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Bigger brakes on E30
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 11:23 pm
by iKst
Hello all,
im new on this forum and in E30 world. I recently sold my S13 200sx and im now working on a E30 320 drift/road car. I have many plans, one of them is replacing stock calipers with mazda RX7 4 pots.
Did anyone do anything like this ? I need ideas how to mount them. I would like to see pics if anyone have them.
I also need an advice about rotors. I dont know what size stock rotors are, but they look small

I would like to go as big as 15" wheels will allow me. Thats around 280 to 290mm i guess. What rotors can i use on E30. I would like to use ones with the same 4x100 patern, i dont really fancy drilling them.
Tnx, Saso
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 11:49 pm
by crazynor
stock 320 is 260mm rotors/vented.the same brakes on 318i to 325.
isnt it better to buy a kit with rotors/calipers?there is many to choose between.alpine for instance...i guess it is 296mm if i dont remember totally wrong,but then again you have to have 16"
another option is to use E36 brakes and some other parts.
but the info is available at
www.e30.de
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 11:59 pm
by Lordschleife
Just wondering why you feel the need? If you're suffering from fade then upgrading pads & fluid will usually cure this.
If you want to shorten stopping distance then grippier tyres will do this (though may increase likely hood of fade)
I'd explore these avenues first myself. What year is the 320? the later facelift ones have brake cooling ducts, remember much of braking is about heat. Bigger discs can handle more heat, but with good cooling/more resiliant pads/fluid you can use smaller discs.
Do a search on this forum for previous posts.
Heres a good link about braking
http://keith.maddock.com/bremsen/
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 12:22 am
by astondg
I was thinking about doing something with my brakes too. The standard size is ok. I have standard size EBC rotors and pads and I have never had any problems with brake fade and stopping power is usually not a problem. That is after quite a few track days.
BUT they don't exactly throw me through the windscreen and they look small, especially because my wheels are 16" and have a very open spoke pattern so the brakes are visible. I also have only ever locked a wheel on dirt so I think there is enough grip for some bigger brakes.
Aston
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 9:38 am
by Gunni
Get good rotors and pads along with good brake cooling and you should be fine for drifting,
If you are going to track hard or do high speed braking repeatedly then you need bigger brakes,
The RX7 calipers will work youԚ´ll have to make a adapter to make it work
You can then use Corrado rotors 280mm
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 1:40 pm
by iKst
Tnx for help.
I actualy dont have much expirience with E30 brakes. I drove friends 325 with stock brakes for a few laps on track day, but i was mainly sideways where big stopping power is not needed. My 200sx however was very bad. I had uprated Pagid pads, good brake fluid and stock 257mm rotors and i lost my brakes after 3, 4 laps of racing.
The reason why i want to upgrade is that i have a set of RX7 callipers with good pads at home

I wanted to fit them to S13 but i sold it too soon, and now i want to use them on my bimmer so they dont go to waste

Since i already have the callipers and stock rotors and pads need to be replaced it wont be much more expensive as buying new stock brakes.
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 1:51 pm
by Jhonno
what RX-7 are the calipers off?
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 1:55 pm
by iKst
FD3S
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 1:56 pm
by Lordschleife
iKst wrote:Tnx for help.
I actualy dont have much expirience with E30 brakes. I drove friends 325 with stock brakes for a few laps on track day, but i was mainly sideways where big stopping power is not needed. My 200sx however was very bad. I had uprated Pagid pads, good brake fluid and stock 257mm rotors and i lost my brakes after 3, 4 laps of racing.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again...
Using Castrol SRF fluid, Ferodo DS2500 pads all round, ATE Powerdiscs (front) std ATE discs rear & Goodridge braided hoses I found it
impossible to fade the brakes on the 325i, even doing fifteen 90-/100 to 10mph stops in a row, or taking it on the track.
Of course you have to make sure the pads are bedded in properly 1st (
http://www.zeckhausen.com/bedding_in_brakes.htm) and YMMV.
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 4:41 pm
by player6