Change of front disks and pads (JE 2001)

[TheJoker]

Guys,

How difficult is it to change the disks and the brake pads on the 2001 JE model? I've changed the disks on several cars before, but they've all been non-ABS ones. I looked at the manual, but it doesn't really say how difficult it is, it does say how... but it's obviously written with a workshop in mind, not someone who'll jack up the car in their back garden

Garage called and said that the front disks are very low... but they want quite a bit of money to change them...

Cheers!

[Anders Dinsen]

Front discs are EASY! Rears are difficult due to the calipers needing to be screwed in with a special tool.
If you wan't improved breaking, get a set of EBC Greenstuff pads, they are highly recommendable. www.Matramagic.co.uk has them and should have the discs too.

[TheJoker]

At least that's good news!! 
Is there anything special I need to know when I push the pistons back in the calipers (thicker pads and disks will require this, of course )

I looked at the site and I couldn't find any parts for the 2.2dCi.... 

Also, is changing the brake fluid difficult - I'm thinking regarding ABS...?


Thanks for the reply Anders!

[Anders Dinsen]

At least that's good news!! 
Is there anything special I need to know when I push the pistons back in the calipers (thicker pads and disks will require this, of course )

No, not on the front. Only the rear is very difficult (I gave up!)

I looked at the site and I couldn't find any parts for the 2.2dCi.... 

The 2001 2.2 dci uses 305 mm discs as standard, if you're looking at EBCBrakesDirect then they apparantly have it as Renault Espace 2.2TD 2000- but its the same. If you're looking at MatraMagic, then Will probably hasn't listed the items, but he has it anyway - just write him an email.

Also, is changing the brake fluid difficult - I'm thinking regarding ABS...?

I don't think so as the ABS is just a modulator and will allow the fluid to pass through anyway. I haven't tried it myself though.

- Anders :-)

[TheJoker]

Aah, thanks very much Anders! Sounds like an easy enough job for me to do as I've done a few disk changes before...

I really like good brakes!!

[Martin Tyas]

If it helps I recently got front and rear discs plus pads from Euro Car Parts.
www.eurocarparts.com

Front Discs were 32.99 GBP each
Front Pads 32.39 GBP for a set of 4.
Rear Discs were 23.54 GBP each
Rear Pads 17.27 GBP for set of 4

Ordered on-line, delivered free next day as the order value was over 50.00 GBP.

They offer a choice of brands but they didn't have ATE (original equipment manufacturer for BMW) in stock at the time and which I've had before for my 5 Series so this time I ordered Textar.... they are an OEM to VW and Audi and are made in Germany.

Front discs and pads are no problem to change..... rears are easy enough but only if you have the use of a caliper wind back tool which is about 10 GBP or you can get a kit that has piston face plates to suit all makes for about 35.00 to 40.00 GBP.... both Draper and Sealey tool suppliers make these.

Martin

[TheJoker]

Thanks for that info Martin - those are really good prices! £115, all in including VAT and (free) delivery... I think I'll do this myself....

Thanks again!

[Sparky]

Hello,

Just a short note to say that the front discs are the easiest to change, having recently carried out the same on my Race Espace. Problems incurred were getting the right size discs as the later models can have 305mm diameter front discs (Goodridge) as opposed to the 285mm diameter discs on the rest.
I also found that the original pads as well as the replacement pads were extremely tight in the carriers allowing no movement at all and this was probably the cause for the premature wear of the discs (Less than 30,000 miles). It seemed that the carrier was being sprung outwards. My cure was to file a little off the edges of the pads to give them a tolerance fit, plus a little copper ease grease on the edges and back of the pads. ( No more brake squeal from the front end.)
I'm still waiting to do the rear brakes, I've got the bits just needing the free time.

Regards Sparky

[TheJoker]

Thanks for that Sparky!
Martin, do you know if your disks where the large ones or small ones..? It seems like the larger disks are much more expensive.

[Anders Dinsen]

I also found that the original pads as well as the replacement pads were extremely tight in the carriers allowing no movement at all and this was probably the cause for the premature wear of the discs (Less than 30,000 miles). It seemed that the carrier was being sprung outwards. My cure was to file a little off the edges of the pads to give them a tolerance fit, plus a little copper ease grease on the edges and back of the pads. ( No more brake squeal from the front end.)

I can confirm that this is not a problem with the EBC pads, but a little rattelling is common with them (they may be slightly under-measure?)

- Anders

[Martin Tyas]

Thanks for that info Martin - those are really good prices! £115, all in including VAT and (free) delivery... I think I'll do this myself....

The front discs I got are the ventilated 305mm.... identical in every way to the ones that came off.

The Euro Car Parts web site is set up in such a way that you shouldn't really go wrong with selecting the correct parts because before you start looking for particular parts by description you first select your vehicle using a series of drop-down menus that allow you to drill down by make, model, year, engine type and variant. Once your particular vehicle has been selected then all the parts that then subsequently come up are to suit for your particular car. But if you want the Euro Car Parts reference numbers just shout. The other good thing I find about Euro Car Parts is that on most components they also quote the original manufacturers part number as a cross reference.

The brake pads are packaged and priced as a set of 4 to do both sides but the discs are priced individually.... so, as they should always be changed in pairs you need to order 2.

Same as Sparky I've also used high temperature copper grease in the past but about 10 years ago started servicing my 5 Series and came across a product that BMW use for brake components called Plastilube. It's a synthethic ultra high melting point paste that comes in little foil sachets at about 60 pence each to be used on brake components to lubricate and prevent them from seizing as well as to help stop squealing and rattling.... since I started using it I'd take some convincing to use anything else. The BMW part number in case you want to try it is 22.9.407.103.

Martin

[TheJoker]

Thanks again, Martin. Much appreciated!  I've heard about that BMW magic lube before too.

[Martin Tyas]

I've heard about that BMW magic lube before too.

By the way...... you should not need to use Plastilube, Copper Grease or any other form of lube on the back face of the rear brake pads if you ever change them because they should be equipped with an anti-rattle device in the form of 3M double sided sticky pads. So, simply clean the face of the caliper where the outer pad sits and the piston rim after you've retracted it, then peel off the backing paper before sliding the pads into place.
The Textar rear pads that I got from Euro Car Parts have the sticky pads as do those supplied by Renault but not sure about other "will-fit" makes.

Martin

[TheJoker]

Aaah... More useful information!  Excellent!

[TheJoker]

Disks and pads changed, £115 worked perfectly... Thanks!