4lug vs 5lug

[lcoleman]

I wasn't intending a direct comparison between SE30 and a swapped car, I was just pointing out that stock brakes are probably adequate for most users. It's not like a BBK is going to make your car stop in half the distance vs stock brakes...as my post alluded to, sticky tires are a better investment overall.

Most of the SpecE30 guys don't have issues with fade, but rather caliper flex and tapered pad wear. UUC and Massive make excellent products for 4-lug cars if one does decide they want bigger brakes, and I'm pretty confident those setups will be superior to the OE e36 or e30m3 parts on a 5-lug swap because of the caliper and rotor designs.

I don't see any downside. You can fit an 8" wide wheel and a wide enough tire (if there is such a thing) in 15" through 17" with 4 lugs.

[F34R]

I'm running 17x8/9 with proper tires^ UUC BBK works insanely well, 4 pot with even pad wear and tons of grip.

[mrcheezle19]

I'm running one of massive's bbk kits and the car stops amazingly well time and time again. Just get a quality bbk and be done with it.

[matthugie]

I'm running one of massive's bbk kits and the car stops amazingly well time and time again. Just get a quality bbk and be done with it.

I have UUC's BBK, and agree completely. It's been great for street, autox, and track for me.

[CrusherCurtis]

I think a lot of guys do 5 lug because its a "cool" thing or for wheel selection. There's a bunch of good suspension options for e30s. Good set of coils and a BBK and you'll have a better setup than these guys running stock e36 stuff.

[IronFreak]

I think this thread is getting off track. The OP original question was about wheels and brakes, not suspension.

i know wheels and brakes are a big reason why people go the 5lug route but i am not sure what to do.

i will be dropping in a s52 with a built dinan super charger to hopfully reach 350 hp. if i get a big brake kit from wilwood and run 4lug is there anything i should be worried about with 4lug. is that to much power not to have the extra lug?

thank you

His question(s) are not that clear in the first place......

I think he wants to know if 350hp has lug snapping ability.....Not likely.

And his questions with the 4-lug BBK doesn't really specify what hes asking. From a stand-point of being worried about 4-lug BBK, they're sold by multiple people and many that have answered use them....so no, I wouldn't be worried.

Unless I missed something I don't think he stated what the car was going to be used for. I think from a brake stand-point that makes a big difference. If the brakes are going to be used to stop at stop signs and lights and not slowing him down going into a turn at 90mph we should probably do the guy right in telling him that stock brakes with fresh rotors and good pads will do the trick.


What wheels are you running? what size? Maybe a BBK would do him good to fill in the gap.

Critical thinking here boys, all your answers were valid in there own sense but missed the mark in a few places on actually answering his question.

[GThomas]

I have UUC's BBK, and agree completely. It's been great for street, autox, and track for me.

Agreed, just be aware that your choice of 4 lug wheels drops considerably with these bbk's.

[unevolved]

Their [BBKs] main purpose is to dissipate heat quicker to reduce brake fade. Stopping power is a function of the master cylinder.

I disagree. Stopping power is a function of the master cylinder diameter, caliper piston diameter and quantity, brake rotor radius, tire coefficient of friction, and weight distribution of the car, for starters. Any one of those things changing can have an equally meaningful effect on the braking performance of the vehicle. Yes, the thermal capacity of the brake rotors is equally important, but size also plays a role in braking performance.

[CrusherCurtis]

His question(s) are not that clear in the first place......

i will be dropping in a s52 with a built dinan super charger to hopfully reach 350 hp. is that to much power not to have the extra lug?

His question couldn't be clearer. Sometimes when you post in a forum you don't want a straight Yes or No or you would search. If he reads the posts we'll see that that we all pretty much say he'll be okay. The suspension questions probably wasn't 2 far behind.

[henna 3ree]

i want to start off and say thank you for everyone's input. i plan to run the car more at auto cross and mountain driving but i will make a few trips a year to the track. im almost complete with the m tech 1 body kit and my next step was either going to be a 5lug kit with suspension or just buying suspension and a big brake kit. i have esm wheels on the car now and i have style 5's i would use if i went the 5 lug route and if not maybe redrill them to 4 lug. i def have some thinking to do after all of this.

thanks again everyone!