Hi folks. Easy rear brake job turning into an ordeal. First stripped the rotor set screw and had to drill out.
Then the retaining spring/wire were stuck and snapped off when prying. Two little nubs remain...not coming out.
Can I drill them out? How important are the retaining springs/wires? Can I run without them ? Ugh.

Thanks...

 

Show us some pictures

 

They're important. Don't run without them! Is there enough sticking out to grab with some needle nose pliers? Spray some liquid wrench or PB blaster in there and let it sit for a few then smack that caliper with a deadblow hammer. That combination should unstick the remains. If you can't get it with pliers try something like a dental pick to get them out. And yes... pics would probably help.

 

They're important. Don't run without them!

I don't disagree, and would have posted the same thing EXCEPT I can't say what it is that they do.

Do you know? Just curious cuz I don't know . . .

I was about to pull out of the garage for a test drive after changing front pads on my 02S when I saw the spring on the ground .... what would have happened had I not seen this? I dunno . . .

inquiring minds want to know.

+++++++++++++++

or am I thinking of the wrong spring?

First stripped the rotor set screw and had to drill out.
Then the retaining spring/wire were stuck and snapped off when prying.

I'm envisioning the spring that's on the outside face of the caliber assembly. But one would have to deal with that B4 messing with the rotor set screw and the post suggests the opposite order . . .

again, inquiring minds want to know . .

 

OK I spoke too soon on these and I'm going to call myself out before someone else does. I always thought these were a critical safety item that held the pads in place and all hell would break loose if they weren't properly installed. Your question made me do some research before I started spouting off uninformed BS to the forum. It turns out they're just anti-rattle clips that do in fact keep the pads firmly in place but their main purpose is to keep the pads from rattling around when not under pressure... hence the name.

That being said... I consider any parts related to the brakes to be a critical safety item and I wouldn't risk it. If BMW sees the need for them... so do I!

 

Maybe not a risk to safety, but possibly sanity...

 

I had the same problem on my 03 R53 with 145,000 miles. The holes for the spring ends are drilled thru. They are likely corroded all the way through. Remove the caliper and look at the opposite side of where the spring ends are you may need to pick around to find the holes. Once you find the holes use a drill bit to drill out the corrosion down to the end of the spring. Then use a drift or punch to knock out the spring end. Also remove the rubber bushings for the slide pins and check for corrosion. The corrosion will swell the hole smaller and cause the caliper to not move freely on the slide pins.

 

I have been banging my head against the wall with these damn retaining clips, the one on the driver's side rear refuses to go in all the way or stay hooked on the carrier, I must be overlooking something. Maybe the piston isn't pushed out far enough? I'll take pics once it's up in the air, can't figure out what I'm missing.

 

So I had the same exact problem this afternoon. 06 R50 left rear set screw seized and drilled out, one side of the retaining spring clip came out, but the lower side was stuck. I tried prying it out, used liquid wrench, pick and vice grip to try and ease it out. No luck, just kept losing more wire, until just a nub. I'm using a nail set to try and drive the pin back enough to start drilling it out, but can't get it budged.
I took lots of pics!


Drilling and perforating the set screw

Screw extractor, no luck. Even with impact wrench 😢

What remains of the set screw, can I get by without? Or should I tap a new one in?

Sad caliper. No hole, no clippy

Halp! No wire, no hole

 

Well about that retaining screw there a millions of domestic US cars running around never having had that type of retaining screw. So take that in mind when debating that screw.

The main difference between the European cars and US is the lugs. You know US cars have lug studs with nuts vs the lug bolts on the Mini. The retaining screw is really just there to keep the rotor from spinning while mounting the tire.