Brakes Dragging Right After Brake Job

[JimLev]

You bought rotors for the wrong year. Think they changed the spacing in '01.

[wagons ho]

What did i win this time?

[dannyzabolotny]

You bought rotors for the wrong year. Think they changed the spacing in '01.

Weird because FCP Euro listed these as compatible with every 540i from 1997... maybe they’re not aware of the difference? I’ll have to let them know so they can update the site.

I just bedded in the new brakes, everything feels pretty darn good. So glad this fiasco is over.

[HoZy]

Question:

JimLev & wagons ho

Were the rotors & caliper brackets changed in '01? But the hub assemblies and factory offset are still the same?

Very interesting, I wonder why.

Cheers
Mat


EDIT:

Did some research, So after 04/2000 The Rotors, Caliper carriers & the pad retention clip changed as per what wagons ho & JimLev mentioned.

But the calipers themselves and front wheel hub carriers and all other components are all interchangeable still with matching part numbers.

Seeing as dannyzabolotny has a 00 540i he could be somewhere close to the interchange month which is what caused this issue and FCPEuro appearing to be compatible.

Cheers
Mat

[dannyzabolotny]

Question:

JimLev & wagons ho

Were the rotors & caliper brackets changed in '01? But the hub assemblies and factory offset are still the same?

Very interesting, I wonder why.

Cheers
Mat


EDIT:

Did some research, So after 04/2000 The Rotors, Caliper carriers & the pad retention clip changed as per what wagons ho & JimLev mentioned.

But the calipers themselves and front wheel hub carriers and all other components are all interchangeable still with matching part numbers.

Seeing as dannyzabolotny has a 00 540i he could be somewhere close to the interchange month which is what caused this issue and FCPEuro appearing to be compatible.

Cheers
Mat

My 540it has a build date of 11/99, so I guess it is indeed the earlier style of brakes. I wonder why they changed it...

[whiteghost1]

Glad you figured it out and the fix was an easy one. This is a good example why you should spin each wheel by hand after doing a brake job, make sure everything is in order.

[StephenVA]

Danny,
Insight

CENTRIC 12534031 High Carbon Alloy Brake Disc Info
Front; To 3/00

CENTRIC 12534055 High Carbon Alloy Brake Disc Info
Front; From 3/00

Lesson for us all. ALWAYS go to the manufacturers website to confirm fit and application alignment before ordering parts.

[dannyzabolotny]

Yeah, I’ll have to double check this stuff in the future. I never had this issue with my other E39’s, but they were all newer. Early production problems, lol.

[StephenVA]

It is not your fault. Many reseller's websites are full of application errors just due to the application variations we all see on our own models. If ordering aftermarket parts juts double check the manufacturer's webpages to be sure. Your experience was definitely an eye opener.

[necsis]

Had the same thing with my 2002 540i. Put new rotors on, found it hard to mount the calipers. Removed new rotor and compared to old unit - different offset. Slight change in part number as i was all set.