Anybody used skimmydiscs.co.uk? Wheel wobble...
Discussion
e46 BMW 330, had a lot of brake vibrations last year, ended up being a stuck caliper - replaced, along with fresh front discs and pads.
Fast forward to this year, took car off the road for a couple of weeks waiting for a new windscreen for the MOT, last drive had been on salty roads, discs looked a mess. Hoped they would clean up quickly on the road. Passed MOT with no advisories, but pretty big vibrations through the wheel and noticeable steering wheel wobble on braking.
Done about 100 miles since and not getting any better.
Driving home today and the brake pad warning light came on - instant panic, has a pad come off the backing or something?
Just had a quick look with the wheels still on (so only one pad on each wheel). Fronts - loads of meat on the pads, as expected, discs partially clean, but still patches of rust on the disc
Rear discs in the same state, but pads pretty low - 3mm or so.
I don't understand why the pads and a bit of braking haven't cleaned up the wheel?
Obviously the money no object solution would be 4x new discs, 8x new pads, but the front discs and pads are 8 months old, and the rear discs are OK.
A quick google shows "skimmydiscs.co.uk" which seems to be a front for garages using a particular on-car disc skimming system. Thinking of going to my local one, asking them to skim the discs, replace the rear pads (and sensor, assuming that is the duff one), and ask their advice on the front pads - can they be reused/resurfaced or I do I need new ones (they've only done a couple of 1000 miles)...
Thoughts? Might pull the rear o/s off in the week (that is the most worn pad and I think the side with the sensor)...
Fast forward to this year, took car off the road for a couple of weeks waiting for a new windscreen for the MOT, last drive had been on salty roads, discs looked a mess. Hoped they would clean up quickly on the road. Passed MOT with no advisories, but pretty big vibrations through the wheel and noticeable steering wheel wobble on braking.
Done about 100 miles since and not getting any better.
Driving home today and the brake pad warning light came on - instant panic, has a pad come off the backing or something?
Just had a quick look with the wheels still on (so only one pad on each wheel). Fronts - loads of meat on the pads, as expected, discs partially clean, but still patches of rust on the disc
Rear discs in the same state, but pads pretty low - 3mm or so.I don't understand why the pads and a bit of braking haven't cleaned up the wheel?
Obviously the money no object solution would be 4x new discs, 8x new pads, but the front discs and pads are 8 months old, and the rear discs are OK.
A quick google shows "skimmydiscs.co.uk" which seems to be a front for garages using a particular on-car disc skimming system. Thinking of going to my local one, asking them to skim the discs, replace the rear pads (and sensor, assuming that is the duff one), and ask their advice on the front pads - can they be reused/resurfaced or I do I need new ones (they've only done a couple of 1000 miles)...
Thoughts? Might pull the rear o/s off in the week (that is the most worn pad and I think the side with the sensor)...
You are saying that you are condemning the rears but that you haven't taken the wheels off yet & so can only see the outer pads.
That said you don't know what the state of the inner pads is.
A sticky slider can cause a huge imbalance to the pad wear so you need to check them ALL first, you could be very wrong in your assumption.
Ref. the rust & pads cleaning the discs, it really depends on how bad they are/were, if there is particles of rust stuck in the pads it is actually much more abrasive and will cause wear issues down the line also more quickly than normal.
If it were mine, I would change the lot with good quality parts & make sure the full system is given a good coat of looking at & greasing in all the right places and then you know it is good again.
That said you don't know what the state of the inner pads is.
A sticky slider can cause a huge imbalance to the pad wear so you need to check them ALL first, you could be very wrong in your assumption.
Ref. the rust & pads cleaning the discs, it really depends on how bad they are/were, if there is particles of rust stuck in the pads it is actually much more abrasive and will cause wear issues down the line also more quickly than normal.
If it were mine, I would change the lot with good quality parts & make sure the full system is given a good coat of looking at & greasing in all the right places and then you know it is good again.
E-bmw said:
You are saying that you are condemning the rears but that you haven't taken the wheels off yet & so can only see the outer pads.
That said you don't know what the state of the inner pads is.
A sticky slider can cause a huge imbalance to the pad wear so you need to check them ALL first, you could be very wrong in your assumption.
Ref. the rust & pads cleaning the discs, it really depends on how bad they are/were, if there is particles of rust stuck in the pads it is actually much more abrasive and will cause wear issues down the line also more quickly than normal.
If it were mine, I would change the lot with good quality parts & make sure the full system is given a good coat of looking at & greasing in all the right places and then you know it is good again.
Cheers - yes, obviously complete replacement would be the best solution, but I'll be looking at the best part of £500 for genuine BMW discs and pads and it seems overkill for the fronts as they are barely used.That said you don't know what the state of the inner pads is.
A sticky slider can cause a huge imbalance to the pad wear so you need to check them ALL first, you could be very wrong in your assumption.
Ref. the rust & pads cleaning the discs, it really depends on how bad they are/were, if there is particles of rust stuck in the pads it is actually much more abrasive and will cause wear issues down the line also more quickly than normal.
If it were mine, I would change the lot with good quality parts & make sure the full system is given a good coat of looking at & greasing in all the right places and then you know it is good again.
I know what you're saying, I need to get the wheels off and I will do so when I have a couple of hours free, but I would have thought the state of the outer pads give a reasonable guide to the state of the inner pads. IIRC the wear sensor is only in the outer pad.
NiceCupOfTea said:
E-bmw said:
You are saying that you are condemning the rears but that you haven't taken the wheels off yet & so can only see the outer pads.
That said you don't know what the state of the inner pads is.
A sticky slider can cause a huge imbalance to the pad wear so you need to check them ALL first, you could be very wrong in your assumption.
Ref. the rust & pads cleaning the discs, it really depends on how bad they are/were, if there is particles of rust stuck in the pads it is actually much more abrasive and will cause wear issues down the line also more quickly than normal.
If it were mine, I would change the lot with good quality parts & make sure the full system is given a good coat of looking at & greasing in all the right places and then you know it is good again.
I know what you're saying, I need to get the wheels off and I will do so when I have a couple of hours free, but I would have thought the state of the outer pads give a reasonable guide to the state of the inner pads. IIRC the wear sensor is only in the outer pad.That said you don't know what the state of the inner pads is.
A sticky slider can cause a huge imbalance to the pad wear so you need to check them ALL first, you could be very wrong in your assumption.
Ref. the rust & pads cleaning the discs, it really depends on how bad they are/were, if there is particles of rust stuck in the pads it is actually much more abrasive and will cause wear issues down the line also more quickly than normal.
If it were mine, I would change the lot with good quality parts & make sure the full system is given a good coat of looking at & greasing in all the right places and then you know it is good again.
If it is cost that is the driver why not go away from full OE parts & go to ECP using a well known brand and get it done for 1/2 price?
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