DIY Brake Pad Change
 

Brake Pad Changing DIY

This was done on a 1991 318is. Please Note that you should change the pads in pairs either the front or back or all around at the same time. The pictures I have taken are of the front not the rears, which differ slightly. This procedure also assumes that you are going to reuse your brake pad sensors which just clip into the pads and are very easy to clip in and unclip.

For the Front - Jack up the car and remove the wheel where you want to change the pads.
http://files.unitedbimmer.com/ub.c/n...G_0022diy1.jpg
Use a jack stand so you do not have to worry about the car crashing down on you while you’re under it. Remove the 2 bolts that hold the Caliper onto the wheel you will need a 13mm Socket or conventional wrench for the bolts and either a decent pair of Pliers/Channel locks (I used these) or a 15mm wrench. Please see photo for where you need to hold and where you need to unscrew.

http://files.unitedbimmer.com/ub.c/n...MG_0026diy.jpg

http://files.unitedbimmer.com/ub.c/n...MG_0028diy.jpg
After you have removed both screws you should be able to pull the outer part of the caliper off and have access to the pads. Be careful after the outer part is free, because its attached to a hose and you do not want to let it fall and cause any damage. After this you need to compress the brake piston, its on the far side of the caliper, and this can be done with a C-Clamp (I Recomend this way as it is easier) applying pressure to compress it all the way down. Another way to do it is before you take the caliper off stick a flat head screwdriver between the pad and rotor and apply pressure to compress it (be careful not to damage the rotor).
http://files.unitedbimmer.com/ub.c/n...MG_0029diy.jpg
After the piston for the brakes is compressed you can seat the new pads. I recommend putting them on either side of the caliper and then putting the outer cover back on. When you put the cover back on make sure the springs are in the right position, they will push back on it some so you need to use a little pressure. Realign the screw holes and put the screws back in the way you took them out. Replace the wheel and torque to the suggested settings.

Continue to the next wheel.

After you are done start the car, and then press the brake pedal until its firm again, this will move the brake piston back to where it needs to be. I then tested to make sure the car stopped at low speed, and then drove it for a few minutes to make sure all was well. Please note it may take a couple of hundred miles to bed the pads in and they may make more noise in this time and take a little longer to stop.

Please note the Left front and Right Rear locations have brake pad sensors, which can be reused if they are in good condition. Otherwise they are very easy to replace.

Differences Between the Front and Back procedure: The Rear is set up differently from the front, you need to remove 2 black covers (on the inside of the caliper) under those covers are the caliper guide pin which requires a 7mm Hex head (Allen wrench, or a socket attachment) unscrew them and then move to the front of the rotor and remove the retaining Clip. This can be done with a flat head screwdriver. After that you should be able to remove the housing, you need to compress the brake piston just like in the front and then replace your pads, reverse the process to put it all back together.

There you go guys, Sorry some of the pics are kind of blury, and Sorry there are not any pics of the rears I did them 1st and forgot about taking pics.

Harry, this is corrected from the previous version that was posted, please add to the KB.

Great write-up. :thumbup

I'm not home right now, but I'll add it later tonight.

Thanks!

^Still not in the KB :(

Eek, and you caught me away again too. :( I'll add it tonight (it's an awesome write up). Sorry, haha.

Added to KB:
http://www.unitedbimmer.com/kb-e36-c...brake-pads.php

Sorry for the delay, haha. Awesome write up, and a great addition to the KB. Hopefully this will help a lot of people. :)

nice write up gonna add few advice on how to replace brake pads. In general, brake rotors should be re-surfaced when you replace the pads. As brakes wear down, the surface of the rotor will become worn as well, and will not be even. Re-surfacing restores the rotor surface to a smooth, flat, uniform finish - which is a nice match for the new, flat brake pads. However, re-surfacing removes metal (it essentially removes all of the high spots until the whole surface is even with the lowest spot previously found). This will result in the brake rotor being thinner than when the car was new. All brake rotors have a specification for minimum thickness.

Thank you. I am not a "car guy" and I was frustrated as to how to get the caliper cover part and the pads and the slidey part back together. It was like some kind of mechanical puzzle. I totally missed the 7mm removal of the pins till I read this post. The job went smoothly after that.
Thanks again!! :)