Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.

Wheel and brake refurb

2003 - 2009, roadster, coupe, facelift
Post Reply
Peterboroughdave
Member
Member
Posts: 104
Joined: Wed Aug 17, 2011 1:29 pm

Wheel and brake refurb

Post by Peterboroughdave » Mon May 29, 2017 3:01 pm

After being involved in the May 2017 Cambridgeshire marathon roof motor move into boot day held in Peterborough (13 motors moved and fettled by Mike - DLV) I finally found the courage and motivation to tidy up the brakes, properly clean the wheel arches and make remedials to the minor kerb rash on the 2 rear wheels. (17" turbines)

I had the luxury of my mother-in-laws double garage and decided to work one side of the car at a time. Wheels removed, brakes dismantled but not disconnected (calipers supported on large paint tins), sprayed the arches and the suspension components with engine cleaner and left to soak in whilst I worked on a thorough clean of the wheels, including removal of sticky pads from previous wheel balance weights. I then wiped down the wheel arch liners and cleaned using white spirit before coating with turtle wax tire treatment which gives a fantastic finish to black plastics (Forum member tip)

Wheel Remedial
I let the air out of the rear wheel drivers side, and inserted playing cards between the tire and the rim before fully masking off the tire.
Where the edge of the rim had been marked, I used 120 grade paper to remove any high spots before applying a tiny amount of wheel filler.
Once it had hardened I then sanded back to profile with progressively smoother grades of wet and dry until I was happy that it was all smooth.
The wheel was then cleaned before I masked off to leave just the localised areas that had been sanded, I then applied several thin layers of grey primmer.
When the primmer had fully dried I removed the masking tape and with 1200 grade paper blended away the ridge at the primer to wheel interface caused by the masking tape. I then cleaned off the wheel with painters wipes, covered off the wheel centre/spokes with a number of cloths to give a soft edge before spraying just the wheel outer section with silver paint ( I had previousely taken the wheel in to Halfords and selected the best colour match from a choice of about 9 similar silvers -Fiat paint proved to be the closest by a unaminous vote,
from Halfords staff and myself).
When the silver had dried, I removed the cloths from the wheel centre and spayed the full wheel with a cleat laquer. in any areas that felt a bit rough to touch.
After several days, I used solvol autosol metal polish to smooth the surface paint. Really pleased with the result, total cost about £30 for enough materials to do all 4 wheels if required.

Brake tidy up.
I used a combination of drill mounted wire brushes to clean off the rust and other deposits from discs, carriers and calipers and also the rear trailing arm (RTA). This took a fair amount of time, approx. 4 hours for one side of the car, which included removing a small access panel in the wheel arch liner to get to the front of the RTA, and un-cliping brake sensor cables, brake lines that are attached to the RTA.

Before Photographs:
Small.DSC04421.jpg
Small.DSC04421.jpg (46.56 KiB) Viewed 2022 times
Small.DSC04429.jpg
Small.DSC04429.jpg (102.01 KiB) Viewed 2022 times
Small.DSC04431.jpg
Small.DSC04431.jpg (120.44 KiB) Viewed 2022 times
I cleaned with white spirit, masked off the disc pad area, the sliders/mounting surfaces on the caliper carriers and other small fittings, before spray painting the brake components (using high heat silver/black) and hand painting the RTA with smooth black hammerite paint.

After all the preparation, re-assembly was a rewarding experience.

I then repeated the full process on the other side of the car.

Hope that this was not too long winded and that you can see past my dreadful spelling.

I started this work before deciding to sell the car and it took the best part of the week to complete on Thursday last week before selling the car to Forum member Boris on Sunday, I really wish that I had done this work sooner but still delighted with the result and the new skill set that can be put to use on the newer Z4 that Sarah acquired last month.

Photographs for completed work to follow in next post as having trouble loading more than 4 photograpghs

Regards

Peterboroughdave

Peterboroughdave
Member
Member
Posts: 104
Joined: Wed Aug 17, 2011 1:29 pm

Wheel and brake refurb

Post by Peterboroughdave » Mon May 29, 2017 3:03 pm

Photograghs of the completed work 1 of 2
DSC04437 small.JPG
DSC04437 small.JPG (84.99 KiB) Viewed 2021 times
DSC04438.JPG
DSC04438.JPG (100.52 KiB) Viewed 2021 times
DSC04439 small.JPG
DSC04439 small.JPG (86.62 KiB) Viewed 2021 times
DSC04440.JPG
DSC04440.JPG (116.94 KiB) Viewed 2021 times

Peterboroughdave
Member
Member
Posts: 104
Joined: Wed Aug 17, 2011 1:29 pm

Wheel and brake refurb

Post by Peterboroughdave » Mon May 29, 2017 3:06 pm

Photographs 2 of 2
DSC04441 small.JPG
DSC04441 small.JPG (101.72 KiB) Viewed 2017 times
DSC04442 small.JPG
DSC04442 small.JPG (96.97 KiB) Viewed 2017 times
Small.DSC04464.jpg
Small.DSC04464.jpg (153.3 KiB) Viewed 2017 times
Small.DSC04471.jpg
Small.DSC04471.jpg (97.87 KiB) Viewed 2017 times
Cheers

Dave

User avatar
groovy_hippy
Member
Member
Posts: 395
Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2015 5:37 pm
Location: Derby

Wheel and brake refurb

Post by groovy_hippy » Mon May 29, 2017 3:07 pm

Looks spot on! I need to do that to mine at some point... rust is never a good look ;-)
Current ... 2007 Z4 Coupe 3.0si Sport | Manual | Alpine White | Black leather | Piano black dash
Intro to Zeds, now sold... 2007 Z4 2.5i SE Roadster | Manual | Stratus Grey | Red Leather | CDV delete | DLV backbox

RyanB88
Member
Member
Posts: 436
Joined: Sun Apr 09, 2017 6:51 pm

Wheel and brake refurb

Post by RyanB88 » Mon May 29, 2017 3:10 pm

Good job! And satisfying doing it yourself :)
Z4 now sold :(

Current - M235i :thumbsup:

George7
Member
Member
Posts: 212
Joined: Sat Oct 15, 2016 7:24 pm
Location: Swansea

Wheel and brake refurb

Post by George7 » Mon Jun 05, 2017 8:27 pm

Looks. Fab,hope you put plenty of copper grease on the backs of the pads :crazydude: :crazydude:
X5 30i
530 GT
420 M Sport Plus Grand Coupe-hardon karmon,19" alloys, pro nav, sun roof
Z4 2.5 Roadster, cruise, xenons, sports suspension, red leather, heated seats, heated folding mirrors, aux fitted, 107s, roof motor in boot.

bz4kev
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1650
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2017 4:59 pm
Location: wirral

Wheel and brake refurb

Post by bz4kev » Mon Jun 05, 2017 9:22 pm

Did mine at weekend really pleased with results
IMG_0139.JPG
IMG_0139.JPG (194.73 KiB) Viewed 1907 times
IMG_0143.JPG
IMG_0143.JPG (211.68 KiB) Viewed 1907 times
IMG_0151.JPG
IMG_0151.JPG (180.35 KiB) Viewed 1907 times
IMG_0152.JPG
IMG_0152.JPG (184.99 KiB) Viewed 1907 times
2004 z4 30i auto Toledo blue stubby Areo front back sideskirts and rear spoiler M/// MFSW DLV exhaust mod mma tips vanos overhaul 108s refurbed ram air scoop E46 M3 heated seats clear rear lights M/// sport black grills

User avatar
buzyg
Legend
Legend
Posts: 26423
Joined: Fri May 20, 2011 6:11 pm
Location: Cornwall

Wheel and brake refurb

Post by buzyg » Mon Jun 05, 2017 10:46 pm

Nice Job Dave. :thumbsup:

Kev, I'm not so keen on yours.
Image

bz4kev
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1650
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2017 4:59 pm
Location: wirral

Wheel and brake refurb

Post by bz4kev » Mon Jun 05, 2017 11:22 pm

Thanks :thumbsup:
2004 z4 30i auto Toledo blue stubby Areo front back sideskirts and rear spoiler M/// MFSW DLV exhaust mod mma tips vanos overhaul 108s refurbed ram air scoop E46 M3 heated seats clear rear lights M/// sport black grills

bz4kev
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1650
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2017 4:59 pm
Location: wirral

Wheel and brake refurb

Post by bz4kev » Tue Jun 06, 2017 5:42 am

bz4kev wrote: Mon Jun 05, 2017 11:22 pm Thanks :thumbsup:I think they look better in the flesh
IMG_0155.JPG
IMG_0155.JPG (206.06 KiB) Viewed 1864 times
IMG_0154.JPG
IMG_0154.JPG (204.46 KiB) Viewed 1864 times
2004 z4 30i auto Toledo blue stubby Areo front back sideskirts and rear spoiler M/// MFSW DLV exhaust mod mma tips vanos overhaul 108s refurbed ram air scoop E46 M3 heated seats clear rear lights M/// sport black grills

User avatar
MrPT
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 4745
Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2012 7:44 pm
Location: Bucks/Oxon

Wheel and brake refurb

Post by MrPT » Tue Jun 06, 2017 8:18 am

Superb job. One of the best. :thumbsup:
2008 Z4MC: heavy wheels | crap suspension | skittish rear end | wobbly engine | not enough induction noise | underwhelming turn in | inconsistent braking | lardy battery | chubby steering wheel
2006 Z4 2.5si: gone

Peterboroughdave
Member
Member
Posts: 104
Joined: Wed Aug 17, 2011 1:29 pm

Wheel and brake refurb

Post by Peterboroughdave » Tue Jun 06, 2017 10:04 am

Thanks for the positive comments guys and Kev yours do look a lot better in the blue so certainly worth the effort.

I found it easier to remove for better access particularly as I am a bit of an FB/old git. It is easy to remove the discs and carriers, just 2 bolts holding on the caliper carriers and a small allen headed bolt/screw to secure the discs.

I am having a go at the E89 this week and struggling to decide on colours. The front calipers appear to be aluminum colour with cooling fins where'as the carriers are darker and look like cast iron. Th erear discs look to be all cast iron. Front discs are rivet mounted onto an alloy centre bell, not sure whether to try and polish this plus lacquer or to paint it.

Any comments/suggestions and/or photo's would be appreciated.

I am dismantling and cleaning from tonight as car on jacks awaiting wheel re-furb and new tires.

Dave

bz4kev
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1650
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2017 4:59 pm
Location: wirral

Wheel and brake refurb

Post by bz4kev » Tue Jun 06, 2017 10:48 am

Thanks I like them a lot better than the rust look :rofl: I was going to break down but it's a daily driver so had very limited time really like yours too definitely worth the effort look forward to seeing your e89 ones :thumbsup:
2004 z4 30i auto Toledo blue stubby Areo front back sideskirts and rear spoiler M/// MFSW DLV exhaust mod mma tips vanos overhaul 108s refurbed ram air scoop E46 M3 heated seats clear rear lights M/// sport black grills

Post Reply