m325i 705 Report post Posted August 28, 2005 I don't like the travel my brake pedal has before anything happens. Im not after monster brembo's, but i would like more responce. I have (what i was told were) good pads, with plenty left on them. Is a fluid upgrade and replacing the leads with these going to make much difference? Do i need to take more dra$tic measures? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bmwsparkle 3 Report post Posted August 28, 2005 i believe pads make the biggest difference, correct me if im wrong, I can get ferodo pads cheap as anything thru work, made my brakes 20x better, no fade, no shudder etc Do you have ABS? its really hard to get a "good pedal" with early ABS systems, i know, but ive got used to it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
m325i 705 Report post Posted August 28, 2005 Not ABS. When i drive other cars, my first brake usually almost turns into a skid! They have decent stopping power, but you have to jump on them to get it. I know e30 brakes aren't the best, but i feel mine are sub-par. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bmwsparkle 3 Report post Posted August 28, 2005 meh, i felt the same until fairly recently with my car, after 2 years i kind of like the feel. heh. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Palazzo 438 Report post Posted August 28, 2005 Ours had a crap feel as well. Had new pads/discs, but had hardly been driven for two years. Even a lot of heavy braking couldn't get rid of the surface rust (was black), got them skimmed and new pads and hey presto, so much better. Still not fantastic, but good enough. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Andrew Report post Posted August 28, 2005 master cylinder is what changes pedal feel - get a bigger one from an E32 or something along those lines. E34 ones are huge also. Master Cylinder, Pads, SS Lines + decent fluids should be fine for a mint road setup. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bmwsparkle 3 Report post Posted August 28, 2005 master cylinder is what changes pedal feel - get a bigger one from an E32 or something along those lines. E34 ones are huge also. Master Cylinder, Pads, SS Lines + decent fluids should be fine for a mint road setup. isnt a bigger master cylinder hopeless w/o bigger calipers? (what ive heard) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Andrew Report post Posted August 28, 2005 master cylinder is what changes pedal feel - get a bigger one from an E32 or something along those lines. E34 ones are huge also. Master Cylinder, Pads, SS Lines + decent fluids should be fine for a mint road setup. isnt a bigger master cylinder hopeless w/o bigger calipers? (what ive heard) no - why would it be? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
m325i 705 Report post Posted August 28, 2005 i feel mine are sub-par. I say this bc my brothers 318i feels like it has way better brakes.master cylinder then eh? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MattA 162 Report post Posted August 28, 2005 I've fitted a 25mm master cylinder (have biggger brakes on the front) made a massive difference. Good luck finding M/S though got mine from a wrecked 750 '89 I think. cheers Matt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
*sic 1 Report post Posted August 28, 2005 0800 race brakes Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cainchapman 0 Report post Posted August 28, 2005 Steve at Race brakes. brake_upgrade.pdf Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
m325i 705 Report post Posted August 28, 2005 are the e32/e34 master cylinders effectively a straight swap? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MattA 162 Report post Posted August 28, 2005 Yes if you have ABS if not you will need to make up a 'T' to split the front lines as M/S will only have 2 outlets 1 front 1 back.. pretty easy to do I think Glenn did a bit of a write up when he did his. cheers Matt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
m325i 705 Report post Posted August 28, 2005 Sweet as. Thanks for help. Think i might go for a bigger MC, new lines, new fluid, should be good. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
E30-323ti 66 Report post Posted August 29, 2005 Sweet as. Thanks for help. Think i might go for a bigger MC, new lines, new fluid, should be good. Be careful going to a 25mm MC, you may find the pedal too hard...E30's are 21m E30 M3's are 23mm (same as some E28's I believe, but don't quote me on it!!) E32's are 25mm Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
m325i 705 Report post Posted August 29, 2005 BMWorkshop told me that changing the cylinder is: A) not a straight swap probably not going to fix my problem and i have to bring it in, so they hook my wallet up directely to the bleed valve. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cainchapman 0 Report post Posted August 29, 2005 Ask David what he has done to his car. Stainless lines, new fluid and Mintex pads. All from Race brakes. Get decent rubber is the next step. (not for David as he has R compound already). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
m325i 705 Report post Posted August 29, 2005 Ask David what he has done to his car. Stainless lines, new fluid and Mintex pads. All from Race brakes. Get decent rubber is the next step. (not for David as he has R compound already). who is David? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Andrew Report post Posted August 29, 2005 Ask David what he has done to his car. Stainless lines, new fluid and Mintex pads. All from Race brakes. Get decent rubber is the next step. (not for David as he has R compound already). yeah but the pedal feel would still be terrible. I want on/off like real cars have it (i.e nissans hah). Glenn - what booster do you use? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Carl 3 Report post Posted August 29, 2005 Before you do anything you should check what brake fluid you've got and how long you've had it. Old fluid goes squishy and silicon fluid is a little squishy anyway. Racing 4.1 fluid is the go. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
E34-535ti 5 Report post Posted August 29, 2005 I don't like the travel my brake pedal has before anything happens. Sounds to me like it's all the linkages that are between the pedal and the MC that is the problem, they have to pivot/take up slack before any pressure is applied. All the E30's I've driven have had that same inital slackness, my E34 has it also (but to a lesser degree due to E34 superiority)If thats what it is putting a larger MC in will make the problem feel worse, you'll take up the slack then have a solid pedal. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
topless 7 Report post Posted August 29, 2005 A larger master cylinder will require more pressure on the pedal for the same braking effort but the pedal travel will be less than with a smaller master cylinder. This extra pressure can be overcome by fitting a larger vacuum cylinder. I personally would only put on a bigger master cylinder if I was upgrading the brake caliper size too... You can take up the slack in the brake linkages by undoing the locknuts at either end of the bar that runs across the firewall of the car on the inside and lengthening it by "unscrewing" the bar anticlockwise(from brake pedal side). Stainless lines, new fluid and Mintex pads. All from Race brakes.... this is what I would do on top of removing any slack in the linkages. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bmwsparkle 3 Report post Posted August 29, 2005 Ask David what he has done to his car. Stainless lines, new fluid and Mintex pads. All from Race brakes. Get decent rubber is the next step. (not for David as he has R compound already). ive rung heaps of brake specialist guys and they all seem to not touch mintex with a ten foot barge pole, how do you find them?i dig my ferodos, primo pads. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kiwi535 538 Report post Posted August 29, 2005 try a "standard " overhaul first,as Carl said bad fluid, slightly leaky cylinders,corroded ,calipers, pistons,pins that the calipers slide on..... all taking away from efficient operation Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
