Massive brakes rule!!!

[Toms73NovaSS]

Just installed my new brakes from Lee, they are incredible!

Lee includes all the little things in his kit, even teflon tape, and a 1/4 wrench for the bleeding!

Here are some pics:







I needed 6mm spacers up front to clear my AC Snitzers.

Thanks Lee! :pimp:

[blocke]

jealous. I have been drooling over this kit for a while now.

[alexbaby88]

Is this the 280mm kit?

[dinanm3atl]

Front and rear? I bet that is fun :)

[Toms73NovaSS]

300mm x 21mm front

300mm x 32mm rear

[Massive Lee]

Hey buddy. Thanks for the good word. But check the orientation of the discs. They are inversed. When spinning, the discs should act as a turbine, thanks to the directional vanes. The turbine sucks air from the center toward the outside perimeter. Also, the slots are designed to push the pads into the caliper, not "pull them out". But hey, it is a pretty common mistake. You're not the first and won't be the last... ;-)

Also, for everyone's interest. I came to realize that German fine enginering and production capacities sometimes are not to the exact specs we expect. Per exemple, the castings of trailing arms will vary from one unit to the next. Specifically, the caliper's mounting ears are designed to fit very snugly between the trailing arms' mounting ears. I found in many cases, that no filing or grinding is required on either side, but sometimes one side may beg for some "help". Not much. Usually 0.5mm deep on a dime size area. Sometimes none of the trailing arms need help, sometimes both. Go figure.

The bottom face of the upper mount might need filing.

[Brian D]

The bottom face of the upper mount might need filing.

I had to do this on one side of my rear kit, it was a small amount of material removal and the fit was then perfect. The picture above doesn't really show the area as the bracket design (on my kit, anyways) was different. Lee's description of the area is spot on.

I have the race kit front and rear, and I'm also very happy with the fit and performance. I put them on about 4 weeks ago, and drove the car with the stock 21mm (girling) master cylinder for 2 weeks. Now I know what some people say about changing the master cylinder, but I think that once you've changed the hydraulic properties of the front and rear brakes, that you're a bit past that. The pedal travel was a bit long with the stock master, however the brakes functioned correctly and had full capability, including being able to lock up if desired. I wanted a better pedal feel so I switched to the 25 mm E32 master.

I'm very happy with the brakes feel and function now. For the record, I have 1.62" front pistons, 1.25" rear pistons, and the 25mm m/c. I'm using the basic street pads, BP10 material. Front to rear balance feels very good using the stock rear restrictor in my 1991 325i. During hard stops the fronts try to lock up before the rears, and after doing several stops the fronts are notably hotter than the rears. I want to do more scientific tests, but for now I'm happy knowing that the rear will not lock up first. Braking on the street is fantastic, with very good feel and modulation. You don't have to do full-g stops to feel the difference the fixed calipers give.

I haven't had the car back on track yet, probably won't until September or October. I'll update this then.

[Massive Lee]

Hi Brian

The very first production of caliper brackets was as pictured aboved. Then, the following productions included and extra tab. This extra tab allows to cancellate any possible oscillation of the bracket while racers may elect to even tack weld the bottom tab. Were there some oscilation before? Not that I know. But I had the possibility to improve and ditch any theorical oscilation. So why not do it?
Also, you calipers are 1.63" at the front and 1.12" at the rear. This is the same set-up I run on my M3, even with the lighter S14 motor. I drove the set-up on different types of tires as well as a variety of tracks and always found the balance perfect. The car feels very stable on hard braking while I can trail brake all I want.

[Brian D]

Hi Lee! If you remember, I bought the calipers locally here, and I do indeed have 1.25 rear pistons. So I'm a little closer to "the edge" of rear lockup, but so far I haven't felt even a trace of it. I've even done some silly things, like stomping on the brakes in the middle of a turn* to incite lockup, and all was good-the car just tucked in and came to a stop. As mentioned though, I haven't been to a track, so that will be the ultimate test. I plan to sneak up on things very slowly, and if need be, run an adjustable prop valve on the rear. -Edit- I can see the logic of sticking to 1.12 in the rear, and anyone buying that combo would have a very nice setup indeed. -edit-

*in an empty parking lot, not on the road.

And yes, as I mentioned in the wheel fitment thread, a very nice added touch to the rear brackets-I was very impressed to see the thought in that.

[Toms73NovaSS]

Hey buddy. Thanks for the good word. But check the orientation of the discs. They are inversed.

Lee,

I changed them the next day after the pictures were taken. (as a result of my original post in the fitment thread)

Thanks!