523 SE i Front brakes?

[tonyt111]

Hi
I got a BMW 523SEI (1999 e39)
Whats the terrible noise comming from the front end of my car?
Its a very loud tinny rattle, which some lads in work reckon its something to do with the front brake calipers?
Any help would be of great use.
Thanks
Tony
PS Recently past its mot and it passed with no mention of it?

[Egbert Nobacon]

A known E39 foible.

Had the same - its normally the backing plates behind the front discs. They often rust through around one of the mountings and become slightly loose or believe it or not small stones get trapped behind the backing plate and rattle noisily.

I had the same and it was stones on one side and rusted through on the other.

You have to take the discs off to change the backing plates or empty out the stones.

The noise is amazingly loud considering its often only stones - my BMW dealer said to leave it until the discs need changing and it was still rattling 15 months later when I sold it !

Look at www.bmwland.co.uk - for more info

Edited by Egbert Nobacon on Monday 2nd October 19:12

[derin100]

Exactly as said above!

I've literally just done the job of replacing my front discs and pads on my 523i (this weekend). There's a small bolt that holds the backing plate on. On one side the plate had rusted around the bolt allowing the plate to spring forward slightly and contact the disc. The pain-in-the-ass is you then have to take everything apart again to get to these bolts!

Also as said, a stone can get trapped between the plate and the disc causing a terrible screeching noise. I've found one can you'll get such a stone out with a suitable instrument without having to take the brakes apart.

[tonyt111]

Thanks very much for the info guys, cheers.
Tony

[mr.man]

My E39 (528i) is a real pain in the ar5e at the moment. On off on off flicking out small stones with a steel rule every week. How big should the gap be between the shield and the disc? What is the designed distance on a perfect set up? Any help please.

[derin100]

I dunno what the correct gap is but I agree it's a real pain in the ass...whatever the gap is supposed to be it's too damn close! I have a gravel drive area at home with gravel of just the right gauge to get stuck between the disc and the backing plate...and not just on the E39 either!

[mr.man]

Sunday morning. I have in desperation removed the offending backing plate completely.Silence is golden,no more pedestrians with fingers in their ears when I drive past.To replace or not to replace,that is the question?