5 Stud Swap - Brake Options?

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AlexD911
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Post Thu Jan 06, 2022 11:50 am

Hi guys,

I have read the 5 Stud info on the Wiki a couple of times and also tried to find what im looking for online, but there is sooooo many conflicting pieces of information across the various forums. Basically i have a 5 Stud Swap for my E30 that consists of:

E36 M3 Evo Front Hubs & LCA's
318ti Compact Rear Beam, Hubs etc.

I am trying to find out what my brake options truly are, i know on the front i can use the M3 Brakes, but they are mega money and i was curious if i can use something else. I had read in a few places about using E46 330i/d Brakes? Are these a direct fit or are adapters needed?

What are the best options for the Rear? Do i need to stick with the ti Brakes i have or can i use something beefier?

Thanks

Alex
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Blanca
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Post Thu Jan 06, 2022 12:41 pm

Just go for Wilwood. best bang for the buck
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flybynite
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Post Thu Jan 06, 2022 2:02 pm

AlexD911 wrote:
Thu Jan 06, 2022 11:50 am
I have read the 5 Stud info on the Wiki a couple of times and also tried to find what im looking for online, but there is sooooo many conflicting pieces of information across the various forums. Basically i have a 5 Stud Swap for my E30 that consists of:
E36 M3 Evo Front Hubs & LCA's
318ti Compact Rear Beam, Hubs etc.
I am trying to find out what my brake options truly are, i know on the front i can use the M3 Brakes, but they are mega money and i was curious if i can use something else. I had read in a few places about using E46 330i/d Brakes? Are these a direct fit or are adapters needed?
What are the best options for the Rear? Do i need to stick with the ti Brakes i have or can i use something beefier?
First the rears, E46/E36 328i rears are the biggest OEM as they will do the E30 handbrake. You can run E36 M3 calipers or the same ones without the 'M' stripes from many others on those disks. This works with Z4 hubs

If you have all the front E36 M3 evo bits then I would run the same brakes, calipers are around second hand You can then run the floating M3 disks that are not that expensive if you use something like ATE replacements. You will need 17" wheels to clear though.

Have a look at SRS Concept as they do all the adapters and have part numbers.
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AlexD911
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Post Fri Jan 07, 2022 10:38 am

Thank you guys exactly what i needed

Cheers

Alex
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DanThe
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Post Fri Jan 07, 2022 2:05 pm

E46 330i front brakes are what you want, they are larger than E36 M3, its a very common upgrade for E36 track day cars and also race cars.
A customer is currently fitting these 330i discs to his 2002 that is using E36 front legs, they have had a few mm taken off but they are going under 15" wheels :D
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flybynite
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Post Fri Jan 07, 2022 5:31 pm

DanThe wrote:
Fri Jan 07, 2022 2:05 pm
E46 330i front brakes are what you want, they are larger than E36 M3, its a very common upgrade for E36 track day cars and also race cars.
A customer is currently fitting these 330i discs to his 2002 that is using E36 front legs, they have had a few mm taken off but they are going under 15" wheels :D
If you have E36 M3 evo legs do the E46 330i calipers bolt strait on? Might look at them as an alternative if I run 16" wheels as I will still have them off the donor (if I don't sell it whole as prices seem to be going up on them :roll: )
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AlexD911
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Post Wed Jan 12, 2022 12:35 pm

flybynite wrote:
Fri Jan 07, 2022 5:31 pm
DanThe wrote:
Fri Jan 07, 2022 2:05 pm
E46 330i front brakes are what you want, they are larger than E36 M3, its a very common upgrade for E36 track day cars and also race cars.
A customer is currently fitting these 330i discs to his 2002 that is using E36 front legs, they have had a few mm taken off but they are going under 15" wheels :D
If you have E36 M3 evo legs do the E46 330i calipers bolt strait on? Might look at them as an alternative if I run 16" wheels as I will still have them off the donor (if I don't sell it whole as prices seem to be going up on them :roll: )
Id like to know this too.

On a separate note, whats the deal with Rear Anti Roll Bars on an E30 with a Compact Rear Beam? Do i just get a Compact one or an E30?

thanks

Alex
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DanThe
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Post Wed Jan 12, 2022 7:49 pm

If you space the carrier out about 1/4 inch on the hub yes

The compact rear beam is exactly the same as an E30 and a Z3, as are the basic pressing of the trailing arms, so yes you would use E30 ARB parts
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AlexD911
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Post Thu Jan 13, 2022 10:14 am

DanThe wrote:
Wed Jan 12, 2022 7:49 pm
If you space the carrier out about 1/4 inch on the hub yes

The compact rear beam is exactly the same as an E30 and a Z3, as are the basic pressing of the trailing arms, so yes you would use E30 ARB parts
Thanks very much for the info really appreciate it.

Alex
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