brakes

[Elephant]

I run stock E30 brakes and I've been running Ferrodo's for about 8 years. I can't remember the exact pad but I buy them from a small company that advertises in Roundel.

My car has an S50, GC setup with Koni SA, etc. etc. It's setup for autorcrossing. It would be a track car if it wasn't a cabrio.

Years ago we ran a set of DS3k's and DS2.5k's on the E30 M3 (then JS) that I now own. We'd been running Hawks exclusively for a couple years at that point. The first thing I noticed about the Ferrodos was they did not have nearly the initial bite however the torque curve seemed pretty linear so they worked nearly as well, just needed to get used to the initial difference.

However, they burned up more than half way in a single weekend. And they were more expensive. For more money I expect at least the same performance and wear but in this case it was way worse. Sold the other new sets and never looked back.

Just my single experience. Cheers.

[Elephant]

I'm with Ranger... Use track pads all around (and good technique) and you should not have any problems. Different MC's, a BBK, etc., simply isn't needed on an E30!

Those other things are nice and are good ideas at the right time I think but there is a lot in the stock system. Especially given how fast the E30 can be by using less brake! ; )

Cheers.

[rwh11385]

Yeah, I didn't read all your posts Chris before posting. If you are dead set on two sets, go for it. It didn't make time/economic/effort sense for most of us in the first year or two of events. Braking like you should and good fluid you shouldn't have an issue with HP+'s.

There's a lot to worry about in the several first events and changing up to track pads wasn't one of the things I was interested in.

I was eventually going to run Carbotech after people's recommendation, or Porterfield, or HT-10s. Jack is probably directing you towards the best choice among those, so pick up the R4 pads if you are down to swap out pads. Just be sure they are new, or have a spare set if you have an anal-retentive inspector. ugh. Cheaper multi purpose compromise pads come in handy then.

[matt]

I need to qualify that... I know it fits the booster and the regular e30 lines.

I have no idea if the e34 MC fits the reservior...

[nando]

I need to qualify that... I know it fits the booster and the regular e30 lines.

I have no idea if the e34 MC fits the reservior...

pretty sure it would - the 7 series MC and resivior is pretty much the same as the one in my ix.

nice info on the M5 MC though. I'll be looking at my options on that - 200,000+ miles on an original MC and track days don't really mix very well. it's been getting mushy for a while anyway.

[SA E30]

I'm with Ranger... Use track pads all around (and good technique) and you should not have any problems. Different MC's, a BBK, etc., simply isn't needed on an E30!

It depends what the car is used for...

I mean do you really think that the std brakes would stand up to a continuous race pace for say 1-2hr's in a with a 300hp engine, R Comps... blah blah blah ?

I say no, but for many of the "boulevard" cruisers they are fine

[nando]

probably not, but I think that's the point - few of us have a dedicated race car that we track for hours at a time. most of us are just taking out street car or our weekend/fun car to the track for a few 20-30 minute sessions. I know for my own purposes, a BBK would be way overkill - would it improve my braking situation? certainly. But so would some nice race pads and a couple hundred dollars in maintenance.

[jlevie]

I mean do you really think that the std brakes would stand up to a continuous race pace for say 1-2hr's in a with a 300hp engine, R Comps... blah blah blah ?

Probably not with that kind of power under the hood. But I assumed we were talking about an E30 with the stock engine. In which case extreme measures w/regard to brakes just aren't needed.

[rwh11385]

It depends what the car is used for...

I mean do you really think that the std brakes would stand up to a continuous race pace for say 1-2hr's in a with a 300hp engine, R Comps... blah blah blah ?

I say no, but for many of the "boulevard" cruisers they are fine

most DEs here are 20 minutes sessions, and rarely people have 300hp engines.

maybe that is common over there, but so are rapes and murders, so not everything is the same between the continents.

[SA E30]

Rape and Murders are just as common as red necks over there.

I was making a direct reply to jlevie's post, where he states states along the lines that std brakes are fine for an e30, re reading his post, I think he was talking in the context of the thread and not of absolutes.

My bad.

Oh, and BTW 300hp e30's are pretty common over here.