X5world - View Single Post

JCL · #10 06-27-2008, 01:04 AM

My suggestion to take it to a shop was based on your diagnostic skills (no slam, just noticing) and the fact that brakes are a safety item. Bleeding brakes is fairly straightforward, but not if you haven't done it before. Yes, you can get air in the bleed nipple, just let the pedal rise while the bleeder is open. The X5 has some complexity to the brake system due to the ABS module, which can trap and hold air bubbles. Thus, all cars are not the same. If you get air in the system, and it gets into the ABS module, you may not be able to repair it without taking it to a shop that has a BMW computer to cycle the ABS controller. $$$$.

Your other question was about a vehicle with low miles having a stuck caliper. The failure of a caliper isn't related to miles, it is related to time, and more specifically, not changing the brake fluid every two years. That lets water collect in the system, it goes to the low point (the caliper), and corrodes around the piston. When you push the piston back while changing pads, the piston can can hang up on the corroded area.

All that said, I don't think you have a caliper problem, I think you have a suspension problem. That is because of the problem description, but it is just a judgement call without more info.