Sticking front caliper - options?

G

GreenFish

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Driving around the other day I noticed a brake/clutch burning smell in the car. Got out and there was smoke coming from the front driver's side wheel.

Took it to the local garage and they diagnosed it to be a sticking caliper and have quoted the following for the work:

New offside front caliper - £180
New discs - £50
New pads - £47
Labour - £213
Total = £490

Seemed a bit steep to me so was wondering what other options were available around the caliper, etc?

I gave Zed Shed a call and he could do much cheaper but would need to get there.

Car is a Z3 1.9 1999 T reg.

Thanks

PS: Did look at this older post but not sure if info still relevant.
 
Front calipers are cheap (rear not so) ..almost worth changing them every time you do the pads. They will need to bleed your brakes but labour seem excessive
zroadster.org

What have you bought for your Zed this week?

So you can chuck the ear plugs now? ;) Tony.
zroadster.org zroadster.org

eBay link
www.ebay.co.uk

Fits BMW 3 Z3 Roadster Brake Calipers Front Left And Right Pair 1990-2003 | eBay UK

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The callipers are different for the 1.9 and 2.8 so be careful with eBay sellers who don’t always specify. The labour charge you were quoted is, what around 3 hours? I’d take that.
 
ChrisD said:
The callipers are different for the 1.9 and 2.8 so be careful with eBay sellers who don’t always specify. The labour charge you were quoted is, what around 3 hours? I’d take that.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the tip! Last time they quote me getting on for £100/hr labour :( Checking with a local mobile mechanic to see what they can do it for.
 
Under £16 for a full refurb kit (autodoc). It's a very simple job.
 
I've done a full caliper service before and I only have basic skills, loads of info on YouTube.
 
Got mine from for my Z4 at Halfords, they had a deal on at the time, I think the calipers were around £35.00 each. My nearside had been sticking, someone on the other forum I belong to said that the discs are quite difficult to warp with normal road driving. It was fine.
 
Just gave Bigg Red a call. Super helpful. Got this kit arriving tomorrow.

They also do a caliper refurb for £82.50....so that will probably be stage 2 when the repair kit goes horribly wrong :D
 
Can anyone recall what size hex bolt is on the calipers? Just checking I have the right kit.
 
Caliper off first, then the bracket. That's if you're intending to take off the bracket. And while they're all off, plenty of opportunity for some of this


www.ebay.co.uk

X2 BMW Estoril Blue M-Sport BREMBO Heat Resistant Aerosol Spray Caliper Paint | eBay UK

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Other colours are available.:thumbsup:
The bracket will almost certainly benefit from a good clean on the slidey bits that the pads locate on, pretty certain to be rusty, and the pads need to be able to move on there.
 
Was going okay. Caliper off even though pads were jammed on disc. Stuck now trying to get brake hose connector off caliper - looked easy on the videos I watched 😂
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Lee
May be best to put the caliper back on temporarily and slacken the hose a bit before removing the caliper again. May also help to pump the piston out most of the way before taking the hose off completely, much easier than trying to get it out by hand with the caliper off. Unless you've got some piston removal tools, of course.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: Lee
Bolt caliper back to carrier togive you some stability which will allow you to apply a bit more pressure once cracked then unbolt caliper remove flexi hose.
Stephen
 
You can blow the piston out using compressed air too, if you have it.

Tony.
 
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