5,6,7 series 4 piston calipers anyone?

[Bruno]

I am installing some Wilwood calipers (picked up off ebay for cheap) on my 635csi race car, I am going to see how well it works then I will do a quick how to.

If there are people interested in the brackets, I can make some more sets.
Front rotor size will be: 324x30 for starters then maybe 334x32
Rear rotors size will be: 328x20

http://www.bmwe34.net/ebay/wilwood.jpg

http://www.bmwe34.net/ebay/wilwood2.jpg

The race car will be a Euro 635csi Group A replica (replica with a turbo engine), full coil over, sway bar, cage, 4 pot calipers...

[Jon K]

Bruno I am interested either the adapaters or the dimensions for the adapters. I am looking to use E38 750 front rotors on my car with wildwood calipers. What is the part number on the caliper youre using? Summit has them for only $160 each!

[Bruno]

Bruno I am interested either the adapaters or the dimensions for the adapters. I am looking to use E38 750 front rotors on my car with wildwood calipers. What is the part number on the caliper youre using? Summit has them for only $160 each!

Because I am running vintage (and I am racing on a tight tight budget) I am using the older style Wilwood Superlite IIA calipers.
There is 2mm difference between the older superlite and the newer ones.

I might buy a set of newer ones to make the brackets if more people are interested.

I might do several sets:
- Older wilwood Superlite calipers with 324x30 ft rotors (E31)
- Newer wilwood Superlite calipers with 334x32 ft rotors. (E38)

Right now I am doing the 1st one. If it works great (which it should) I will buy a set of new calipers for the street 635csi and I will make the other set of brackets. Some people are still running 16 and tight 17" rims and the E31 will work best for them.
For larger 17" and above the E38 rotors will work perfectly.

I will make more pictures this week once the bracket will be fabricated.

[Jon K]

Nice let me know how the bracket works out. What is the piston size on the calipers you're using? I want to go with the forged superlite billet ones, but I can't find good pics to know how the adapters would have to be made. Its definitely on my agenda though as my friend is/has been letting us do a lot of CNC stuff.

[Martin in Bellevue]

How 'bout remounting that caliper with the bleeder up? Or can the cross-bar be swapped with the bleeder in situ?
http://www.bmwe34.net/ebay/wilwood.jpg

[Bruno]

How 'bout remounting that caliper with the bleeder up? Or can the cross-bar be swapped with the bleeder in situ?
http://www.bmwe34.net/ebay/wilwood.jpg

I know, this was just to test clearance, I just grabbed the 1st caliper that I found.

Thanks.

[Barney Paull-Edwards]

The suspension on the 635csi race car consists off:
Full Ground Control setup. Advanced Design double adjustable shocks, Modified strut housing, Coil over front and rear, GC camber plates, GC rear shock mounts, 25mm/19mm adjustable sway bars, Adjustable front sway bar links, Sway bar mounts reinforced, adjustable trailing arm bushings, urethane race sub-frame bushings.

You can get the ground control sleves and springs and use Bilstein shocks also, you need to modify and weld the housing though. I bought the car with the suspension already done. Dave did his.
Hi Bruno,Do Ground Control Sleeves fit OVER E34 strut bodies to enable the use of 21/4` springs?? If so where do Ground Control come from?

[BigKriss]

how much are the rear wilwood calipers normally that accept the 328x320 rotors? Are these a 4 piston design also? Would usd$400 for the calipers and adaptor plates excluding rotors seem about right?

The wilwood calipers look inexpensive to purchase.

http://cmwraceparts.com/Brakes/brakes47.html

[Bruno]

how much are the rear wilwood calipers normally that accept the 328x20 rotors? Are these a 4 piston design also? Would usd$400 for the calipers and adaptor plates excluding rotors seem about right?

The wilwood calipers look inexpensive to purchase.

http://cmwraceparts.com/Brakes/brakes47.html

Best for the rear would be to get a set of calipers set for 0.81" rotors and the one for the 1.25" rotors for the front.
You can still use the 1.25" calipers for the rear but you will need spacers for the pads (this is what I am doing).
After that we need to figure out the piston size of the calipers. I will be using 1.75" front and 1.38" rear for my race car but this is for racing.

- I think that most people can get away with just 4 piston calipers for the front and upgraded rear calipers to the 540i ones and vented rotors.
- My setup being for racing, I am going overkill... and it was cheap.

Rotors are fairly cheap as they are the E31 and E38 rotors, they are from BMW and available from Brembo cheap.
Calipers new are 150- 160 each, or 100 - 150 Used then you need an adapter to connect your brake line M10x1mm male to 1/8"NPT female. I have yet to find that so I went with an adapter M10x1 to AN4 and then a stainless steel AN4 line to the caliper with a 90degree AN4 fitting. AN3 would work fine also.
SS lines AN4 or AN3 are 10 - 15US each.
Adapter plates: 100 US max.

Again this exercise was for my race car, and I will probably do it on the street car also. It is just a fun exercise.

Dynalite calipers might be better for the rear actually. I would have to find a set to make some brackets. But that is overkill for most street cars.

[BigKriss]

thanks Bruno :)

[sneekens]

I am installing some Wilwood calipers (picked up off ebay for cheap) on my 635csi race car, I am going to see how well it works then I will do a quick how to.

If there are people interested in the brackets, I can make some more sets.
Front rotor size will be: 324x30 for starters then maybe 334x32
Rear rotors size will be: 328x20

http://www.bmwe34.net/ebay/wilwood.jpg

http://www.bmwe34.net/ebay/wilwood2.jpg

The race car will be a Euro 635csi Group A replica (replica with a turbo engine), full coil over, sway bar, cage, 4 pot calipers...


sorry for the OT:
just saw your coilovers, what is the brand? is there for the e34's? what shocks are used?

thanks

[Bruno]

sorry for the OT:
just saw your coilovers, what is the brand? is there for the e34's? what shocks are used?

thanks

The suspension on the 635csi race car consists off:
Full Ground Control setup. Advanced Design double adjustable shocks, Modified strut housing, Coil over front and rear, GC camber plates, GC rear shock mounts, 25mm/19mm adjustable sway bars, Adjustable front sway bar links, Sway bar mounts reinforced, adjustable trailing arm bushings, urethane race sub-frame bushings.

You can get the ground control sleves and springs and use Bilstein shocks also, you need to modify and weld the housing though. I bought the car with the suspension already done. Dave did his.

[sneekens]

Hi Bruno,Do Ground Control Sleeves fit OVER E34 strut bodies to enable the use of 21/4` springs?? If so where do Ground Control come from?


check it here for more info http://www.ground-control-store.com/products/description.php/II=744/CA=68

[Jon K]

Bruno def interested for the adapters up front! Let me know ASAP.

[Bruno]

check it here for more info http://www.ground-control-store.com/products/description.php/II=744/CA=68

Interesting, it seems that they cut the bottom of the strut housing and install a new housing.... Wow.

http://www.ground-control-store.com/images/fullsize/2016.75_fs.jpg

[Jon K]

Wow that looks awesome what car is that for? Bruno did you get my PM?

[Jon K]

Wow I now realize thats for the E34. I AM PYSCHED!

[Jon K]

Only 2" of drop they say though

[sneekens]

Wow I now realize thats for the E34. I AM PYSCHED!

theres another brand for half the price.. but im not sure of how it performs compared to GC. http://www.prostreetonline.com/pnsku/ss1-bw09.asp

[Jon K]

Yeah I saw them, Nex. I already talked with a guy on bf.c and we came up with the same idea of cutting the strut housing and the bottom portion of that strut off. I am going to be doing that I think.

[shogun]

have you seen this one?
M5 e34 6-piston racing brake by AP Racing
with brake discs 343x32

But the price is EURO 3.550!!!!
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4628229330&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

[sneekens]

has anyone tried the K-sport big brakes?

[BigKriss]

Are a wide variety of brake pads available for the Wilwood calipers?

[Bruno]

Are a wide variety of brake pads available for the Wilwood calipers?

Yes there is... mainly race compounds though. I am sure there is some street friendly compounds, I just bought 6 sets of pads off ebay for 75 US...
I think I am set for life.

There is many other calipers that should work the same as the wilwood on the bracket.
I finished one bracket and it is a little more labour intensive that I though. But it looks amazing and works perfectly with the stock bolts and new bolts for the caliper.

I don't know how many people are interested in the setup but it will be comparable (a little bit more brake) than the Brembo 850i setup (4 or single).
Would be perfect paired with 540i rear calipers and vented rotors.
But off course I am looking at doing the same treatment for the rear.

Picture to come soon, and then webpage with detailed pictures, part numbers and so forth. I am not in the business of selling calipers, but I might buy some more to make sure that different model work.

I think I need to buy a new one to see if that new one fits no problem, which it should.

[jonny5]

Yes there is... mainly race compounds though. I am sure there is some street friendly compounds, I just bought 6 sets of pads off ebay for 75 US...
I think I am set for life.

There is many other calipers that should work the same as the wilwood on the bracket.
I finished one bracket and it is a little more labour intensive that I though. But it looks amazing and works perfectly with the stock bolts and new bolts for the caliper.

I don't know how many people are interested in the setup but it will be comparable (a little bit more brake) than the Brembo 850i setup (4 or single).
Would be perfect paired with 540i rear calipers and vented rotors.
But off course I am looking at doing the same treatment for the rear.

Picture to come soon, and then webpage with detailed pictures, part numbers and so forth. I am not in the business of selling calipers, but I might buy some more to make sure that different model work.

I think I need to buy a new one to see if that new one fits no problem, which it should.

I can't wait to see the pic's and web sight!!

[sneekens]

I can't wait to see the pic's and web sight!!


+1:)

[Bruno]

http://bmwe34.wetpaint.com/page/Brakes+mods

I made a wiki for race car mods and track mods, there isn't enough info on the web regarding big six engines and cars.

[jonny5]

Great job!!
by the way; your shop looks almost as messy as mine.

[BigKriss]

Thanks for the information Bruno. Does anyone on here (from the usa) know about "The Brake Man". http://www.thebrakeman.com/calipers - Apparently the calipers fit the wilwood mounting holes.

More info - I don't know how credible it is.

[Bruno]

Thanks for the information Bruno. Does anyone on here (from the usa) know about "The Brake Man". http://www.thebrakeman.com/calipers - Apparently the calipers fit the wilwood mounting holes.

More info - I don't know how credible it is.

As long as the pad is at the exact same location, it will fit. Many different calipers are a direct replacement for the wilwood calipers, like the outlaw calipers for example or the vintage JFZ calipers.

Basically you can snatch a pair of calipers on ebay for 100 - 150. or get a set of new for 160 each or so. I am still trying to get at least one new one so I can try on the bracket, and several other brands so I can test if they work or not.

[sneekens]

As long as the pad is at the exact same location, it will fit. Many different calipers are a direct replacement for the wilwood calipers, like the outlaw calipers for example or the vintage JFZ calipers.

Basically you can snatch a pair of calipers on ebay for 100 - 150. or get a set of new for 160 each or so. I am still trying to get at least one new one so I can try on the bracket, and several other brands so I can test if they work or not.


nice site bruno. btw, can you give the link to for the brackets needed for the front up grade? keep us posted with the rears! great work!!! keep it up...

[Jon K]

Bruno got any pics of how you did just the caliper bracket?

[Bruno]

Bruno got any pics of how you did just the caliper bracket?

We spent 3 hours building the 1st bracket with testing, fitting, removing, grinding.... The next ones should just be a plain copy.

I want to test it on the car 1st before releasing any further information, I wouldn't want to be liable for a car with bad brakes.

[Bruno]

nice site bruno. btw, can you give the link to for the brackets needed for the front up grade? keep us posted with the rears! great work!!! keep it up...

We are still working on them, I know it fits a couple of calipers but I want to test more calipers 1st.

For the rear... I am having some problem with the location of the ABS sensor (at least on the E24 635csi), I am not sure if the ABS is at the same spot on the 535i, I will have to check before trying to do a universal bracket.

I might have to select a different caliper also with different mounting holes.
I am picking up a used E34 trailing arm to try things out.

[Jon K]

Thanks bruno!

[Bruno]

Who wants to try it.

Front rotor size will be: 324x30, I can ship new rotors with calipers, 1 set of pads (more if you need more) and the brackets, I have to source the bolts.

New rotors (at cost) + pads + used calipers + brakets.
You will need fittings + brake lines.

Email for cost (and no this is not a $200 setup).

I am now working on the 334x32 rotor setup, as long as it will fit the wheel. And I need to finance all that playing around and caliper buying.

I already bought 3 sets of calipers and I am buying another set of calipers for the rear brakes now, I am sure that not that many people will want rear 4 pot brakes but I will make a bracket non the less.
Rear rotors size will be: 328x20

[BigKriss]

Will you just sell the brackets?

[Bruno]

Will you just sell the brackets?

Yes for sure I will, I am looking for a fine plasma cutting company to cut all the brakets. I might to 5 or 10 sets for the front.

I have 2 lapping days set for the begining of April to test the setup, I wanted to test the two different diameter rotor setup, but I might not be able to do it on the same car.

I will do some test to see if the calipers will fit any set of 17" rims out there 1st.

Considering the price of a BBK, this is a pretty cheap alternative, you can pick up any set of calipers (many brands will fit) off ebay for 50 to 100 a set. and then the fittings and lines.

[553iT]

Sent you a PM on your brackets.

[shogun]

any news here?
Just for info some pics from Japan, E32 with 340x28 on the rear
http://dd.jpn.org/BMW_HP/20080730/index.shtml

[bmwrp8]

any news here?
Just for info some pics from Japan, E32 with 340x28 on the rear
http://dd.jpn.org/BMW_HP/20080730/index.shtml

WOW! what's the front shogun?

[BigKriss]

i read the whole thing in english, awesome.


any news here?
Just for info some pics from Japan, E32 with 340x28 on the rear
http://dd.jpn.org/BMW_HP/20080730/index.shtml

[shogun]

WOW! what's the front shogun?

use
http://translate.google.com/translate_t#
and you can read it, the front is shown at the bottom of the report

[Bruno]

any news here?
Just for info some pics from Japan, E32 with 340x28 on the rear
http://dd.jpn.org/BMW_HP/20080730/index.shtml

Well, the setup worked great the whole year on the race car (350HP 635csi turbo), so now I will pull everything out and make 5 sets.

5 people will be lucky to try them on their cars and will report to me, then we can upgrade / modify...

Winter is arriving so I will not play gears of war yet and finish the product.

[Bruno]

any news here?
Just for info some pics from Japan, E32 with 340x28 on the rear
http://dd.jpn.org/BMW_HP/20080730/index.shtml

I am still trying to figure out what is the best piston diameter for the front and the rear if you want to keep the stock master cylinder.

Putting 4 pot calipers on the Touring is hardly worth the trouble for a test...
I have a bunch of callipers at home to try things around.