Bigger brakes?

Post Mon Sep 11, 2006 9:47 am

Is there any difference in size of pads or discs between a 318i to a 325i?

I work on these cars and own a 320i but dont remember any difference in size however in PPC mag that it is common to swap 318 brakes for 325 items.

Anyway i find the brakes on my car to be a little ineficient compared to todays standards and would like to upgrade. I have considered EBC pads n ATE power discs but is there a better option?

Thanks fellas any info muchly appreciated as always.

Post Mon Sep 11, 2006 11:56 am

ebc discs with redstuff ceramic pads work great on my set up

Post Mon Sep 11, 2006 12:15 pm

got powerdiscs and can reccomend them

Post Mon Sep 11, 2006 3:48 pm

WerkdE30 wrote:Is there any difference in size of pads or discs between a 318i to a 325i?

I work on these cars and own a 320i but dont remember any difference in size however in PPC mag that it is common to swap 318 brakes for 325 items.

Anyway i find the brakes on my car to be a little ineficient compared to todays standards and would like to upgrade. I have considered EBC pads n ATE power discs but is there a better option?

Thanks fellas any info muchly appreciated as always.

A standard 318 has a solid, smaller disc than a standard 325.
Cabs and tourers had the larger ventilated discs as standard, aswell as any car with ABS

Post Mon Sep 11, 2006 3:49 pm

DaveD wrote:got powerdiscs and can reccomend them

with pagid fast road pads they squal like dogs

Post Mon Sep 11, 2006 4:06 pm

318-is wrote:
DaveD wrote:got powerdiscs and can reccomend them
with pagid fast road pads they squal like dogs

Ive got Jurid pads on my drilled discs. They were squealing like a bastard every time I touched the pedal, so took them out today to rub the corners off and noticed every one had cracked down the centre! They also create a stupid amount of dust, after 2 or 3 days my wheels need washing again and the pads dont seem to have hardly worn down after 3,000 miles. The braking isnt exeptional either.

Im not impressed, are'nt these supposed to be OE? Anyway ive ordered some from BMW so see what they supply me with

Post Mon Sep 11, 2006 4:10 pm

using mintex,,,no dogs...(or cats) on my cab

Post Mon Sep 11, 2006 4:11 pm

DanThe wrote:
318-is wrote:
DaveD wrote:got powerdiscs and can reccomend them
with pagid fast road pads they squal like dogs
Ive got Jurid pads on my drilled discs. They were squealing like a bastard every time I touched the pedal, so took them out today to rub the corners off and noticed every one had cracked down the centre! They also create a stupid amount of dust, after 2 or 3 days my wheels need washing again and the pads dont seem to have hardly worn down after 3,000 miles. The braking isnt exeptional either.

Im not impressed, are'nt these supposed to be OE? Anyway ive ordered some from BMW so see what they supply me with

i only put my ATEs on the the other day so i hope to bloody god they are not cracked already. what pads are you using?

Post Mon Sep 11, 2006 4:16 pm

see above ...forgotten which no though!

Post Wed Sep 13, 2006 8:41 am

sorry thanks for all the comments but you guys have missed the point. My problem is not brake fade which slotted/cross drilled discs and high temp pads will reduce. its that they are weak brakes. modern cars i drive with hard braking feel like your about to go through the windscreen. this is what im after some serious stopping power not just prolonged poor braking that i have now.

I think the only way to go is a big brake kit i was hoping that someone would come out with a model of volvo to tax the four pots off and bolt strait on or 7 series or sumthing of the like but im fairly sure any of these would require custom mounting plates which seem like a lot of hassle. anyway thanks guys.

"ebc discs with redstuff ceramic pads work great on my set up"

Im sure once hot these would work well but in my daily driver i dont think id be getting up to the operating temp of ebc red's. Feel free to correct me if i am wrong.

Post Wed Sep 13, 2006 9:17 am

If your brakes need improving the first thing id do is change the fluid and flexi hoses, maybe for some braided hoses

HTH

Post Wed Sep 13, 2006 10:16 am

I thought the same as you , but i'm now running the ATE power discs, ferodo pads and Castrol SRF fluid and would highly recommend them!!!! Best braking i've had on any of my E30's so far!!
Had the discs and pads first (and noticed a big improvement) and the fluid a couple of weeks later - and i can confirm that changing the old standard fluid for the new SRF made a big difference on its own!!!!

Not really heard any good feedback on braided hoses on E30's so i didn't bother with them!!!
Also had a few guys mention to me that drilled discs have been known to crack if used hard!

If you still want to go straight for something bigger, there's a site, something like 330mm.de (can't find it now though - i'm sure someone will know it!) and the guys done a conversion using audi tt brakes i think!! Not sure what size wheels you need, but they look cool!!

Post Wed Sep 13, 2006 11:25 am

Try swapping your standard E30 brake servo to the tandem 325iX servo. Much better clamping force.

Post Wed Sep 13, 2006 3:28 pm

There is the set up on www.300mm.de which is the set up I have and there is this set up >> http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ic&t=34867

What size wheels have you got ?

Post Wed Sep 13, 2006 6:26 pm

Did you measure those adapters Ed?

Post Wed Sep 13, 2006 7:45 pm

Was it not you I sent them to

If you still want them I will have to measure them again but it will be a pain as they are on the car.

Post Wed Sep 13, 2006 7:52 pm

alexbaby88 wrote:Try swapping your standard E30 brake servo to the tandem 325iX servo. Much better clamping force.

i was wondering about this... is it a bolt on swap? is the diameter any larger than the normal E30 servo?

Post Wed Sep 13, 2006 8:31 pm

ed325i wrote:Was it not you I sent them to
If you still want them I will have to measure them again but it will be a pain as they are on the car.

No mate, id forgot about it myself, its only recently ive thought about it as ive managed to get hold of some 750 calipers.
If you can get some measurments that will be great, but whenevers good for you mate, its not urgent

Post Fri Sep 15, 2006 12:42 pm

My fluid is brand new castrol stuff and it doesnt boil so no need to change that.

Im runnin standard 14inch alloys.

By "servo" you mean master cylinder right? 325ix is the 4wd? we didnt get those here so that wont be easy to find but sounds interesting i have seen 5 series masters for sale and am told that these are a good bolt on upgrade.

Anyway i think i need to stop messing around and either sell my e30 (which is starting to bore me). Orrrrrr sell my project car and use the money to fund putting a toyota supra 2jz motor in. then i will have no choice other than to go a nice big brembo kit or sumthing.

I have seen the Audi conversion and it does look decent but audi brakes arent cheap nor really all that great from the ones i have driven. i have not driven a TT tho. and theres a lot of work plus i dont want 5 stud discs that are re-drilled.

i just dont know anymore ... the e30 has potential as a nice sleeper but im gettin smoked at the lights by all sorts of rice... maybe its time to move on to something more potent. Something with a GTS-T or GTR badge on the grill...

Post Fri Sep 15, 2006 1:10 pm

audi brakes arent cheap nor really all that great from the ones i have driven.

You only use the audi discs the rest is BMW. The cailpers are from 750 so they more than up to stopping a e30.