Rebuild OEM Caliper or Aftermarket replacement

romero1990 · 06-19-2020, 06:59 PM

My E92 is crossing 130K soon. The brake and rotor is still (probably original) from the previous owner, with who know how many miles on it already.

The rotor is now wearing to below minimum and having a lip. I am debating if I should be rebuilding the caliper and gran a set of new OE rotors, or go with something like ST40 sets.

The car is mainly DD and probably a few track day every year.

ST40F:

great upgrade if I go to tracks more
clean slate/fresh setup
runs about 2K total just for front (about + 1K than rebuild total)
I will still be rebuilding rear and probably also parking brake

Rebuild:

certainly more economical
I can use Akebono pads all around to minimize the brake dusts
I might not track often and won't be a waste
I could break thing if not don't right and kill myself

TBH, never had a BBK before so really not sure if it is the right way down.

The-Traveler · 06-20-2020, 07:59 PM

I'm researching the same thing as you. ECS has a kit with F10 blue front calipers and this seems interesting for rear options.
https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1723663

It might be possible to source M4 rear calipers and F10 front calipers with upgraded disks & pads and some steel lines.
Just thinking out loud. The F10 & M4 calipers can probably be found somewhere used from a wrecked car.

romero1990 · 06-21-2020, 02:50 AM

Interesting take. But cost wise, these retrofit are in similar to st60 bolt on ones. I have found st60s in 2.7 range, with new rear rotor and caliper rebuild. I’ll probably get similar 4K ish to goal cost

pbonsalb · 06-21-2020, 05:45 AM

Does not seem like you need a BBK. I am not sure you need to rebuild your calipers, either, but I’d certainly take a look at the dust seals, for signs of leaks at the pistons, and for rust on the pistons. Rotors are about $200 each and pads might be $100 for the fronts or rears.

If you want fancy looking brakes, that is another matter. Since you are considering ceramic pads to reduce dust if you keep the stock brakes, I’ll guess your interests are more cosmetic and that you don’t actually need them.

As for skill, it’s not very hard to rebuild calipers. But rebuilding them does not make them shiny. Cleaning and painting them wound take as much time as rebuilding. You can also send them out for media blasting and powder coating. The fancy stoptech you just after will also fade with usage and you probably won’t be able to find ceramic pads to reduce dust.

06-19-2020, 06:59 PM	#1
romero1990 Lieutenant 176 Rep 587 Posts Drives: E92 M3, F25 X3 Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (0) Garage List 2017 X3 [0.00] 2009 M3 [0.00]	Rebuild OEM Caliper or Aftermarket replacement My E92 is crossing 130K soon. The brake and rotor is still (probably original) from the previous owner, with who know how many miles on it already. The rotor is now wearing to below minimum and having a lip. I am debating if I should be rebuilding the caliper and gran a set of new OE rotors, or go with something like ST40 sets. The car is mainly DD and probably a few track day every year. ST40F: great upgrade if I go to tracks more clean slate/fresh setup runs about 2K total just for front (about + 1K than rebuild total) I will still be rebuilding rear and probably also parking brake Rebuild: certainly more economical I can use Akebono pads all around to minimize the brake dusts I might not track often and won't be a waste I could break thing if not don't right and kill myself TBH, never had a BBK before so really not sure if it is the right way down.
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06-20-2020, 07:59 PM	#2
The-Traveler Lieutenant 138 Rep 560 Posts Drives: E92 M3 & G30 530e Join Date: May 2015 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	I'm researching the same thing as you. ECS has a kit with F10 blue front calipers and this seems interesting for rear options. https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1723663 It might be possible to source M4 rear calipers and F10 front calipers with upgraded disks & pads and some steel lines. Just thinking out loud. The F10 & M4 calipers can probably be found somewhere used from a wrecked car.
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06-21-2020, 02:50 AM	#3
romero1990 Lieutenant 176 Rep 587 Posts Drives: E92 M3, F25 X3 Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (0) Garage List 2017 X3 [0.00] 2009 M3 [0.00]	Interesting take. But cost wise, these retrofit are in similar to st60 bolt on ones. I have found st60s in 2.7 range, with new rear rotor and caliper rebuild. I’ll probably get similar 4K ish to goal cost
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06-21-2020, 05:45 AM	#4
pbonsalb Lieutenant General 5260 Rep 10,638 Posts Drives: 18 F90 M5, 99 E36 M3 Turbo Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: New England iTrader: (4)	Does not seem like you need a BBK. I am not sure you need to rebuild your calipers, either, but I’d certainly take a look at the dust seals, for signs of leaks at the pistons, and for rust on the pistons. Rotors are about $200 each and pads might be $100 for the fronts or rears. If you want fancy looking brakes, that is another matter. Since you are considering ceramic pads to reduce dust if you keep the stock brakes, I’ll guess your interests are more cosmetic and that you don’t actually need them. As for skill, it’s not very hard to rebuild calipers. But rebuilding them does not make them shiny. Cleaning and painting them wound take as much time as rebuilding. You can also send them out for media blasting and powder coating. The fancy stoptech you just after will also fade with usage and you probably won’t be able to find ceramic pads to reduce dust.
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