E28 535i Hub assembly swap to get 5 stud

[Massive Lee]

No. No. No.

On the e30 M3, the much cheaper (pricewise) e28 hub/bearing is a direct replacement and only the ABS ring needs to be swapped, which is a 10 minute job. Many M3 owners do it. Still uses stock M3 brake components. I always bring a spare e28 hub to the track, with the ring already removed.

Racers may use an e28 hub/bearing on a regular e30 strut by sleeving the spindle. My friend's e30 with 4.4 V8 has ran that configuration for more than 8 years.

[MR_SAZ]

this is so interesting.....we need BMAUTO to shed more light on this...
i have both struts side by side....not that much different...ir u run a coilover setup, using coilover sleeves the length isnt an issue...

very very interesting hope we get answers guys!

good luck

sash

[2002maniac]

lol, please do.

lol, well I just picked up a new car for my wife so money may be a bit tight for a while. Probably wont be any progress for a while :(

[xLibelle]

Please hurry :)

lol, please do.

[Rocla]

yeah, I picked up an e28 strut last week. Looks promising. I'll update when I get around to ordering the M3 knuckle.

Please hurry :)

[2002maniac]

any progress on this 2002maniac

yeah, I picked up an e28 strut last week. Looks promising. I'll update when I get around to ordering the M3 knuckle.

[twenty318is]

Shortening the strut would be a must. I dont see why the position of the wheel would be moved though. The spacers pictured are just to improve geometry. I would probably just cut a new slot in the strut housing to match the E30M3 knuckle (I love working in a machine shop ;P).

You certainly could switch them left/right but I dont think it would be necessary.

I absolutely love the fact that I could go to the pick n pull and get E28 struts with hubs, rotors, and calipers for next to nothing.

if I didnt have tuition due this week I'd order a set of knuckles right away...

any progress on this 2002maniac

[Rocla]

You certainly could switch them left/right but I dont think it would be necessary.

I think it would, caliper would most likely interfere the tierod end.

[xLibelle]

m3 strut has spindle and brake at rear of shock while the e28 is mirrored exactly. you can almost see it in those pics and the ETK diagrams are both of the left side assemblies

[2002maniac]

Shortening the strut would be a must. I dont see why the position of the wheel would be moved though. The spacers pictured are just to improve geometry. I would probably just cut a new slot in the strut housing to match the E30M3 knuckle (I love working in a machine shop ;P).

You certainly could switch them left/right but I dont think it would be necessary.

I absolutely love the fact that I could go to the pick n pull and get E28 struts with hubs, rotors, and calipers for next to nothing.

if I didnt have tuition due this week I'd order a set of knuckles right away...

[PiercedE30]

2002maniac: You would definitely have to have a proficient welder do the work, but I could definitely see how one would go about adding another spot for a bolt on there now. You would also need to run the left side on the right side and vice versus. Hell, if you got the parts from a 535 you could even use the brake calipers.

[xLibelle]

holy crap, that would move the wheel forward over an inch!
cool idea, i just dont know if this would be feasible


hmmmmm.... we need some more measurments!!

if you were cutting off the spring perch to modify for 2.5 dia springs... you *could* swap the left and right sides and manufacture an adapter block as pictured above, but to accomodate the changed groove location. :)

man, the strut tube is so long, you'd HAVE to modify it or you ride like a 4x4 or on bumps (just a guess by the looks of them)

[2002maniac]

here's a closeup I found of the bottom of the e28 housing. I think welding a gusseted triangular piece of plate steel with a tapped 8mm hole to the corner would be plenty strong.

[2002maniac]

No, you are not hearing what I have said. E28 strut housings do not have the same bolt pattern on the bottom of the housing. They use a 3 bolt mounting system instead of a 4 bolt system.

yes, but they appear to be on the same pattern (rocla claims to have measured it). I'm going to get my hands on these parts to be sure, but I think you could just use three out of the four holes or machine the bottom E28 housing for a 4th hole.

I already have big brakes and 8" wide wheels for the 4-lug but I'm unhappy with wear and tear on the wheel bearings. This could be a great low-buck solution.

E30M3


E28

[PiercedE30]

No, you are not hearing what I have said. E28 strut housings do not have the same bolt pattern on the bottom of the housing. They use a 3 bolt mounting system instead of a 4 bolt system.