Euro S50 and Brake Boosters

[Mike B.]

I am getting ready to install a Euro 3.2 and have heard that the standard swap brake boosters (iX, 320i, and 2002) won't clear the intake for the Euro engine in their stock locations.

AKG Motorsports relocates the brake booster to the drivers side headlight area, but I'm not sure how they do this without some serious fabbing going on. I really don't want to go this direction.

I have also heard that the booster from a Geo Metro will work. Has anybody gone this route? This is what Azevedo Motorsports uses and it seems to work well (see below). Anybody recognize the M/C?









Any Euro's out there, and what boosters are you using??

[SchnellerVert]

Why don't you use a remote set up like the E34 530's and 540's had. Oh pics don't work.

What is the size of the mc that a Geo Metro uses? It can't be that big.

[Jason89i]

Why don't you use a remote set up like the E34 530's and 540's had. Oh pics don't work. .

agreed. 540 remote setup. i think thats what andy used.

jason

[1990m3]

Can't you find a setup that keep the weight of the booster back behind the front axle? Azevedo in NJ uses the Geo Metro booster with good success and does a ton of euro swaps.

[SchnellerVert]

Ok, do you honestly want a Geo Metro brake booster controling your car's fate?

I trust BMW or say even Tilton. There are options you could enquire with the UK guys as they have a bitch to deal with due to the wrong side of the road setup.

540 setup are cheap. I bought a whole linakage and master setup for under 70 used. Granted I do't trust the master but the booster sure. Would either rebuild the master prior or purchase a new one.

[Mike B.]

The pics are fixed.

Is the 540 remote setup bolt-in?

[trent]

I went boosterless. Pretty sweet setup I Think.

[Mike B.]

Apparently it is a stock 13/16th (20.6mm) Geo Metro Raybestos M/C - http://info.rockauto.com/Raybestos/D...P01,brand=5450

Trent, what size M/C did you go with? I wouldn't mind going in that direction, my Porsche had them, but it real important to size the M/C properly to get good pedal feel. What calipers are you running?

[trent]

Apparently it is a stock 13/16th (20.6mm) Geo Metro Raybestos M/C - http://info.rockauto.com/Raybestos/D...P01,brand=5450

Trent, what size M/C did you go with? I wouldn't mind going in that direction, my Porsche had them, but it real important to size the M/C properly to get good pedal feel. What calipers are you running?

I am running a 22MM mastercyl, from an 88/89 325i. The more important idea though is to modify the brake pedal. The stock ratio is 4:1. I moved the pickup point up, to about 6.25/6.5:1. The master cylinder is not setup for pushing rear drums, which I still have on the car. The pedal feel now is decent (only due to rear drums), and will be improved when I switch to a Wilwood caliper up front and some sort of caliper in the rear. I have the front setup planned, and i believe I will just use stock disks for now.

[1990m3]

Ok, do you honestly want a Geo Metro brake booster controling your car's fate?

I'm not saying that's what I WANT I'm just relaying that it has been successful for other people. I'm sure there are other options. I was able to use an e21 booster when I did my swap, I also tried to focus on keeping as much weight as far behind the axle as possible. Some tuners use the remote 540 booster on a v8 swap because that motor sits much closer to the firewall and there is simply no room there. i personally think the remote booster is big and cumbrersome in the engine bay, but functional

[SchnellerVert]

Ah you were talking about the booster, Now that pics are up I understand.

There are alternatives as Trent mentioned. Does the Metro Booster offer enough vacuum?

[Mike B.]

I am running a 22MM mastercyl, from an 88/89 325i. The more important idea though is to modify the brake pedal. The stock ratio is 4:1. I moved the pickup point up, to about 6.25/6.5:1. The master cylinder is not setup for pushing rear drums, which I still have on the car. The pedal feel now is decent (only due to rear drums), and will be improved when I switch to a Wilwood caliper up front and some sort of caliper in the rear. I have the front setup planned, and i believe I will just use stock disks for now.

Nice! How about a step-by-step on how you accomplished this. Did you fab the M/C mount, or did you find a stock BMW part that works? I looks fabbed in the picture.

[Mike B.]

I'm not saying that's what I WANT I'm just relaying that it has been successful for other people. I'm sure there are other options. I was able to use an e21 booster when I did my swap, I also tried to focus on keeping as much weight as far behind the axle as possible. Some tuners use the remote 540 booster on a v8 swap because that motor sits much closer to the firewall and there is simply no room there. i personally think the remote booster is big and cumbrersome in the engine bay, but functional

I agree, I'm trying to keep the engine bay as clean as possible. The 540 setup looks like it adds a lot parts to the bay that I'll have to work around.

I don't think the E21 booster will fit with the Euro 3.2, although this setup worked well on my M50 swap.

[trent]

Nice! How about a step-by-step on how you accomplished this. Did you fab the M/C mount, or did you find a stock BMW part that works? I looks fabbed in the picture.

It was all custom built. Uses a threaded rod with a rod end even to adjust the pedal. It also relocates the master cyl up the correct amount for the pedal rod so that it will not sit at an angle and lose leverage. You gotta just make it yourself per your application.

[TheRex]

Can we talk more about this Metro brake booster? I've got an E21 booster, but I've also got a half million Metros, and I just enjoy having options. Is there any modification involved? Or can someone point me to someone else who's done this? I hadn't heard about it until now, can someone shed some light?