M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS

DISCUSSION => Suspension => Topic started by: selespeed on January 09, 2014, 12:18:02 AM

Title: larger brake booster - from e32? or e38?
Post by: selespeed on January 09, 2014, 12:18:02 AM
has anyone experimented with a larger brake booster from e32 or e38 or others? I have driven one with such and the braking confidence greatly improved. it inspires confidence and late braking is possible.

Title: Re: larger brake booster - from e32? or e38?
Post by: DesktopDave on January 09, 2014, 05:55:21 PM
Add a 750iL master cylinder, you'll be locking up wheels all the time...

I'd suppose many other makes of boosters would fit. I put a lot of E30 parts into my E24...the master cylinder is a bit bigger, but the ATE parts are the same. I used E30 rubber bungs to seal the E24 reservoir. Many of the bolt sizes are the same - master cyl studs, rear mount studs, etc.
Title: Re: larger brake booster - from e32? or e38?
Post by: selespeed on January 09, 2014, 07:00:49 PM
Add a 750iL master cylinder, you'll be locking up wheels all the time...

I'd suppose many other makes of boosters would fit. I put a lot of E30 parts into my E24...the master cylinder is a bit bigger, but the ATE parts are the same. I used E30 rubber bungs to seal the E24 reservoir. Many of the bolt sizes are the same - master cyl studs, rear mount studs, etc.

I'm talking about the booster from 750 but retains the master cylinder of e30. Does it sound intelligent? Lol will it lock wheels?
Title: Re: larger brake booster - from e32? or e38?
Post by: DesktopDave on January 10, 2014, 07:17:13 AM
Having never done this myself...I'm not sure...but I'd figure adding a 750i booster would make the E30 master a bit too light for brake pedal feel. I'm sure it'd work though.

It's possible that a few of the larger masters could be a bit too deep for the E30 as well.
Title: Re: larger brake booster - from e32? or e38?
Post by: docgoku on January 14, 2014, 09:38:16 AM
I'm really interest in what you do here. 

I've not liked the braking on my 318ic since I've bought it. 
Part of it is the rotors and pads on there now.  I'm the 2nd owner, and previous had taken care of the car, but one thing he just got auto store parts for was the rotors and pads. 

However, in reading I get the idea that will only help so much.  So, I've been testing the brake booster and vac lines just to be sure that's all fine...and it seems fine (tests fine).

So... all that to say.. thinking of a similar upgrade.
Title: Re: larger brake booster - from e32? or e38?
Post by: DesktopDave on January 14, 2014, 04:10:48 PM
So, I've been testing the brake booster and vac lines just to be sure that's all fine...and it seems fine (tests fine).

So... all that to say.. thinking of a similar upgrade.

I've overhauled a bunch of older brake components on cars and bikes. All of them collect water, all of them degrade over time. Intelligent updates for some of these parts should absolutely make for improved feel, likely with improved braking as well.

BTW, if you think the vac booster for the bigger BMWs feels better, you should try the hydraulic booster. It was only installed in the E23, late E24 and E28. It's expensive to fix, the uprated P/S pump is probably a huge drag on power, but it has a great feel.