Front Brakes Binding

[adamw1987]

Hi,

My front pads/discs have recently started binding; it’s basically the same amount on either side and bad enough that it won’t get through it’s next MOT, so I can’t ignore it. Last winter I rebuilt both calipers with new pistons, seals, the appropriate grease, new flexi hoses, pads, cleaned and greased the carrier pins and changed the discs. In an attempt to solve it I have bled all four corners twice now and I can’t seem to find any air in there. I am basically down to changing the master cylinder now as it does look old, possibly even original. Before I do this I wondered if anyone had any more suggestions, as master cylinders aren’t cheap, and also whether anybody had any idea if LHD and RHD master cylinders are interchangeable? LHD ones are a third of the price of RHD over here (UK) and as far as I can tell by looking on RealOEM, the only difference is where the hard lines exit the housing (opposite side).

Cheers.

[epmedia]

Seems that the search feature may be acting up. There was a recent thread regarding the RHD brake master, I remember mention of the lines attached on the opposite side, as you mentioned. I also recall a possible chance that an adjustment to the linkage may have been a remedy to brake binding? I wish I knew more, somebody else here should give more input.

[320iAman]

Rebuild the brake master cylinder, I assume its 20.64, kits are available, look up Ate rebuild kits, , the rebuild kit is not right or left dependent, once the brake master is out it takes 5 minutes to exchange new inners with the old inners--dual pistons, spring and new seals,, Ate makes rebuild kits for almost everything they make. I recently rebuild my Ate Aluminum Brake Master Cylinder- $35.00, Check your brake master and compare to the one I have in the picture in my post on rebuilding Ate brake Master cylinders, if the difference is solely the brake lines on opposite sides the tube kit is doable for a fraction of the cost, from looking at the BMW E21 316 for sale in Essex-ebay UK- it looks the same size--different routed hard metal brake lines and a newer one on ebay uk as well-see the picture below

Heres my thread on rebuilding the Ate Brake master:

https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...master+rebuild

Heres one on ebay--ships world wide $23 plus shipping

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-320i-Bra...VW7Fb3&vxp=mtr

If you want the kit I mentioned in the post above pm me (pm- private message) and I'll send you the link , he ships world wide too-Tube Kit--one above is a box kit. $ 30 plus shipping for tube Kit, which I Like better and used in the above post.

$_57.JPG

Randy

[okieflats]

Are the pistons retracting freely like they should?

A possible cause is corrosion inside the caliper bore. Corrosion in the bore can cause rubbing against the piston so it does not move in the bore like it should.

It is recommended when rebuilding for the bore to be cleaned and plated to prevent corrosion.

How did the bores look when you last rebuilt them?

We are the "only" brake caliper restoration facility that uses factory finish techniques exclusively. No cheap aftermarket poly coatings, just zinc plated steel and anodized aluminum. It is the worn zinc plating and the anodizing in the piston bore that causes 99% of all caliper failures. Our strict adherence to finish both "inside and out" make us the only caliper restoration facility in the world that can offer an astounding 10-year warranty on our products.

http://www.pmbperformance.com/brake-calipers.html

[GDAus]

Hi,

My front pads/discs have recently started binding; it’s basically the same amount on either side and bad enough that it won’t get through it’s next MOT, so I can’t ignore it. Last winter I rebuilt both calipers with new pistons, seals, the appropriate grease, new flexi hoses, pads, cleaned and greased the carrier pins and changed the discs. In an attempt to solve it I have bled all four corners twice now and I can’t seem to find any air in there. I am basically down to changing the master cylinder now as it does look old, possibly even original. Before I do this I wondered if anyone had any more suggestions, as master cylinders aren’t cheap, and also whether anybody had any idea if LHD and RHD master cylinders are interchangeable? LHD ones are a third of the price of RHD over here (UK) and as far as I can tell by looking on RealOEM, the only difference is where the hard lines exit the housing (opposite side).

Cheers.

G'Day Mate .... Have a look at this thread to eliminate the extra bushes in the linkage system on the RHD cars as the problem. I found on mine, one of the bush sets were pretty sticky with died out grease and it took a bit for the pedal to return fully.

https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...ad.php?2285546

Cheers

[epmedia]

Yes, Graham - that's the recent thread I remembered. Feb 2016 is still recent, correct?

[GDAus]

Yes, Graham - that's the recent thread I remembered. Feb 2016 is still recent, correct?

Definitely close enough for me Robert

[adamw1987]

G'Day Mate .... Have a look at this thread to eliminate the extra bushes in the linkage system on the RHD cars as the problem. I found on mine, one of the bush sets were pretty sticky with died out grease and it took a bit for the pedal to return fully.

https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...ad.php?2285546

Cheers

Yeah IÂ’ve checked that as well. The pedal seems to snap back as it should, the linkage is easy to move with a finger and there is a degree of free movement in it. I wouldnÂ’t say it was difficult to move in any way.

Cheers.

Randy
That rebuild kit is interesting, theyÂ’re very expensive over here. Does it include the two springs? Also I would have thought the bore would need honing out as well? If the current master cylinder is original itÂ’s a good 35 years old.....

Thanks.

[shogun]

as you are located in the U.K., check with Bigg Red – Brake Caliper Reman & Coating Specialist, they claim they are the leading UK Brake Caliper Remanufacturing and Component Specialist, with over 100,000 caliper components in stock. http://www.biggred.co.uk/

[320iAman]

Randy
That rebuild kit is interesting, theyÂ’re very expensive over here. Does it include the two springs? Also I would have thought the bore would need honing out as well? If the current master cylinder is original itÂ’s a good 35 years old.....

Thanks.

Yes the tube kit is all new---and has everything in it to rebuild Ate Brake Master Cylinders springs, pistons, seals, ect--all pre assembled by Ate, I could not see the springs in the box kit it should have them,,an email to the seller would confirm that. Not necessarily necessary to hone these--only Hone if there is rust and pits on the outside edge-Honing does not change the inside diameter--its a clean up of dried fluids( been not in active service),edpm rubber film and so forth-check to see inside if sparkling clean, Mine was over 10 years old when I rebuilt it--not even a scratch inside or outside edge of the inner tube and sparkling clean inside, so long as the surface inside is smooth and unpitted-sparkling clean-pressure will hold --only the rubber seals are in contact with the bore or inner walls of the Brake Master Cylinder, at least should be and most if not all the edpm rubber micro pieces gets deposited in the brake reservoir,,that those black specks or black color is in there after ages,,lol, mine had quite a bit of black specks--no wonder pressure started to go down in the brake front and back brake circuits, the seals, springs and so forth got depreciated.

And from Shogun Post :

"If your in need of a Caliper Component then your in the right place. We have 846 Calipers listed, 583 Caliper Pistons, 723 Caliper Repair Kits, 201 Brake Master Cylinder Repair Kits, 275 Brake Caliper Piston Repair Kits, 41 Bleed Screws and many other products."

Like I said if you want the tube kit , pm me and I send you the link to the seller. Now we get to the on and on part----I changed out my Ate brake proportioning valve as well--and yes the old Ate worked, yet the new Ate BPV equalized the pressure in both circuits front and back--much better. I got mine out of italy new in the box and its shipped in from there for about $100 US Dollars Part and shipping Stateside to me.


Randy