Comprehensive brake booster thread for S5x and M5x swaps

[martijn76]

-Year and model of your E30: 1991 316i
-Intake manifold used in swap: M52B28
-Brake booster donor car: Porsche 944
-Brake booster part number:
-Brake booster manufacturer and manufacturer PN or identifying marks: Stock Porsche, ATE brand
-Modifications needed: Rod must be cut to size then rethreaded.
-Comments on pedal feel and stopping power: I've swapped the 325i front calipers for Porsche Boxter brakes(968 ), the pedal feels like stock, the stopping power is so much better.

[DesertBMW]

Very compact size and same feel as stock E30 booster, lots of them in junk yards, high quality booster:

-Year and model of your E30: 1989 325i
-Intake manifold used in swap: M54B25
-Brake booster donor car: 1997 VW Jetta. 96-99 all work
-Brake booster part number: W01331598294ATE
-Brake booster manufacturer and manufacturer PN or identifying marks: Stock VW, ATE brand
-Modifications needed: Rod must be cut to size then rethreaded or to me it was more easy to just cut it and weld on the E30 adjustable end to it. Had to mod the rod that pushes master cylinder, I had to extend it, welded 7mm rod so that is at same height as E30. Plastic clip that holds the brake line behind the booster had to be trimmed down.

Hakentt spec modded booster:



Installed:

[Zesty Bonanza]

What is the diameter of the ix or 735i brake booster (part# 34331161486)? I searched Google but it shows a lot of "8 / 9 in" results which doesn't make sense. Does that mean 8" diaphragm and 9" outer diameter?

I searched for 735i brake booster on ebay and found Cardone 53-2934 as a remanufactured part. Does the Cardone 53-2934 fit in an e30 with the S50 engine and manifold?

According to an eBay ad, the Cardone 53-2934 has Diaphragm Diameter: 9.5625". My stock e30 brake booster is about 10" (I haven't measured it accurately; I only held a ruler near the diameter with the master cylinder and hose in the way).

[BergerNJ]

Where are you guys picking up the 944 boosters? pick n pulls? I'd like a rebuilt unit and have heard there is someone on the forums here who does it and sells them at a reasonable price.

I'm also interested in the ix booster but the info on that one seems to be mixed.

[nsxguy7]

universal booster

Nope. That was a dead end. my e32 master cylinder mounting bolt spacing is all off, as are the mount holes in the firewall. I am swapping an M50 into my
E24, I never imagined the clearance for the booster would be so tight. I am determined to dump the accursed hydraboost. Even shaving the fins off the intake, I need a booster just under 8" in diameter. Looks like I need to research the Renault Clio option...

[Massive Lee]

Just wondering if any of the swap guys ever tried to make a universal brake booster work. Most of them are dual diaphragm and 8" or so in diameter. They are all over ebay for $50-75 new. If you search "universal brake booster" they will pop right up. One of the vendors was kind enough to give me all the important dimensions, so I'll get out the micrometer and post my findings..

Does the bolt pattern fit on the firewall? What about the two bolts for th MC?

[nsxguy7]

Universal brake booster?

Just wondering if any of the swap guys ever tried to make a universal brake booster work. Most of them are dual diaphragm and 8" or so in diameter. They are all over ebay for $50-75 new. If you search "universal brake booster" they will pop right up. One of the vendors was kind enough to give me all the important dimensions, so I'll get out the micrometer and post my findings..

[e30rapidic]

I'm using the booster from a 944 turbo and a 7 series master cylinder. Love the combo. Only modification needed was to thread the rod further down.

[deadlyformula]

I just picked up a IX booster. Some people say it is a strait bolt in but my buddy said he had to shave the rod down a bunch. Anyone use the ix booster?

[Massive Lee]

So what's wrong with using the good old 2002 or e21 boosters?

And what about the e23, e24, e28 hydro boosters?

Lee

[Nick_S]

I used my stock booster, didn't move it or anything. I shaved the fins completely smooth on the manifold, and put a small dent in the booster. I have plenty of clearance. I know many wont agree with me and I'm not recommending it necessarily, but after 4 months of use, I have had 0 negative affects. I was on a tight budget. Stock brakes feel completely normal.

[MoparJ]

I rarely post about my build, but I figured I would since my setup is quite a bit different than what has been posted so far. I used the stock booster, but everything surrounding it is different so I thought it might be helpful information...

-Year and model of your E30: 87 325es
-Intake manifold used in swap: m50
-Brake booster donor car: my stock booster
-Brake booster part number: unknown
-Brake booster manufacturer and manufacturer PN or identifying marks: unknown...was painted long ago, but I want to say ATE
-Parts needed: I deleted ABS, and instead of teeing the lines I decided to run a reman non-ABS master from an early model and run new lines. I'm also running a 5-lug setup with e36 m3 front calipers and 318ti rears. All soft lines replaced with SS braided. Stock residual bias valves were retained.
-Modifications needed: I slotted the firewall bolt holes roughly 1/4". No modifications were required as far as the rod, clevis, etc. Manifold was shaved, and driver side motor mount was slightly shimmed for extra insurance, although it might not have been necessary.
-Comments on pedal feel and stopping power: Brakes work great, although the pedal feels a little soft.....with so many variables it will probably take me a while to track the problem down, but at least I can say with certainty that the stock booster is fine.

[mpowerful]

I have the porsche booster. It is the ate version. It came off a 1984 944 non-turbo. The ate version has the proper ten mm rod size. Anyway it feels like stock as mentioned. Clearance is damn tight to the obd1 manifold. Prob about 2-3mm with manifold fins shaved and e34 cylinder mounts spaced up with four washers on the drivers side.

[Noshow20x96]

[QUOTE=NickL;4112785]1987 325is.
M50 obd1
Porsche 944 booster
Stock e30 master
Shaft needs threaded all the way down, threads are same pitch as oem clevis
Felt same as stock.

Did you use the n/a model or turbo model 944 booster?

And does anyone have a booster setup for the s5x motors?

This is really awesome btw thumbs up

[Mistawall]

any other thoughts on this?

-Year and model of your E30: 1987 es
-Intake manifold used in swap: m50
-Brake booster donor car: 1990 VW Jetta 8 valve
-Brake booster part number: (if known)
-Brake booster manufacturer and manufacturer PN or identifying marks: A1 Cardone reman 535730
-Parts needed: no parts needed, stock master cylinder bolts on
-Modifications needed: I had to add a piece of rod between the master piston and booster. No big deal. I had cut the rod to the pedal and thread. It is the correct diameter already.
-Comments on pedal feel and stopping power: I have not driven it extensively, but it stops great.

My comments are: to me there are no other reasons to get any other booster. This things bolts on the stock holes, master bolts on great. I had my fins sanded off, but I don't think it had to be done. Best part, you can get a reman for $83 at autozone, and its a local warehouse stocking item.