E46 M3: Soft Brake Pedal

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09-04-16, 10:40
SmokyMo

E46 M3: Soft Brake Pedal

Hi,

I been trying to sort my soft brake pedal issue on my e46 m3. Maybe anyone has any ideas.

What I ve done so far:

. Changed Front Rotors

. Changed Front and Rear Pads to EBC Red Stuff

. Put Stainless brake lines

. Bled with all new fluid

. Bled brakes again, no air.

brakes still soft. When the car is off, the brake pedal stops half way and you cant push further.

When the car is on, you can press brake pedal very far, after pressing on it 2 or 3 times I can pretty much press the brake to the floor. Very mushy feel, no bite, seems that I cant even engage ABS.

I checked front pads and they seem destroyed... Rears look alright. Pads look very soft, I used them before on my IS250 and Ek4 Sir with no issues, but i guess drilled disc destroys them, I got textar pads to throw on see if it makes a difference.

I am thinking maybe it could be something with brake booster or master cylinder? I also read that incorrectly fitted pads can causes soft pedal. So I will check that next. Any advice what to look for?

Front Pads, after me doing couple of stops.
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...psqymcq98s.jpg
09-04-16, 19:16
Smokey Bear

I'd try the master cylinder, I'd it using any fluid?
09-04-16, 20:50
Valdelisbmw

change front pads first ! dics ,drilled or grooved dont do the damage to pads . but if still be bad might need master cylinder to be replaced
09-04-16, 21:27
Venom

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valdelisbmw

change front pads first ! dics ,drilled or grooved dont do the damage to pads . but if still be bad might need master cylinder to be replaced

Would that do that to the pads? Or just shit brand. Never seen that before :eek:
10-04-16, 07:10
HealyC

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valdelisbmw

change front pads first ! dics ,drilled or grooved dont do the damage to pads . but if still be bad might need master cylinder to be replaced

Yeah same here, change the front pads first for a good branded set. From the pic they look like there falling apart!
10-04-16, 09:51
schoonerm3

I wouldnt use EBC again after a bad experience with them. The pad material fell off the backing pad and left me with no brakes until I pumped the brakes a few times and closed the gap between the piston and rotor. Wont use them again. Nearly caused an accident.
10-04-16, 12:36
Ketron

Those pads look absolutely shocking, they look like they're made of clay!
10-04-16, 17:00
Valdelisbmw

Quote:

Originally Posted by schoonerm3

I wouldnt use EBC again after a bad experience with them. The pad material fell off the backing pad and left me with no brakes until I pumped the brakes a few times and closed the gap between the piston and rotor. Wont use them again. Nearly caused an accident.

My e46 M3 was and still on EBC , brakes like train . used to eat few sets of them on e36 track car and road driving as well .never any issues .had no luck with carbon loraine ones and do know few others not happy with these as well . have few customers and friends and they all use EBC for fast road or track cars
10-04-16, 17:29
Gar

It's possible they could be counterfeit the markets flooded with fake ebc discs and pads
10-04-16, 17:35
schoonerm3

At the time I purchased them from ebc. I'm sure lots of people have had good experiences with them and that fine. No matter what way you look at it , they nearly caused me to hit a roundabout with my sister and her boyfriend in the car. So for that reason I won't use them. Which I think is fair enough to be honest. But I must admit they braked really well when they did work. But what good is that if the adhesive between the pad Material and backing plate is rubbish / was rubbish.
18-04-16, 12:59
SmokyMo

Cheers for the input lads.

After driving for couple days and doing couple more sprinted runs the car brakes better. Still feels a bit mushy, but there is more brake pressure at higher speed which is normal I guess.

I want to do next autoheros with these and then change the pads. But I ll take them out to have a closer beforehand.
26-04-16, 20:05
SmokyMo

Alright so brakes were mushed... Got textar to swap. First thing i noticed is how much more meat textar has compare to EBC.

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...pshbzevw7c.jpg

Needless to say EBC didnt look too good. Only on the car couple weeks

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...psvzsndlsw.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...ps9uknuvvo.jpg

you can see the print from the brake piston
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...pshuhdkjth.jpg

Have also EBC on the rear but they look ok from out side. I think I ll leave them for now and might change master brake cylinder in few months.
26-04-16, 21:39
HealyC

Holy bejesus, I hope your getting onto Ebc about them!!!!

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27-04-16, 22:07
Bennyc

They are defo faultly U should get on to them,
27-04-16, 22:45
JohnH

I'm more surprised you're leaving the rears on given the fronts were so bad
28-04-16, 07:12
james forde

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ketron

Those pads look absolutely shocking, they look like they're made of clay!

x2, that looked awful.... I'd imagine the braking feels much better?
28-04-16, 13:15
SmokyMo

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnH

I'm more surprised you're leaving the rears on given the fronts were so bad

I will change them just need to buy replacement pads.

Quote:

Originally Posted by james forde

x2, that looked awful.... I'd imagine the braking feels much better?

To be honest the braking distance is the same maybe a little bit worse now. But with EBC after 2-3 hards stops they wouldnt bite/stop any more. Like a really bad brake fade. I assume this because they couldn't take heat well and were going soft hence the state of them after.