brake pads

[fifthherrm]

Well i was going to change my rotors and brake pads but after the rotors have been changed i cant get the new pads on. I have decompressed the hell out of that piston but both the pads just wont fit. What do i need to do. 1989 325i

axle

 

[Big Daddy]

Have you opened the bleeder valve and used a pair of channel locks to compress the piston back? Sometimes it is a very close fit, however they should go. Remember if you get air into the system your going to have to bleed the brakes.

 

[junglestylz]

If you do as big daddy said but take a crescent wrench and put it between the cylinders, then put a screw driver through the box end and you can turn it forcing the cylinders apart. It is really easy to spread them, and you don't have to worry about scratching shiat.

 

[Ryan Stewart]

or you could go to Autozone, drop 5 bucks on a caliper spreader, and do it the easy way.

The piston has to go in a long way, almost flush.

 

[rjp325i]

It's also a good time to flush the system and replace all the brake fluid.

 

[fifthherrm]

thanks i will try those things in the mor. Also i plan on flushing the system

axle

 

[Big Daddy]

I bought a power bleeder, best $40.00 I ever spent.

 

[OreoGaborio]

it sounds like a bad idea, but i called bav auto before i did it & this is what they suggested...

i told em my pistons fully compressed but still couldn't get the pads in (i had em check the part # as well... they were the right pads)... so they told me to take some sandpaper, put it on a flat surface & go to town on the pads

took a while, since the pads were WICKED thick, but i got em down enough to squeeze em in... that was about 2k miles ago & no problems

 

[rjp325i]

I'll second that BigDaddy. Bought mine about 18 mo ago. I should have got one sooner.

 

[montokboy]

brakes/caliper/anti-lock

I have 2 questions, I plan on replacing the calipers on my E30. Does it take a lot of knowledge/special tools to replace calipers? I've done pads, Im thinking rotors aren't difficult. 2nd question is, does it matter what calipers I get, if my car has anti-lock brakes?