4 stud to 5 stud

[simondavies]

hi whats the easiest way of converting a e30 1988 with 4 studs to 5 studs on the car as i have a chance of getting a set of rims but they are 5 studs
simon

[kam-325i]

getting M3 running gear...

[RWDRALLY]

Apart from E30 M3 running gear, is there a more commonly available solution, i.e. will the running gear from the E36 range fit?

Cheers.

[kam-325i]

The front struts can be fitted off the E36 on to the E30, but the rear end wont. Could try rear end of a Z3, as that has the same setup as the E30.

The front will also need some speical bush'es to adjust the camber.

[gareth]

the trailing arms can be taken from a E36 compact. this is the same as the E30 but 5 stud. a lot cheaper than M3 or Z3 stuff too...

[Martinaston]

I was trying to find a cheap solution to this before and the idea i had was just to change the hub flange with one off an E36 due to the rear bearings being the same size, the only thing i was not sure of is if the drive shaft has the same number of splines as the E30
You could be the man to answer the question if you find one

(I'm not too sure about the size of the brake disc either)

[jmc330i]

I checked at the dealers the other day about using the E30 M3 rear hub (5 stud) on my 325i.

The parts guy agreed with me in that, with the bearing being the same between M3 and 325i, it should all fit together. The M3 driveshaft is the same as any ABS equipped E30, so that shouldnt be a problem either.

The standard 325i rear disc (re-drilled to 5 stud) and caliper can then be used.

If the E36 has the same number of splines on the driveshaft as the E30, then it would be cheaper to get an E36 rear hub as there are more E36 breakers around then E30 M3s.
A new E30 M3 rear hub from the dealer is around Ԛ£60+VAT

[oze30]

http://www.eurocca.net/forums/showthread.php?t=11511

Here's a link to an Oz site.. but they want to use nissan skyline 4 pot brakes!

Might see if I can bring one back here from oz!

[Jordan]

Do not do the swap using e36 front strut assemblies. The suspension geometry is screwed up and you will never get enough forward caster out of it.

The only proper way for the front is to use e30 M3 strut housings.

For the rear you have a bunch of choices.

Cheapest is to swap out the hub. The e30 M3 hub presses directly into the non-m trailing arm. It also is the same halfshaft. While the hub is off swap on a M3 backing plate, and all the M3 ebrake hardware. Press the hub in and fit a e30 M3 rotor and caliper.

If your time is more important then the small amount of money saved just directly swap on e30 M3 trailing arms.

318Ti and Z3 trailing arms are also a direct swap with complete brakes etc but then you have to deal with higher offset wheels in the rear. Deep dish wheel become impossible.

Here is a list of rear rotor sizes for reference:

Sizes for rear rotors:

e30 325i.......258x10mm
e30 M3.........284x10mm
e36 318Ti.....272x10mm
Z3.(all).........272x10mm
M-Roadster...312x20mm

I've converted to 5x120 some time ago and I chose the best method(s) in my opinion. Certainly not the cheapest.

I used complete e30 M3 front strut housings. I run SBI rotor spacers, which allow me to bolt on e36 M3 rotors and calipers (315x28mm)

In the rear I used M-Roaster complete trailing arms/brakes. 312x20mm vented rotor.

17x8.5 ET41 with 245/40R17 fits perfect back or front. Pushed right to the edge of the fender.

[stevetigger]

M3 ebrake hardware

E Brake in America = HandBrake in England

[jmc330i]

While the hub is off swap all the M3 ebrake hardware.

I might be missing something but why do you need to do this? All the ebrake (handbrake) stuff is the same isnt it?

Surely the easiest (and cheapest) way to convert the rear would be to just put the M3 hub in and re-drill the 4stud (325i for example) disc to 5 stud and keep the 325i rear caliper etc.

[Jordan]

Last I checked the M3 hub is a larger diameter then will fit on the inside of the tiny non-m rotor. Also as far as I know the handbrake hardware is not the same.

[oze30]

cant you just kae up some adapters.. 4x100 to 5x120?

[Jhonno]

you could yes.. i know someone did that to fit some porsche rims

its not worth 5 studding just to fit a set of wheels, its quite a bit of hassle and expense for little gain in terms of looks imo

handling is improved by the strut pickup of the front anti roll but you can buy kits to add that to normal 4 stud setup

[oze30]

do you know how much they were? Tryiong to justify it as I don't know how long \I'm going to be in the UK for

[bigdek]

you cant really make them for e30.

the pcd's are too close and this means that the bolt holes intterefere with each other on at least one of the holes.

[Jhonno]

you cant really make them for e30.

the pcd's are too close and this means that the bolt holes intterefere with each other on at least one of the holes.

you can and they have been done.. twice at least

[gareth]

it can be done with adaptors from 4x100 to 5x120 but not safely. in the best angular orientation only about 1.2mm of material is left between theoretical Ø12mm fixings (M12x1.5?). it can be done with the porche pcd as that's 5x130 and allows that bit more meat around the fixings and this is the only way i've seen it done on an E30 short of hub swapping.

[bigdek]

the key word SAFELY

i wouldn't want to corner at at speed with them

[gareth]

it's about as scarey as BK171's

[Emotechnik]

I'm sure the guy on here who is building a 'classic' looking kit car out of an E30 has done the 5 stud conversion with bolt on adapters, I seam to remember seeing it on his website, can't for the life of me find a post from him, but I'm sure their is a link on his post's to his website, thought he would have turned up on this thread before now, can't personaly vouch for their worth.

[Emotechnik]

handling is improved by the strut pickup of the front anti roll but you can buy kits to add that to normal 4 stud setup

Tell me more

[Jhonno]

handling is improved by the strut pickup of the front anti roll but you can buy kits to add that to normal 4 stud setup

Tell me more

instead of using the lower arm as the mount for the roll bar there is a drop link off a bracket on the strut. it allows the roll bar to do its job more effectively

company in the US sells weld on brackets so you can use the same setup on the normal strut

[jmc330i]

Last I checked the M3 hub is a larger diameter then will fit on the inside of the tiny non-m rotor.

That could make sense I guess - its probably the only thing I havent checked TBH, although if the handbrake stuff is the same......

Also as far as I know the handbrake hardware is not the same.

All of the part numbers I have for the handbrake stuff is the same across the E30 range, from the 316 to the M3.

[Emotechnik]

I'm sure the guy on here who is building a 'classic' looking kit car out of an E30 has done the 5 stud conversion with bolt on adapters, I seam to remember seeing it on his website, can't for the life of me find a post from him, but I'm sure their is a link on his post's to his website, thought he would have turned up on this thread before now, can't personaly vouch for their worth.

http://www.msportster.co.uk/detail.asp?cat=7&offset=48

[oze30]

I wonder how much more offset they put on..

[gareth]

that's the only other way of doing it. however, unless you've got some wierd offset wheels you'll be lucky to get it to work with the normal arches.

a kitcar obvously makes things a lot easier!

[KiNaKa]

hie dude,

Anybody know about this ??

can e36 4 doors rear caliper fit onto e36 compact (ti) rear trailing arm ???

Is the trailing arm offset between E36 compact(ti) same as Z3's rear trailing arm ??

Thanks in advance...

Regards,
Daniel