Upgrading brake setup

[Platanos]

I have been reading alot of good threads on brakes and would like some help gathering information to do an upgrade.

My brake sensor light has been on for almost a month now and I'm starting to feel that my brake pads are wearing thin. I have in my garage a set of 32x front calipers and rotors. I would like to install these parts and some stainless steel brake lines. Most of you know that I have never worked on any type of car untill I got my ti. Here are some questions:

I know there is a how to on replacing brake pads but what about replacing the calipers and rotors? I like step by step:redface:

Are all E36 pads interchangable? How do I tell if I have 325 or 328 calipers?

Is there a how to swap out brake lines write up?

I was going to purchase everything from Understeer:

Hawk HPS Brake Pads
UUC Stainless Steel Brake Lines

What else do I need to buy to do this job? Am I missing any little parts or special tools?

Thanks for all your help!

[pdxmotorhead]

The standard e36-series service manual shows all the steps, its not hard, most of it makes sense if you pay attention to what your doing, and NEVER take both the right and left assemblies apart at the same time, that way you have an example to look at when re-assembling stuff. Other than size all teh parts come off and go back on the same way... If I recall one of the online places has a CD showing this on video for > 50 bucks. It details the differences in the models and pads etc supposedly to assist in brake upgrades...

Good Luck
Dave

[Mallard]

for CHEAP! big brake setups, go for

e46 330 brake discs
e46 330 brake calipers
e46 brake carriers

e36 master and slave brake cylinders

braided hoses
5.1 dot fluid

[1996 328ti]

I
Are all E36 pads interchangable? How do I tell if I have 325 or 328 calipers? There are the same calipers. Pads are the same except for the M3.

[cev12]

for CHEAP! big brake setups, go for

e46 330 brake discs
e46 330 brake calipers
e46 brake carriers

e36 master and slave brake cylinders

braided hoses
5.1 dot fluid

Are the E46 rotors and calipers direct bolt ons or do they require modifications? Thanks

[1996 328ti]

Bolt in. Just need to make sure your wheels clear them.

[cali-ti]

as long as you get the carriers :)

[cev12]

Does it matter what year 330 or 318ti?

[cev12]

Where can I get the rotors, calipers and carriers for cheap? I checked realoem.com and for all that it costs $500.

[cali-ti]

calipers and carriers (usually sold together): salvage yards or ebay
rotors and pads: depends on whether you want stock bmw rotors/pads or something aftermarket

[teetime4one]

i also want to go with the e46 set-up this next year.
i just put new pads on my car last month...so to do it now would be a waste.

[cali-ti]

which model e46? 330 i believe requires 17" (same with e36 m3 which is why i haven't installed mine yet - have to buy larger rims first).

[Bluebimma]

E46 330 rims require 17s, m3 brakes dont. You can get certain 16s on there with an offset of 35mm and also depends on the style of the rim.

EDIT: Some 16s can be fit to both the 330 and the e36 m3. The issue is the caliper. One way to overcome this problem is a spacer or lower offset rim. Has been noted, you can shave a little off the e36 m3 caliper to run 15s as well.

[1996 328ti]

I would look at http://www.zionsvilleautosport.com/store/shop.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=6134&Category_Code=CKB
although I can't figure out which one.
I didn't know there were so many choices.

[rikdee]

I would look at http://www.zionsvilleautosport.com/store/shop.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=6134&Category_Code=CKB
although I can't figure out which one.
I didn't know there were so many choices.


I just bought the Zionsville E36 +1 fronts. Very pleased with quality and service from the company. Installation was smooth, no issues.

_Rick

[cev12]

How are the Zionsville brakes compared to stock?

[mohaughn]

They are original BMW equipment floating calipers... So you don't get the benefit of an aftermarket style non-floating multi-piston caliper... But, I think BMWs have some of the best stock brakes on non-super cars. For a street car, or light track, auto-x use you probably can't beat the performance/money payback.

[JedzE36/5]

i have the Zionsville 300mm vented BBK kit on my ti. after researching the diameters i found out that the one i have is from an E46 328i (the 3.0L Z3 also has 300mm vented rotors). mine fit perfectly with the added width of the vented rotors. i am running 35mm offset 18" wheels. everything came brand spankin' new except the calipers. they were rebuilt and cleaned very nicely however.

anyone have any suggestions for the rears? i know MCoupe is an option but are there any other vented/larger options for the ti?

[mohaughn]

Nope. Not without changing the rear subframe, trailing arms, hubs and then using the m-coupe brakes. Finding a complete rear subframe from an m-coupe is near impossible. If I ever see one wrecked on the side of the road I'm going to follow the tow truck to the wrecking yard and stake my claim immediately.

With a stock bias the rear brakes on the Ti are only doing about 30% of the braking load, so even in track conditions they don't overheat.

[atlanta318ti]

I finally got my Christmas present delivered today. Got a full set of front ///M brakes with Hub/Bearing, Spindle, ABS sensors, pads, rotors, etc... Ready to bolt right up. And I also got the rear calipers and pads from the ///M roadster. I'm still looking for the subframe from the coupe so that's planned for much later. The ///M roadster rear brakes are the same as the ///M coupe (I checked realoem).

Everything came from a sacked roadster with 30k miles. I swear it all looks nearly brand new (aside from the tarnish on the rotors). Plus, I got a killer deal (less than $300 for everything including shipping from California to Georgia).

I've been planning this for a while. Now I've got new struts, Meyle Control arms, bushings (pre-mounted), etc..., so I'll upgrade everything up front in one shot. I still need to pick up the strut mounts, though. While I have everything off up front, can anyone suggest anything else I might want to swap out preventatively?

Some pics below of one of the front...

[dano670]

If you do find some E36 m3 brakes, the clearance is tight with 17s. It was said that certain 16s would fit and even some 15s (with caliper modification) would fit. I am not saying they won't fit, but it will be close.

Here is the clearance with 17 Contours:

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f77/dano670/FransCruise1007-1.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f77/dano670/FransCruise1009-1.jpg

[Marv17]

dang. thats pretty close there man. have any far away pics to see it as a whole?

[atlanta318ti]

Thanks for the pics. I've also got 17s. Although it's cozy, it looks like there's decent clearance there, so that's good to know.

I've seen some applications where it's crazy tight, especially with certain BBKs on 17's like the UUC or WildWood. http://www.uucmotorwerks.com/images/UBBK355_17.jpg Those are 355 rotors under 17's...jeez.

[dano670]

Farther away without the penny.

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f77/dano670/FransCruise1.jpg

[aznlonewolf135]

...I know that the 330's will...but will the e46 me brakes bolt on as well?

[tiFreak]

e46 me

I assume you mean M3?

[Mallard]

330 = 315mm with calipers and carriers

M3 E46 and facelift e46 325 cabrios = 325mm but i have no info for swaps onlegs carriers and calipers

M3 Csl = 345mm

[mohaughn]

The E46 M3 rotors fit without a problem on the front... The carriers however do not just bolt up. The kingpin and carrier are different on the E46 M3.

[zboot]

...

[aznlonewolf135]

I've already gone with e46 330 brakes but assume I wanted two install e46 m3 brakes what else would I have to do...or is it even possible...