terraphantm

My experience tells me don't rebuild the calipers unless they're actually sticking. You may well cause them to stick if you rebuild them unnecessarily.

Concur. I am rebuilding all 4 corners right now but the calipers are in pretty bad shape. If the dust boots are intact and the pistons move freely no reason to rebuild.

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tr4ck_m3 · Mon, Nov-12-2018, 10:53:27 PM

No need if the pistons are moving freely, a nice trick is to use titanium shims to avoid frequent caliper rebuilds.

The titanium shields keeps the heat on the brake pads and rotors which is rated for heat. These shims serves as a thermal barrier to the pistons which the seals are in contact with as well as the brake fluid.

ThunderMoose · Mon, Nov-12-2018, 11:12:11 PM

I bought my car in 2012. Have never had issues with brakes but decided to replace seals and boots this week. I have 4 pot BBK in front and OEM tears. It wasn’t very difficult. I’d look at your boots and if in tact, don’t worry.

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bosundave · Tue, Nov-13-2018, 12:43:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tr4ck_m3

No need if the pistons are moving freely, a nice trick is to use titanium shims to avoid frequent caliper rebuilds.

The titanium shields keeps the heat on the brake pads and rotors which is rated for heat. These shims serves as a thermal barrier to the pistons which the seals are in contact with as well as the brake fluid.

I bought a set of these shims for my Brembo GT fronts. I did not realize that they would protect my piston seals. But the seals do indeed seem perfect after 10 years. I just did a pad and rotor job, so I was able to inspect everything.
The pistons move with just finger pressure. I never needed the mechanical spreader I bought.

Now, I am glad I bought the shims shortly after I got the BBK.

bigjae1976 · Tue, Nov-13-2018, 02:04:57 AM

Shouldn’t be an issue unless they’ve seen excessive heat. Signs would be brake fluid boiling or crispy dust boots.

Or if some ape used a screw driver to compress the piston to replace the pads.

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Cheapbimmer · Tue, Nov-13-2018, 02:08:08 AM

Seven posts and nobody mentioned to flush the brake fluid? You guys are slacking.

TheSt|G · Tue, Nov-13-2018, 02:19:19 AM

Excessive heat and disuse are the two things that seem to push calipers into needing rebuilds.

wahsm · Tue, Nov-13-2018, 02:29:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bosundave

I bought a set of these shims for my Brembo GT fronts. I did not realize that they would protect my piston seals. But the seals do indeed seem perfect after 10 years. I just did a pad and rotor job, so I was able to inspect everything.
The pistons move with just finger pressure. I never needed the mechanical spreader I bought.

Now, I am glad I bought the shims shortly after I got the BBK.

Where did you get your shims for your Brembo GTs?

Mon, Nov-12-2018, 09:01:54 PM	#1
legacyej25 Registered User Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 946 Reputation: 0	Should rebuilding brake calipers be a maintenance item? Thinking ahead to the winter maintenance for my m3: should I rebuild the calipers? I'm planning on doing pads (needed) and most likely rotors. The calipers feel fine and the car brakes in a straight line. Any thoughts? Or is this a worthless activity. __________________ 2002 Carbon Black on Cinnamon My Build Journal Instagram

Mon, Nov-12-2018, 10:53:27 PM	#4
tr4ck_m3 Buildjournal Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 1,889 In the garage: '02 BMW M3 Reputation: 0 Location: Irvine, CA	Re: Should rebuilding brake calipers be a maintenance item? No need if the pistons are moving freely, a nice trick is to use titanium shims to avoid frequent caliper rebuilds. The titanium shields keeps the heat on the brake pads and rotors which is rated for heat. These shims serves as a thermal barrier to the pistons which the seals are in contact with as well as the brake fluid. __________________ IG: @tr4ckM3 B-Spec Tune 2002 BMW E46 M3 6MT \| B-Spec Tune + ProFlex Commander E70 315whp/242wtq 2013 BMW F30 335i 8AT \| BM3 E30 Stg 2 Tune 367whp/457wtq

Mon, Nov-12-2018, 11:12:11 PM	#5
ThunderMoose Registered User Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 2,600 In the garage: '03 BMW E46 M3 '03 BMW M3 Reputation: 0 Location: League City	Re: Should rebuilding brake calipers be a maintenance item? I bought my car in 2012. Have never had issues with brakes but decided to replace seals and boots this week. I have 4 pot BBK in front and OEM tears. It wasn’t very difficult. I’d look at your boots and if in tact, don’t worry. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ #67 2017 NASA TX TT3 Champion FLMS Half Cage, RaceTech 4009HR drivers seat, Schroth 6-Pt Harness, E.S.S. Fire System, AIM SOLO DL with ECU Harness, SmartyCam, Angle Aluminum with VAC dead pedal, Sparco Steering Wheel on MOMO hub, MCS Suspension, Hyperco 800F 900R springs, Hotchkis Front and Rear Sway bars, Vorshlag Camber Plates, Turner ARCA, AJ Hartman Front Splitter, BW V2 Wing, BW CF Rear Diffuser, APEX ARC-8 wheels, Brembo BBK Front, Carbon Fiber Roof, CF Headlight Blanks, Door Windows and Cards Delete, TMS rear and front subframe reinforcement, Zionsville Competition Cooler, BW Oil Cooler, Oil Diverter Valve, Motorsports Thermostat, Evolve CF Intake, Epic Stepped Headers, Turner Pulleys, BW 3.5" Race Exhaust, EPIC Alpha N Tune, Beisan Oil Disk and Vanos Seals, ZF 5MT, CAE Ultra Shifter My track journal: http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=509148

Tue, Nov-13-2018, 02:04:57 AM	#7
bigjae1976 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 7,144 In the garage: '13 BMW 328i '04 BMW E46 M3 '11 BMW E90 M3 V8 4 Door Reputation: 0 Location: Wichita	Re: Should rebuilding brake calipers be a maintenance item? Shouldn’t be an issue unless they’ve seen excessive heat. Signs would be brake fluid boiling or crispy dust boots. Or if some ape used a screw driver to compress the piston to replace the pads. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ 2013 F30 328i - Melbourne Red 2011 E90 M3 - Monte Carlo Blue 2004 E46 M3 - Imola Red

Tue, Nov-13-2018, 02:08:08 AM	#8
Cheapbimmer Registered User Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 67 Reputation: 0	Re: Should rebuilding brake calipers be a maintenance item? Seven posts and nobody mentioned to flush the brake fluid? You guys are slacking. __________________ 2001 m3 No options, no frills, slicktop!!!

Tue, Nov-13-2018, 02:19:19 AM	#9
TheSt\|G Resident Curmudgeon Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 24,423 In the garage: '05 BMW M3 '10 BMW 130i '85 Porsche 911 Reputation: 0 Location: SE PA	Re: Should rebuilding brake calipers be a maintenance item? Excessive heat and disuse are the two things that seem to push calipers into needing rebuilds. __________________ WTS - OE CSL Trunk, Mint Condition, Uninstalled and with Hardware - $1150 Current - '05 Interlagos E46 M3 SMG Delete 6MT Coupe - 3337lbs Current - '85 Schwarze 911 3.2 Carrera 5MT Coupe - 2550lbs 911 Journal/Build Thread Sold - '03 Lemans on Lemans E39 M5 6MT Sold - '99 Kosmos-Schwarzes E36 5MT M3 Coupe

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