Mini BBK is done!

[Jean]

Hi Jean.

The strut housing is stock. I only had to cut a small tab. That tab was used to retain the heat shield which must be removed anyway. The stainless steel bracket is custom though.

Lee

Cool! If I am reading this right, do we get an option on pistons or does a kit only come with 1.75" and we'll have to source smaller pistons ?

"The caliper pictured is the one with the bigger 1.75" pistons (requires a 25.4mm MC if you want a short brake pedal) and I recommend that if owner opts to keep the stock 21mm MC, then to go with smaller 1.38" pistons."

Finally, I have an 84 318i with a stock MC, what's the PN for a 25.4mm MC and does it also drop right in or does it require modifications to fit ?

[Massive Lee]

Wilwood has a huge selection of those calipers with several piston sizes.

http://wilwood.com/Products/001-Calipers/012-FSL/index.asp

Kits are bolt-ons and do not require any other part. No need to source extra pistons. The proper caliper must be selected. A lot of time has been spent so that the installation is easy for the end user.

The bigger 25.4mm MC is sourced from the BMW 750iL.

http://e30m3performance.com/installs/installs-1/25mc/25mc.htm

[diegom6]

Wilwood has a huge selection of those calipers with several piston sizes.

http://wilwood.com/Products/001-Calipers/012-FSL/index.asp

Kits are bolt-ons and do not require any other part. No need to source extra pistons. The proper caliper must be selected. A lot of time has been spent so that the installation is easy for the end user.

The bigger 25.4mm MC is sourced from the BMW 750iL.
http://e30m3performance.com/installs.../25mc/25mc.htm

Excelent quote, , this explain pretty much what I was feeling in the foot. I will order this 25mm MC asap.

Thanks for share Lee.

-Diego

[Massive Lee]

Stock e30 calipers have one 47mm piston, which has 17.35sq.cm of surface. So, to get an exact pressure/pedal travel as stock, you need another caliper with the same surface.

Wilwood has calipers with 1.38" pistons (35mm) and 1.25" pistons (31,8mm).

The first one offers 9.62sq.cm/piston or 19.24sq.cm total. The second one has 7.94sq.cm/piston or 15.88sq.cm total. So, the one with the 1.38" pistons is much closer from stock than the smaller pistons. If you wanted to know why the brake pedal is so low with calipers having 1.75" pistons, this is because they require more fluid. 15.55sq.cm surface/piston or 31.1sq.cm total. 180% more to be exact. That is almost twice the pedal travel, but almost twice less effort. Only problem is that the balance between front and rear gets screwed in the same time.

If you want to calculate yourself the surface of a piston, here is how to:

(Diameter x diameter) x 3.1415 / 4

[Jean]

Thank you, http://e30m3performance.com/installs...5mc/25mc_2.htm states that a 25mm MC fits the e30 m3, but does it also fit non m3 models or does that require modifications ?

[Massive Lee]

Thank you, http://e30m3performance.com/installs...5mc/25mc_2.htm states that a 25mm MC fits the e30 m3, but does it also fit non m3 models or does that require modifications ?

The 25.4mm MC fits so many cars. It fits my 1969 2002, as well as the e30s. They have all the same brake booster as the e30 M3, except for the iX.

[fporro]

The 25.4mm MC fits so many cars. It fits my 1969 2002, as well as the e30s. They have all the same brake booster as the e30 M3, except for the iX.

I'll second that.

I went for IE's early BBK (Corvette calipers 290mm rotors).
Brake pedal was a bit too long, sort of not enough fluid traveling through to fully activate them (or so it felt like).

onto a 325iC that does not see track at all, twisties ? Yes, lots of em :)

16's will clear it without mods, they are primitive sliding type
but what could I expect for $ 950 as a whole kit.

Added 25mm MC, straight bolt-on mod, about $ 120 new or $ 35 at local Pick-A-Part yards. ...

[Massive Lee]

Hi Frank.

I can see you have green urethane bushings. Have you tried reversing them (thinner end on top) in order to slightly raise the subframe and get rid of some of that extra camber usually associated to lowered cars?

[fporro]

hi Lee,
yet to try that, tire wear still good, not much squating.

also went with K-Mac off centered trailing arm bushings,
set them to max and yet to re-adjust, she's usually on very ugly 17's with correct overall diameter tires.(42lbs per corner, worst upgrade ever !!!)

here's whole suspension set-up, also has urethane engine/trani and RSM's
what a sweet harsh ride :) and it keeps wife off of it ;) ...

http://www.r3vlimited.com/gallery/files/7/7/9/1/1_718261.jpeg

2002maniac, hope you don't mind., can I post some pics of the IE BBK brackets ???

[2002maniac]

2002maniac, hope you don't mind., can I post some pics of the IE BBK brackets ???

Please do! I was very interested in their kit at one point...

[Massive Lee]

hi Lee,
yet to try that, tire wear still good, not much squating.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/gallery/files/7/7/9/1/1_718261.jpeg

Hey fporro, what are those front struts? They sure look nice. The strut body looks custom threaded.

[diegom6]

Hey fporro, what are those front struts? They sure look nice. The strut body looks custom threaded.

I think those are HR complete coil over struts?