Time for an overhaul of my 1.9 '98 BMW Z3 Individual

[Matt Barnes]

Ok so it's the weekend again !....... ok top domestic news.... I fixed the washing machine !!.. .. ended up being a new sump pipe and new pump. (total cost about 50 quid and lots of swearing) Now purrs like a kitten and pumps water out stronger than Linda Blair in the Exorcist.....

right.. so with a happy wife...let's get back to the Z3 !!

Focus today was on front Calipers.... so it was lots... and lots.... and lots... of grinding rust and other detritus off the surfaces.

used a wire pipe brush for the piston bore and the slider and bolt holes...

although it worked well, it was a little too rigid, so I then dug out my drill flexi attachment.. but, screwed it into the pillar drill instead of a hand drill, this enabled me to have both hands free..

If you use barrel sanders on a Dremel, one little tip I can offer is, don't push the sanding tube all the way down on the rubber barrel. Leave it slightly overlapping and that way, the top of the sander is more flexible and can get into more nooks and crannies..

Then it's into the paint booth !

that'll do for now, and tomorrow I'll do the other one

 

[AntStark]

I used one of these to do mine and the carriers..it’s the equivalent of 80 grit and gets in all the little corners really well

 

[Matt Barnes]

I used one of these to do mine and the carriers..it’s the equivalent of 80 grit and gets in all the little corners really well
View attachment 350715

@AntStark - Ironically I have a set of grinding stones for the Dremel but never thought of using those !

 

[Matt Barnes]

Weekend again !... and unfortunately I only get one afternoon as tomorrow I have to rip the spare room apart ready for a sparky to come in next week.....

right...let's get to it....

First thing, received new hub bearings from AutoDoc

Then I thought I'd attack one of Ant's calipers.... using my socket trick, the piston just would not budge, that bad boy was in there. No matter how much I twisted, it just wouldn't budge

Then I tried something that freed it up straight away !... ok there was also liberal squirts of WD40 but.. I found if I gave the piston a tap with the extension bar and hammer, it freed it straight away... just a sharp bang on opposite sides should do it....

This is the combination of sockets I used that enabled a 1/2" extension bar to jam in tightly.. 8mm, 13mm and a shouldered 11mm, with 1/2" bar.
Then the piston started to spin....I got it out halfway and then it got stuck

.... but as I knew it was moving, I then tried the foot pump trick with a bouncy ball adaptor, few pushes and .... BANG! out it flew

Then it was just endless, endless grinding with a variety of flap wheels, drums, wire wheel and stones...

gave it a good dose of brake cleaner and it's ready for paint

with that done I had a go a dry fitting the front left shock

I was quite surprised how far up the shaft the hub bearing started to become an interference fit. Granted it was dry with no copper grease, but I hope when greased that will hammer down to the bottom !

So that's it for today... looks like I can't do any more until next weekend !