First Brake Job 740i

[74PLAY]

I bought my 1998 740i 6 months ago and now need brakes. have been quoted from 650.00 to 1,200.
I am thinking of buying myself after market zimmerman cross drilled discs and other parts to complete a brake job. i went to auto accessories giant.
do you know all the individual parts i need and can suggest better web sites for all parts and discs?
do you recommend i try doing the brake job myself or give the parts to my mechanic?
thx

[Antiburn]

you need new rotors, pads, brake sensor and if you dont have hex rench sockets you wont be doing the brake job. I belive you need a 8mm for the caliper, a 6mm for the rotor hold down bolt, 16mm for the caliper bracket. Eather a pair of large plyers, large vice grips of a c-clamp to depress the caliper piston. YOu will also need a hammer to beat off the old rotor. And a larger screw diver (flathead) to take off the caliper saftey clip and help remove the caliper bolt covers.

Its pretty advanced for a regular brake job so you might wana buy the parts and get a garage to do them. Thats only if you think you cant handle it.

[tseran]

I have a 1990 735i. I replaced all the tie rods in the front end when I installed new rotors and pads on the front end only. I read where a thrust bushing might be the problem, and will inspect all bushings on front end. I did not replace the upper control arm bushing, just the tie rod ends that were worn out.

The rotors were then turned, on the car, about 1,000 miles later because of the pulsating and shimmying when braking, hard or soft, reappeared. I have no idea if they centerted the rotors before installation. Centering the rotors, I just learned is no problem.

I don't understand how to determine if a wheel, mine are stock (OEM), is not centered properly. I do remember that my friend told me that 1 of the wheels was "bad" when he gave me the car, but I could never figure out which one it was so I continued to use them all interchangeably over the years. He said a wheel was "bent". No idea how one of these wheels can bend.

I know I need new rotors and pads. I was thinking of drilled Brembo's and ceramic pads. However, I can find no info on which set-up is best for my driving habits and hope you can shed some light on my problem.

Please take into consideration that I AM VERY HARD ON THE BRAKES. However, most of my driving these days in this car is on the highway, but around town the heavy beast that she is gets a workout.

Any and all info is appreciated.

Thanks,
Tony