Rear suspension and Brake setup from track e36 ti

[salam0506]

Hi Guys,

Just wanted to know if the setup from a e36 ti that was used on the track would bolt into the e30? I was looking at getting the whole rear axle with suspension and brakes attached:

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/ ... 6/$_57.JPG

Could I bolt that straight into my e30 or would I need to do some modifying?

Cheers
Seenan

[Grrrmachine]

Yes, you can use most of the back end (except the actual springs/shocks, I think). More info here:

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... Rear_Setup

But then what? Run 5-stud wheels on the back, and 4-stud wheels on the front?

[salam0506]

Yes that wouldn't be ideal. Currently have drums on the back as its a 318. I could do the whole 5 stud conversion but apart from the poly bushes on the above setup I wanted to keep it a bit original- ie BMW original parts. The only reason I was looking at this setup is because I plan to do the m52b28 engine conversion and wanted to make sure I have enough stopping power for that kind of grunt. Do you think the setup that came with the 318is would suffice? Maybe new drilled and grooved discs all round and new callipers and braided hoses? Using the original boge shocks and springs if they are in good nick? The 5 lug conversion seems to have a lot of parts to source and this is the first time I am having a go at this entire rebuild project so thought I should maybe keep it simple..

Any advice would be much appreciated.
Seenan

[Grrrmachine]

5-lug setup is redundant unless your car is a serious track beast and you need to fit big wheels around massive brakes. If it's just a road-going car then even drilled/grooved discs is going overboard.

Remember that drums have more stopping power than discs, but they can't dissipate heat so well so they fade quicker if pushed hard. Really, all you need is the setup from a 325i or any Touring, since they all had big front brakes and rear discs, which is more than enough for the 190hp M52.

[salam0506]

Thanks, I was thinking as much, although I have always heard that discs are better than drums if you have good callipers and discs. But that also be because when I used to workon the drums of my e36 the springs used to attack my fingers! There is a user on here breaking a 318is which he says has very clean springs shocks and brakes. I read that these are the same as the 325 or touring? I did want to eventually make it a road track car for occasional track day outings. Maybe poly bushing is an easy way to future proof it for that purpose?

[HairyScreech]

Is that from a 323ti? hubs look like high offset for a compact. Look more like Z3 hubs and discs but could be mistaken.

You wont be able to use the compact beam bushes, they are dirrerent at the top and won't locate on an e30.

Having just finished a 5 bolt conversion using a combo of e30/z3 and e46 bits I can say the improvement is massive, going up to a 300mm disc with a stock e30 caliper on brackets really improves things, as do the 270mm rears.

You don't "need" a 5 stud set up on the road and arguably you need it less on a track car (more 4x100 wheels and plenty of bolt on 4 pots ) but it does give you access to the whole of the bmw wheels catalog and discs are much cheaper as your using stock discs.

[salam0506]

Thanks hairyscreech- I did read that the wheel choice was much better with the 5stud but I wasn't too fussed about that too be fair. I really want it to look as stock as possible but with the chunky m52 grunt. What do u reckon to the318is setup and polyflexing as much as possible? Is it worth going for aftermarket springs and shocks like eibach?

[Brianmoooore]

iS rear brakes are identical to the 325i saloon, all cabs, all tourings*, and other small engined saloons with ABS. It's only the low spec. small engined saloons that have rear drums.
With the possible exception of ARB bushes, avoid the poly. stuff altogether. Prevents the rear axle working as it should, and in all other cases, just transmits vibration and noise for no gain.
Eibech springs, along with Bilstein dampers are an excellent choice

*Slightly larger caliper pistons on a touring.

[Speedtouch]

Pre-facelift 320i also had the rear drums.

[salam0506]

Cheers guys, the only thing preventing me from going for the full iS setup is the lack of LSD. Maybe worth getting everything but the actual rear axle off the iS? And what rear axle can I aim for that had the slipper? Because I know the size of the diff carrier is different right?

[Grrrmachine]

If you're going for an M52 swap you don't want a 318iS differential anyway - the ratio would be so short it would be unuseable.

What gearbox are you planning to use?

[jmc330i]

Having just finished a 5 bolt conversion using a combo of e30/z3 and e46 bits I can say the improvement is massive, going up to a 300mm disc with a stock e30 caliper on brackets really improves things, as do the 270mm rears.

Please say you're going to start a thread covering this???

[jmc330i]

Cheers guys, the only thing preventing me from going for the full iS setup is the lack of LSD. Maybe worth getting everything but the actual rear axle off the iS? And what rear axle can I aim for that had the slipper? Because I know the size of the diff carrier is different right?

All E30 rear beams are the same. The diff mounting points are the same regardless of diff case size.

[salam0506]

I was planning on the gearbox from the m20 325i but I haven't really researched into the options that much yet. So if I used the rear axle from iS I can still mount a LSD from a newer an e36 maybe? What would you guys suggest?

[HairyScreech]

Having just finished a 5 bolt conversion using a combo of e30/z3 and e46 bits I can say the improvement is massive, going up to a 300mm disc with a stock e30 caliper on brackets really improves things, as do the 270mm rears.

Please say you're going to start a thread covering this???

Could do.
Didn't take too many pictures though.

MOT is Tuesday, along with poly filled beam bushes and pretty much new everything it drives well.