New brake/rotor job, feels soft and ineffective

samguan · 10-21-2013, 06:05 PM

The first brake job was done at a BMW dealership and the first thing I noticed was how sensitive the new brakes were and they were really good and hard.

Just got my second one done yesterday, replaced all four rotors and pads with the aftermarket ones by Zimmerman. This was done at a private shop, I've been there many times already. I'm going to be going back tomorrow to have it checked out.

The brakes feel soft and not very effective anymore, feels like I have to step on it very hard, nothing like before.

Other than replacing the rotors/pads, they also found one piston that was leaking and they replaced it with a rebuilt unit. After 60KM of rush hour local driving, lots of braking and is here what one of my rotors look like. This picture is the rotor that got the rebuilt piston. I see that one area has no contact with the pad because it still has the coating on it.

I just want to get some advice before I go back tomorrow. Thank you so much.

BMWUltimateDriv3r · 10-21-2013, 06:08 PM

Might be normal with aftermarket.

El Cheapo Loco · 10-21-2013, 06:43 PM

NOT normal. Bring it back ASAP. Aftermarket or not the rotor should not wear like that.

Also check which pads they used. Inferior pads may contribute to the softer feel.

gmblack3 · 10-21-2013, 06:50 PM

Did they or you bed the new pads to the new rotors?

I just did Zim rotors and BMW pads myself, no issues.

samguan · 10-21-2013, 06:54 PM

I didn't bed it, what are the procedures?

Wouldn't normal driving bed the pads and the rotors?

KwlAznKid · 10-21-2013, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samguan

I didn't bed it, what are the procedures?

Wouldn't normal driving bed the pads and the rotors?

off the top of my head but

0-60-20 x3
then
20-90-20 x3
(or something like that)
then drive nonstop for I think it's 30 minutes?

don't quote me on this but it's close enough

KwlAznKid · 10-21-2013, 07:10 PM

and are your new pads ceramic? if so that could be a HUGE factor as to why you feel the difference

avocet · 10-21-2013, 07:16 PM

if your situation is similar to what I experienced, then your pads have an uneven surface. the softness you feel is the pad squeezing slightly. as the pad beds in and conforms to the (flat) disc, your brake feel will increase dramatically.

you can speed this process by doing a hard and heavy bed in procedure.

http://zeckhausen.com/bedding_in_brakes.htm

this is a pretty extreme bed in, but it did wonders for my new pads/discs.

Red_Bean_Bun · 10-21-2013, 07:20 PM

Did you do anything with the brake fluid at the second job ?

samguan · 10-21-2013, 07:30 PM

Rotors are by zimmerman and the pads are textar. Just got a call from the boss of the shop saying that the newer guy did my brake and it's not the first time this has happened. He said he will bleed my brake tomorrow himself and see what happens.

samguan · 10-21-2013, 07:31 PM

The owner said the newer guy probably didn't bleed the brake properly.

ssmith96 · 10-21-2013, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samguan

The owner said the newer guy probably didn't bleed the brake properly.

Glad to see they are taking responsibility and working with you, let us know what happens!

fun2drive · 10-21-2013, 07:49 PM

Zimmerman is an OEM supplier to BMW as is Textar so there has to be another reason and since one caliper was leaking and not bleeding the brakes sure sounds suspect.
I have never had one issue using many sets of Zimmerman or Brembo rotors...

avocet · 10-21-2013, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samguan

The owner said the newer guy probably didn't bleed the brake properly.

ah yes, poorly bled brakes would do it... I had bled my brakes about 100000 times trying to firm up the pedal... I had a large untouched section of rotor, but bleeding didn't help my situation.

samguan · 10-22-2013, 04:41 PM

Had my GF took my car back to the shop(I have work).

She told me they said they found a thick layer of coating in the brake and I believed they also grind/sand my brake and I'm not sure I like what they did.

The owner said they did bleed the brake when installing the new caliper and it didn't feel like there were air in the system.

Anyways, the brake feels better now. But the picture doesn't look good to me with all those scratches.

10-21-2013, 06:05 PM	#1
samguan Private 42 Rep 69 Posts Drives: 2007 328i Convertible Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	New brake/rotor job, feels soft and ineffective The first brake job was done at a BMW dealership and the first thing I noticed was how sensitive the new brakes were and they were really good and hard. Just got my second one done yesterday, replaced all four rotors and pads with the aftermarket ones by Zimmerman. This was done at a private shop, I've been there many times already. I'm going to be going back tomorrow to have it checked out. The brakes feel soft and not very effective anymore, feels like I have to step on it very hard, nothing like before. Other than replacing the rotors/pads, they also found one piston that was leaking and they replaced it with a rebuilt unit. After 60KM of rush hour local driving, lots of braking and is here what one of my rotors look like. This picture is the rotor that got the rebuilt piston. I see that one area has no contact with the pad because it still has the coating on it. I just want to get some advice before I go back tomorrow. Thank you so much.
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10-21-2013, 06:08 PM	#2
BMWUltimateDriv3r First Lieutenant 83 Rep 324 Posts Drives: '08 328xi Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	Might be normal with aftermarket.
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10-21-2013, 06:43 PM	#3
El Cheapo Loco douchebaggo 186 Rep 972 Posts Drives: stick Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: CA iTrader: (1)	NOT normal. Bring it back ASAP. Aftermarket or not the rotor should not wear like that. Also check which pads they used. Inferior pads may contribute to the softer feel.
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10-21-2013, 06:50 PM	#4
gmblack3 Paint Polishing Perfection 16 Rep 145 Posts Drives: '11 335is '12 535i GT Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (0) Garage List 1993 740il [0.00] 1994 BMW 540i [0.00] 2012 GMC 2500 HD Di ... [0.00] 2012 BMW 535i GT [0.00] 2011 BMW 335is [0.00]	Did they or you bed the new pads to the new rotors? I just did Zim rotors and BMW pads myself, no issues.
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10-21-2013, 06:54 PM	#5
samguan Private 42 Rep 69 Posts Drives: 2007 328i Convertible Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	I didn't bed it, what are the procedures? Wouldn't normal driving bed the pads and the rotors?
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10-21-2013, 07:10 PM	#7
KwlAznKid Brigadier General 356 Rep 3,036 Posts Drives: BMW/MERCEDES/PORSCHE Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Los Angeles/Fremont USC/UCSD Alum iTrader: (6)	and are your new pads ceramic? if so that could be a HUGE factor as to why you feel the difference __________________ BMW E93 M3 / Mercedes Benz W209 CLK500 BMW E64 650I(sold) / BMW E92 328I(sold) / BMW E46 M3(sold) / BMW E92 335I(sold) Porsche 996 911 C2(sold) / BMW E46 325CI(totaled)
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10-21-2013, 07:16 PM	#8
avocet Major 252 Rep 1,157 Posts Drives: 2007 328i 2011 X5d Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Vancouver bc iTrader: (0)	if your situation is similar to what I experienced, then your pads have an uneven surface. the softness you feel is the pad squeezing slightly. as the pad beds in and conforms to the (flat) disc, your brake feel will increase dramatically. you can speed this process by doing a hard and heavy bed in procedure. http://zeckhausen.com/bedding_in_brakes.htm this is a pretty extreme bed in, but it did wonders for my new pads/discs.
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10-21-2013, 07:20 PM	#9
Red_Bean_Bun Captain 62 Rep 944 Posts Drives: E92 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Montreal iTrader: (4)	Did you do anything with the brake fluid at the second job ?
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10-21-2013, 07:30 PM	#10
samguan Private 42 Rep 69 Posts Drives: 2007 328i Convertible Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Rotors are by zimmerman and the pads are textar. Just got a call from the boss of the shop saying that the newer guy did my brake and it's not the first time this has happened. He said he will bleed my brake tomorrow himself and see what happens.
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10-21-2013, 07:31 PM	#11
samguan Private 42 Rep 69 Posts Drives: 2007 328i Convertible Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	The owner said the newer guy probably didn't bleed the brake properly.
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10-21-2013, 07:49 PM	#13
fun2drive BMWCCA 149159 38 Rep 847 Posts Drives: 13 128i Vert/ 14 JGC Diesel Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Florida Panhandle iTrader: (1)	Zimmerman is an OEM supplier to BMW as is Textar so there has to be another reason and since one caliper was leaking and not bleeding the brakes sure sounds suspect. I have never had one issue using many sets of Zimmerman or Brembo rotors...
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10-22-2013, 04:41 PM	#15
samguan Private 42 Rep 69 Posts Drives: 2007 328i Convertible Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Had my GF took my car back to the shop(I have work). She told me they said they found a thick layer of coating in the brake and I believed they also grind/sand my brake and I'm not sure I like what they did. The owner said they did bleed the brake when installing the new caliper and it didn't feel like there were air in the system. Anyways, the brake feels better now. But the picture doesn't look good to me with all those scratches.
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