Budget brake upgrade

Sat Oct 05, 2013 6:26 am

My brakes need servicing so I thought it would be a good time to upgrade. Maybe I'm not looking hard enough but it seems to me that most of the common brake upgrades are either quite expensive or needlessly complicated.

Perhaps my needs/approach are different to most people's but my E30 is my daily driver, not a race car or weekend track day warrior. I don't believe I am the ghost of Ayrton Senna and I'm not trying to break any land speed records, but I would like to bring my humble little car more in line with modern cars with some sensible upgrades.

I know that some people feel that the standard brakes in fine fettle are up to the job, and I'd agree to some extent, but most cars around this weight class with around 200bhp come from the factory with 280mm brakes. I know on VWs and Volvos (awaits flaming) that simple upgrades can come from fitting larger discs with standard callipers using a different calliper carrier from a later or higher spec model.

My thought was to use the G60 280mm discs with the standard E30 caliper and a caliper spacer bracket, but a (admittedly brief) google search has revelealed that nobody does this, preferring to go for 4-pots. Is there a reason that I am missing why nobody makes such a kit? I think it would offer a worthwhile upgrade at a very low price which wouldn't require a wheel change from the OEM 15" BBS or wheel spacers.

Input, opinions, corrections and techincal explanations appreciated.

Sat Oct 05, 2013 8:22 pm

iirc Practical Performance Car had an E30 325i track car a few years back. I'm sure they used this very upgrade for the front brakes on that car. Redrilling of discs required, but otherwise...

Sat Oct 05, 2013 8:31 pm

Rx7 4 pot calipers combined with the g60 calipers you mentioned are a common upgrade across the pond - there is a guy there who offers the brackets and brake pipe adaptor for about $90 I think and also caliper refurb kits and also refurbed calipers which is what I went for - it was around £350 for the calipers, brackets, brake pads and delivery / another £70 for discs and £20 to have hub machined 1mm

Sat Oct 05, 2013 8:57 pm

I've seen the RX7 conversion and it looks very impressive but I was thinking of retaining the E30 caliper for ease (piston diameter correct, pipe fitting correct, no need for wheel spacers, etc) and reduced cost (no need to source calipers, larger bore master cyl, wheel spacers or hose adaptors).

Thu Oct 10, 2013 3:24 pm

I've read this last ost a few times, I guess you're left with jsut the pads to upgrade and maybe the hoses? I use goodridge hoses and EBC green stuff pads, nice and stoppy for me and quite budget. £50 or so for pads and £60 for goodridge lines.

Fri Oct 11, 2013 4:03 pm

DBA (Disc Brakes Australia) offer front and rear competition rotors for E30 (4000-t3 series).

Combine with refurbished calipers, good quailty brake fluid and racing/track brake pads and you will have a very good setup that will not fade under hard use, requires no modification and will continue to lock up the tyres lap after lap (if you can lock up the tyres, the brakes are big enough).

The Australian E30 racing category requires the use of factory brakes, and this setup works very well.

http://www.dba.com.au/products/clubspec-t/4000-t3/

Tue Dec 17, 2013 1:17 am

I don't know if it's any help but I have a reasonably priced upgrade on my car. It uses e28/e30 M3 front callipers and Lancia Delta Integrale discs. You need to open the up the holes on the discs by 1mm and use a bracket between the strut and the calliper. I think the discs are 284mm.

It's a good upgrade in terms of braking power but could be done with a larger master cylinder behind it.

Tue Dec 17, 2013 1:21 am

what about just fitting a larger brake servo and master cylinder with braided hoses?

Wouldn't that work as a low cost upgrade?

Tue Dec 17, 2013 11:21 am

Size of the brake servo makes no difference. IMO the idea of going cheap on brakes is outrageous they are the most important part of the car.

Tue Dec 17, 2013 10:44 pm

You are right to a degree, 4pots and big disks are definitely the way forward.
I upgraded the servo and brake lines on my old Golf mk1 and it made a massive difference.

But as you know, I value your opinion and you do this at a higher level than me and far more often than I do

Tue Dec 17, 2013 10:55 pm

Quaser wrote:Rx7 4 pot calipers combined with the g60 calipers you mentioned are a common upgrade across the pond - there is a guy there who offers the brackets and brake pipe adaptor for about $90 I think and also caliper refurb kits and also refurbed calipers which is what I went for - it was around £350 for the calipers, brackets, brake pads and delivery / another £70 for discs and £20 to have hub machined 1mm

For that money you could have bought a WMS 4 pot setup where the calipers are designed to work with the E30 brake master cylinder, and it obviously bolts on with no issues and comes from UK, fits under 15" BBS too

If it has to fit under 15" BBS I would only recommend the WMS

Tue Dec 17, 2013 11:00 pm

rix313 wrote:Size of the brake servo makes no difference. IMO the idea of going cheap on brakes is outrageous they are the most important part of the car.

A brake servo with more assistance will make a difference, as the pressure on the calipers will be increased for no extra pedal effort. Was a very popular move with classic cars back in the day.