E21 front brake upgrades

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Blackadder
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Post by Blackadder »

Quick question:

Is there a visible difference between the front calipers of a 4 cil, and a 6 cil 323?

How can I see the difference, without comparing? (is there anything I can check? measurements, .....)


Greetz.


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J.K.jr.bad.
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Post by J.K.jr.bad. »

Of course there is as 323 used vented discs which are thicker.
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e-einundzwanzig
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Post by e-einundzwanzig »

do you need wheelspacers with the volvo callipers? will it not hit the inside of the wheel?

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Post by Mihajlo »

I know for sure that you don't need spacers for BBS Mahle...

It's tight, but it fits...
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Post by J.K.jr.bad. »

No spacers needed. Only prepare to have aloys at least 15" size. Or 14" steel version. Other don't fit.
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cdavie2002
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Post by cdavie2002 »

Hi All

Im planning on doing the volvo caliper upgrade.

The rears are currently drums, do i need to change them out at the same time or can i do it at a later date?

Need advice also on the proportioning valve, does that need changed out aswell? And to what ratio?

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Post by phasma »

This year I made a front and rear caliper conversion set from Mitsubishi Evolution 9. Realy huge brakes - front=330mm vented, rear 300mm vented. If anybody interested in "how to..", you're welcome to PM.
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Wondermike
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Post by Wondermike »

Of course we are interested.

Pics please!!
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--ALPINA--
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Post by --ALPINA-- »

phasma wrote:This year I made a front and rear caliper conversion set from Mitsubishi Evolution 9. Realy huge brakes - front=330mm vented, rear 300mm vented. If anybody interested in "how to..", you're welcome to PM.
well it would be really nice to see some quality pix of the conversion mate!! give us some idea of whats involved and whats used!! also what about the brake master cylinder setup.. was the standard one used??


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Re: E21 brake upgrade

Post by h35-24 »

I'm new to modding e21's. I mainly tinker with my e30's. But I'm slowly gathering som intel on how to build an e21 with a M30 engine. Right now I'm looking at brakes and from what I can read in this thread, this isn't much of an upgrade, swap a 2 piston caliper for a 4 piston. That doesn't really spell "upgrade" in my book, more of bragging rights.

I bought an old Rally racing magazine of ebay were Hartge's 35i is reviewed and they just upgrade the pads to some more aggresive ones, but then TüV also required them to lower horsepower to 208 in stead of the 218 the stock M30B35 produces, probably because of the small brakes.

Alpina's B6 has bigger roters and calipers. Calipers are probably special made for Alpina. And for all your e21 owners out there, if you can get at set of calipers, the rotors are still made, as you can see here: http://www.blackdiamondperformance.com/ ... alpina.htm

Another option is the 5 stud conversion. The e12 frontwheelhub is a straight bolt-on swap. Meaning 280x25 rotors from a 535i or even e28 M5 300x30 mm rotors are possible, just need a caliper. In the back the entire trailing arm of the e12 should be used (I think, anyone who knows please correct me) requiring one of the mounting brackets to be cut of and moved on the rearaxle carrier.

There was a complete 5 stud conversion on ebay about 6-10 months ago, did anyone in here buy this?

I was going to start a new thread, but thought I'd keep this one going as the subject is the same.

O and finally just a quick question: M30 engine mounts for e21, they have been made and sold on ebay and by tino that runs www.e30.de but I can't find them anywhere now DOO!. Anyone know if they're still available, or have a set they are willing to sell?
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Re: E21 brake upgrade

Post by Jason_323i »

This a thread from the past

First the 4 pot is an upgrde as it increases the the piston area and hence clamping force

The b6 did not have bigger disks and the ones sold by blackdaimond are e30 spec

The e12 front hubs fit but e24/28/34 disks have a larger centre bore

E12 rear arms are no where near to fitting a e21 rear axle, you need to swap the hole subframe

Best place to try for m30 engine mounts is Richard at fritz bits

And if you want five stuf I have set of e12 front hubs and modified rear subframe

Jason
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Re: E21 brake upgrade

Post by Rav320uk »

Jason,
Keri has an E21 big brake set up atm the mo, as far as I know it's brake discs and WMS calipers to suit.
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Jason_323i
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Re: E21 brake upgrade

Post by Jason_323i »

Rav yeah me kerri had a few PM's about the best OEM disks to modify, and the e30 rear setup he has should also work on the e21


Jason
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Re: E21 brake upgrade

Post by Rav320uk »

They're ready now, as i just had a PM off him today.
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h35-24
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Re: E21 brake upgrade

Post by h35-24 »

Jason_323i wrote:This a thread from the past

First the 4 pot is an upgrde as it increases the the piston area and hence clamping force

The b6 did not have bigger disks and the ones sold by blackdaimond are e30 spec

The e12 front hubs fit but e24/28/34 disks have a larger centre bore

E12 rear arms are no where near to fitting a e21 rear axle, you need to swap the hole subframe

Best place to try for m30 engine mounts is Richard at fritz bits

And if you want five stuf I have set of e12 front hubs and modified rear subframe

Jason
Thanks for shedding some light on things. I'd like a snapshot of that rear subframe if you have the chance.

I don't know how you conclude that an Alpina B6 made in 1978/6 is an E30, the E30 didn't start production until 1982/9. So in my book KBD 066 and 146 has to be for an E21. The KBD 144 is for the E30 version of the B6, so here you are correct.

I'm not particularly keen on the 5 stud conversion, only in case I'd get to use standard BMW wear parts, like disc's and pads. Being dependendt on Black Diamond and Alpina to continue the supply of a part that is rarely used is risky and pricy not my cup of tee.
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