Big brakes??

matt.m3 wrote: After some advice, Thinking about buying big brakes for my E30 M3 cab. I Want to use an Ap set up but they don't sell a brake kit for the M3. I've found some companies that do a bespoke kit for around £1300 (4 pot) to £1800 (6 pot) but I can get a large dicount from AP on the caliper and discs through my company also I'm skilled engineer working for an F1 company so machining my own bells and brakets is no prob. What I need is some technical info (dimensions) on the parts required. Any help would be appreciated as it would save me the best part of a grand. Cheers Matt.

Hey Matt - if you were ever willing to do this sort of thing then I'm sure there a few members who'd be interesting in you fabricating sets ups for us track loons.. Rgds

Guys

To fill fill you in, BG developements were the first company I spoke to due to them being local. The kit that they offer is a basic 4-pot AP caliper with blank mounting lugs that they machine to suit the M3 (not radial mounted) therefore they only can offer 304mm dia discs. This kit weighs in around £1275 inc vat with does not include hard anodised bells (optional ££) and braided hoses are also extra!!!  that was the reason I am looking doing my own.

I have offerd Bob Green (owner of BG) the use my car as a working project and I'll do all the machining, 3D modelling and CNC programming in return for help from BG on the basic design concept.

So hopfully we can strike a deal and everyone will benefit.

I'll update as soon as I get some feedback from Bob.

HiSpec are a competitor to willwood and i'd recommend them.  I have some 4 pots on my track day 205 and they are amazing.  They seem to do an E30 M3 kit also.  Ive had APs on my Scooby in the past, i think in the future i'd save myself some cash and get some nice gold adonised Hispec's instead

you've got to admit this is a sexy looking caliper  

cheers

sean

Jonny,

Big discs are the way to go, thats why I'm embarking on this adventure. because I'm running 18's my set-up is going to be 342mm dia discs 32mm wide with six pot calipers with four pots at the rear.

Sean the Hi-specs look the biz. If the deal with BG doesn't come off I'll look at what they have to offer.

 

Adwo,

Does your brembo set-up have solid discs or two piece? I'd be intrested in some info on your wilwoods, what was the caliper offset? if the disc is wider then why wasn't the offset from the mounting point to the centre line of the caliper larger to accommodate this? did they miss-sell you an inappropriate brake kit?

 

I'm with you on that, but if we weren't OTT then we would all be driving Corsa's with Lexus rear lights!

No seriously the only reason is because it won't cost me much more to go six pots and the next stage is to slap a supercharger on her so I want to make sure the brakes are well up to the job. Plus I'm all or nothing thats why I had my first BM at 18, twelve years later and the passion is still in my blood!!!!!!

Tell me if I'm wrong????

I am kind of with Uwe on this. Biggest is not always best. I am sure with 18"s you can fit monster brakes, but you have already added a shed load of weight with those wheels, monster brakes add even more unsprung weight that your suspension now has to deal with. In conjunction with uneven road surfaces, your springs and shocks are going to be working double-time to keep that mass under control. Surely the best approach is the smallest brake setup you can fit, that provides sufficient braking for the car.

I have said this before, the stock setup on the e30 M3 is pretty good in terms of stopping power. However, the disk design and setup is pants, which is why we all have garages full of trashed disks. Therefore, I would have thought a lightweight setup (AP, Wilwood, Hi-Spec) with 2 piece disks and 4 pot calipers would suffice for most. Not only by improving the braking and longevity of the components but also by reducing un-sprung weight and providing better ride and suspension effect.

matt.m3 wrote: Adwo, Does your brembo set-up have solid discs or two piece? I'd be intrested in some info on your wilwoods, what was the caliper offset? if the disc is wider then why wasn't the offset from the mounting point to the centre line of the caliper larger to accommodate this? did they miss-sell you an inappropriate brake kit?

Matt,

It's Bremsport not Brembo. Have a look at the pics at:

http://www.xs4all.nl/~adwo/Evo%202/DSC00198.JPG

Just browse the directory for more pics.. Regarding the Wilwood set up, it uses the giant GN III calipers and 330mm x 35mm discs. I test fitted them but there is not enough clearance.

KK motorsports in Germany sell steering control arms with a different pick up point attached to the strut housing. You need to buy a set of those to clear all suspension points..

HTH,

Adwo