Re: '84 735i brake (abs) problem (archive)

i'm having some increasingly serious problems with the brakes on my '84 735i (euro, 5-speed, braided brake lines, abs). for the first couple of stops in the morning it won't! the abs kicks in and i get pedal pulsing but it seems like the brakes don't want to stop the car. after a few stops the brakes will be okay, then the abs light goes on and the car stop's normally. today, there was a new
symptom, there was a liquid that spun out of the left front wheel center (as if there was water in the hub and the wheel going around spun it out over the wheel and tire) and the car started driving to the right when braking. so, is it possible for there to be brake fluid (i don't know what the liquid is for sure) leaking out of the caliper and onto the disc? any other ideas on what's wrong with the brakes? i'll get it into the garage this weekend once the front suspension is replaced on the 535is but would appreciate some things to check. tia
...tom

Sounds as though you may have a caliper seizing up on one of your brakes. You start her up in the morning, ABS kicks in inadvertently (in the snow, perhaps) or you have what appears to be hard braking the first few stops, then after the system gets "charged" with brake fluid or pressure, everything seems to work fine. BMW braking systems are I think a bit more sophisticated than the average in that if there is a leak or failure in pressure at one end of the system, the car will let you know first thing, i.e., when you first start her up cold.
To have your caliper(s) taken apart, cleaned, lubricated and hoses replaced might cost a couple hundred, but will save you some aggravation and might save a wheel locking up. A bit of rust, a worn out brake hose or two and loss of fluid is my geuss.

Let us know how you make out.

-R.

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