Front discs keep warping on E46 - advice needed

[Nattyboy888]

Hi guys

I'm now on my third set of pagid discs and pads (fitted by a garage) on my 320d tourer as they keep warping. It's deffo warping that's the culprit as they showed me on the brake tester.

I bought the parts from ECP so yet again took them back. While I was there the pagid rep happened to be around and said that they wouldn't cover the labour cost as no fitting kit was purchased and that could have caused the warped discs !

I then pointed out that a) the kit wasn't offered to me when I bought the parts, and that I really couldn't see how not replacing a fitting kit (which I guess is just pad securing clips ?) could cause warped discs !

The latest set are performing OK so far but I'd really appreciate any advice on if the fitting kit line is (as is suspect) a load of old tosh, or if there is anything else that is causing the warping.

Many Thanks
Nat

[RC1]

ive fitted countless discs over the past years and am yet to even learn about a fitting kit. what exactly is it?

[E65Ross]

Ask for them to put it in writing, and signed, that it is known that if you don't use a fitting kit the discs will warp. See how keen they are to write that out for you....

[xxChrisxx]

Few questions. Fronts or rears? How long between issues? Are the pads wearing evenly? Are the garage using a gun to do up the wheel studs? Were they fitted at the same garage?

[selym]

Are they cleaning the hub faces when fitting the discs?

[E30M3SE]

Are the caliper pistons and caliper slides free?

[DVandrews]

Have you had the wheels refurbed? Paint build up on the mating face can cause some problems, certainly did on my previous M5.

Dave

[s4avant]

I had this problem on a 520d touring.
A sticking brake caliper was the culprit and once this was sorted, the problem disappeared.

[lufbramatt]

I'd put money on it being a sticky caliper.

[selym]

lufbramatt said:

I'd put money on it being a sticky caliper.

Cop a feel of the offending corner's wheel after a drive. Does it feel warmer than the others? I found exactly this with a sticking caliper, as well as uneven wear between the inner and outer pads.

[Jedilai]

Some good suggestions here, all could be part of disc overheating. I recently had poor heat transfer from the disc to alloy wheel (proabably part of refurbishment) causing the excess heat in the disc however this is probably rarer than something like sticky caliper or pad leading to this.

[helix402]

Worn "lollipop" bushes on the E46 will give the same symptoms as warped brakes discs.

[Sump]

Fitting kit lol

[Dog Star]

helix402 said:

Worn "lollipop" bushes on the E46 will give the same symptoms as warped brakes discs.

What are those?

I'm having this exact problem on the OHs V70. Nothing is sticking.

[E30M3SE]

Front suspension wishbone rear bushes.

On a 3 series they look like this,



on your v70, iirc, they're pressed into the front wishbone.

[Nattyboy888]

Thanks guys - it's the fronts - reputable garage that fitted them as I don't have time. No recent wheel refurbs - sticking calliper is a good shout - ill jack it up and give the wheels a spin the weekend - hope I get it sorted it's doing my head in and I'm probably more attached to it than my 997 lol

[Dog Star]

E30M3SE said:

Front suspension wishbone rear bushes.

On a 3 series they look like this,



on your v70, iirc, they're pressed into the front wishbone.

Thanks for that - I will investigate. I've already done all of the discs (fronts twice!) and also 3 out of 4 wheel bearings (they made a BIG difference). But I still feel a vibration at about 75 and - road surface dependent - I get what I would describe as a warped disc sensation. Odd. And annoying.

[Justin Cyder]

Dog Star said:

E30M3SE said:

Front suspension wishbone rear bushes.

On a 3 series they look like this,



on your v70, iirc, they're pressed into the front wishbone.

Thanks for that - I will investigate. I've already done all of the discs (fronts twice!) and also 3 out of 4 wheel bearings (they made a BIG difference). But I still feel a vibration at about 75 and - road surface dependent - I get what I would describe as a warped disc sensation. Odd. And annoying.

With those, you can tell bush wear easily by observing the front wheel at walking pace. Get someone to drive the car, whilst you watch & then brake. If the bushes are worn, there will be a perceptible forward movement of the front wheel & that will be your answer on the bushes at least.

Still reckon sticky caliper though.

[clockworks]

I had "warped disks" on my E61, which gradually got worse. Local indy replaced the disks and pads, but when he took it for a spin, they had made it worse. He tried a different brand, and they were OK. Still some vibration thrtough the steering wheel and brake pedal, but I could live with it.
However, over the next few thousand miles, the problem got worse. Eventually it felt like a badly balanced wheel whenever I touched the brakes.

I mentioned the problem to the chap who owns a local tyre place while they were doing 4 wheel alignment on my other car, and he said it was a big problem with BMWs. He recommended grinding the disks on the car.
The did this for me, and the brakes have been perfect for a couple of months now.

[Exige77]

lufbramatt said:

I'd put money on it being a sticky caliper.

I had this problem and it was a sticky caliber.

Been fine ever since.