Rear Ix Brakes

[Bmjpv]

Question for Ix guys. I love my 91' but I can't get on top of my problem with rear brake warpage. After everything I've done with all new rotor,lines,rebuilt calipers, etc, I'm now thinking front brake pads are too hard and the rears are overworked. Or master cyl has lazy front circurt ,again making the rears work too hard. Next step is install new front pads w/rotors and give it some time. Does a non Ix brake master cyl work ? Anyone done this? I'm an easy driver so that's not it . Thanks, Joe

[nando]

other than calipers and front rotors, most of the ix brake system is ix-specific, including the MC.

what pads do you have? how did you bed them in?

[Bmjpv]

Ix rear brakes

Thanks for chimming in on my problem. I don't remember what brand pad is up front,rears are ate and will be replaced soon. I've bought pagid for the front and will get matching brand for the rears . Question, Does anyone know exactly why Ix only on these masters ? I think if my master cyl had an internal low pressure to fronts, the system would pickup a fault panel lite. I've had a background in bmw repair ,just not enough on this brake problem I quess. Thanks , Joe

[nando]

because it's physically different.

the panel light only shows fluid level, it doesn't check pressures.

[Bmjpv]

rear brakes

Ok mounting difference on master . As I think harder about pressure inbalance warning lite,ya level only. I should have remembered, volvo systems was clouding my thinking. I'll do matching pads in the future and report after that, thanks, Joe

[u3b3rg33k]

Warped brakes aren't usually warped. What's wrong with them?

[Bmjpv]

Ix rear brakes

It's the rotors warping over a short time, just swapped out the right rear with a freshly recut rotor to take a trip down to Tn over the weekend. New or recut are like new ,just won't stay that way for long. As I've posted earlier it's time for rear pads and and matching brands all around. It would not surprise me that the brake bias is different on Ixs . Just putting this out to people who have more Ix experance than me. Thanks, Joe

[u3b3rg33k]

Warped or high spots? You still haven't convinced me that they're really warped.

[nando]

I'd never reccomend turning a rotor, especially as cheap as they are on E30s. and no, they aren't the same as new.

what's most likely happening is you've got uneven pad deposits. when you have them turned, depending on how deep they cut it's not going to remove all of the old deposits. So you go to bed in new pads.. and have the same problem, maybe worse.

if you haven't tried an actual brand new rotor, that's what I'd reccomend. ix's have the same brake bias as all the other E30s, AFAIK, or at least similar. My rear brakes typically last 2-3x as long as the fronts.

[Bmjpv]

Ix rear brakes

Ok here's some more info. I have done new rotors in front and 2 set of new in the back up to this point. Yes I agree the rears should last longer and the front get the stopping heat. I have years of MBZ ,Volvo ,BMW. Having been a shop owner for 30+ year I'm not fresh out of box, retired now and moved out of Calif. A Ix is my daily driver . Of those 3 cars we worked on, I am the weakest on the BMW. I do own 88' M3 and 88' 325Is w/s52 and e30 m3 under it, both Calif cars. But this Ix rear brake problem(Ixs are rare cars on the coast in Santa Cruz) and am asking for constructive ideas on what might be up. Thanks, Joe

[nando]

ok, I wasn't sure if you'd tried new rotors since you mentioned having them turned

another thought could be stuck calipers, which could cause the brakes to overheat. I'd also try running pagids on all 4 corners, and be sure to bed them in properly.

[Bmjpv]

rear brakes

Ya, (calipers rebuilt last year) as you can see I've been after this for awhile. It's almost too basic what's gone on. Unless I get hit buy lighten with the answer I'll go with matching pad brands F&R w/rotors .I will report in after sometime on the road . Thanks , Joe

[nando]

how about rear brake lines?

[Bmjpv]

rear brakes

I've done the easy flex lines in the rear. But if I had a rear line problem they would drag (car rolls freely after rebuilding 4 calipers & lines) and rolls either direction at stops when not on a perfectly level spot. I feel like I've covered all the stupid easy basic stuff . Like I say ,matching pads and again new rotors in the very near future. Joe

[nando]

ok

how about rear wheel bearings? ever been changed? I could see a wobbly/weak bearing causing issues. wheels straight and true?