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Car Forum / BMW Cars / November 2006

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Dial gauge for brakes

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derek_mcquarrie@hotmail.com - 28 Nov 2006 14:46 GMT
I'm planning to service the brakes on my '98 M3.

I'd like to get a good quality dial gauge to check rotor run out, and a
clamp to keep the gauge steady. I've seen pictures of a Honda clamp
which is basically a flexible arm which attaches to the vehicle near
the wheel, with the gauge attached to the other end of the arm.

Does BMW make something similar? Or can anyone recommend a specific
make/model of a clamp/gauge set?

Thanks
Lez Pawl - 28 Nov 2006 20:31 GMT
> I'm planning to service the brakes on my '98 M3.
>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Thanks

ebay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DIAL-TEST-INDICATOR-GAUGE-WITH-SWITCHABLE-MAGNETIC-BASE_W0
QQitemZ190057048964QQihZ009QQcategoryZ64814QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

daytripper - 28 Nov 2006 22:14 GMT
>> I'm planning to service the brakes on my '98 M3.
>>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
>http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DIAL-TEST-INDICATOR-GAUGE-WITH-SWITCHABLE-MAGNETIC-BASE_W0
QQitemZ190057048964QQihZ009QQcategoryZ64814QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Exactly. And it can be found on any decent tool site...
derek_mcquarrie@hotmail.com - 29 Nov 2006 02:25 GMT
That looks like it would probably do the job, but I was looking for
something with a base that attaches to the vehicle, so it can't be
easily disturbed when taking measurements.

> >> I'm planning to service the brakes on my '98 M3.
> >>
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
> Exactly. And it can be found on any decent tool site...
JRE - 29 Nov 2006 10:39 GMT
> That looks like it would probably do the job, but I was looking for
> something with a base that attaches to the vehicle, so it can't be
> easily disturbed when taking measurements.

Don't overengineer this.

All you need is something you can attach in a way it doesn't move under
the small pressures needed to deflect dial indicator's plunger.  A
magnetic base is fine and you could probably put it on the strut, at
least in the front; a clamp base is also fine so long as something in
the vicinity is within the range of the clamp's jaws.  Both kinds of
adjustments (rods with clamps and flexible goosenecks) are likewise
fine.  If all else fails you can attach the thing to the floor jack and
still get a good reading for disk runout.

Mine's got a magnetic base and rods and clamps, but only because that's
what was available where I bought it 25 years ago or so.  I've never
failed to find a way to use it when I needed it but YMMV.

JRE
adder1969 - 29 Nov 2006 10:41 GMT
> That looks like it would probably do the job, but I was looking for
> something with a base that attaches to the vehicle, so it can't be
> easily disturbed when taking measurements.

I always used an axle stand and a screwdriver.  Discs are either true
or they're not.   In my experience most problems diagnosed as warped
discs actually turn out to be suspension wear usually in the bushes.
Lez Pawl - 29 Nov 2006 16:43 GMT
> I'm planning to service the brakes on my '98 M3.
>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Thanks

yer ideal instrument

http://store.flexbar.com:80/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD_IM&Store_Code=FLX
&Product_Code=18053&Category_Code=IM-Stands-Bases

mcquarrie - 29 Nov 2006 18:56 GMT
Thanks for the link, but it appears to be inactive at least right now.

> > I'm planning to service the brakes on my '98 M3.
> >
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> http://store.flexbar.com:80/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD_IM&Store_Code=FLX
&Product_Code=18053&Category_Code=IM-Stands-Bases
mcquarrie - 30 Nov 2006 16:34 GMT
Link is working now - nice looking tools.

> Thanks for the link, but it appears to be inactive at least right now.
>
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> >
> > http://store.flexbar.com:80/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD_IM&Store_Code=FLX
&Product_Code=18053&Category_Code=IM-Stands-Bases
 
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