Re: E30 Brake Problems

["Ron Buchalski" <rbuchals@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Robert,

There are two aspects to brakes...the mechanical system and the hydraulic 
system.  The hydraulic system actuates the brakes, and the mechanical system 
(pads, rotors) stops the car.

What you describe is a hydraulic problem.  You haven't described the 
condition of your calipers.  Have you checked them?  How far from the rotors 
are the pads when you encounter the low pedal condition?  Is it the same as 
when brake pads are changed and the caliper piston is pushed in to allow 
room for the new pads, and then brake pedal needs to be pumped a few times 
to take up the slack?

Also, what about your brake booster?  Check the vacuum lines, look for 
leaks, etc.  I'm not sure whether Bentley has a procedure to test the 
booster.

I don't think it's a mechanical problem (solved by new pads and rotors).

- -rb

>
>Date: Mon, 6 Nov 2000 11:46:28 -0600
>From: Robert Phelan <centuri@domain.elided>
>Subject: E30 Brake Problems
>
>Hello fellow digesters,
>
>I have a bit of a problem with the brakes on my 325es (1986)   The pedal 
>travels a significant ammount before engaging the brakes to any degree. 
>Then finally when you do get it near the bottom of it's range the pedal 
>feedback is very squishy, and travels further than I think it should.  I've 
>tested the brakes on some other E30's 88 and 91 (325i/is) and they engage 
>at the top of their travel and stop abruptly as they should.  From what I 
>understand, the E30 325's all have the same braking systems.  So shouldn't 
>my pedal feel the same?? The pedal response is equally poor at rest or 
>under speed.  The brakes do pump up when the engine is off.  There is no 
>loss of fluid. The brakes do stop the car admirably, but I still wish my 
>pedal were better.  The fact that it sinks so far before engaging often 
>makes it dificult for heel-toe downshifting.
>
>I have done the following things to alleviate the problem.
>- -Replaced master cylinder... twice (OEM Ate's, no cheap crap).
>- -Changed to Super Blue racing fluid (I autoX)
>- -Got the Stainless lines.
>- -Bled the brakes (over and over and over and...)
>- -Got Ate Power discs.
>- -Got new pads, twice.
>- -New proportioning valve.
>
>None of it ever helped.
>It seems to me that the only thing I haven't replaced are the rear rotors. 
>Upon visual inspection they don't seem especially thin, and they're not 
>warped.  The car doesn't pull or do anything odd under braking, so I don't 
>suspect a caliper problem.  I just don't know.  Next on the block are new 
>rotors and pads all around, partially a stab in the dark at the problem, 
>and partially because I burned up the last of my MM pads at heartland park 
>this last weekend.
>
>Any ideas are appreciated.  Thanks all.
>Robert Phelan
>'86 325es

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