Bigger brakes on my Z3 1.9

[Honey_Badger]

I have a siezed front caliper so now is the time to upgrade my brakes. I've been reading that I can swop discs and calipers from a 330 or a Z3 2.8. I assume I would only need the calipers and discs for this transfer?
Any info gratefully received

 

[Sean d]

I have a siezed front caliper so now is the time to upgrade my brakes. I've been reading that I can swop discs and calipers from a 330 or a Z3 2.8. I assume I would only need the calipers and discs for this transfer?
Any info gratefully received

You would also need the caliper carriers

 

[Honey_Badger]

Ah right. What are they? I've replaced discs and calipers like for like before, but don't know what the carriers are

 

[Honey_Badger]

Is that the bracket thing that the calipers sit in?

 

[Sean d]

Is that the bracket thing that the calipers sit in?

Yep

 

[Brian4]

Looks as if the calipers carriers and discs from a 3.0 Z4, E46 330i will fit.

Using the old discs may be false economy as new aren't too costly along with new pads.

 

[Honey_Badger]

Cheers buddy. I've never really worked on a Beemer as I always owned Landrover and VWs before. I'd best get the tape measure out incase I need new wheels too!!! Hopefully not as I'm on a bit of a budget but upgrading is sensible as I've read the pads are all the same too

 

[mid life crisis]

I'm willing to be corrected on this but I believe you will need to go up to at least 17" wheel to accommodate the 330 brake set up.

 

[Brian4]

The 3.0 z3 has 300mm discs and standard is on 16" wheels. Its only if you try the M3 brakes you need 17s

 

[g8jka]

Yes correct. I've ran 300mm discs with 16's before, they will clear them fine

 

[Honey_Badger]

Thanks all!!! Splendid information!

 

[Ianmc]

I have a siezed front caliper so now is the time to upgrade my brakes. I've been reading that I can swop discs and calipers from a 330 or a Z3 2.8. I assume I would only need the calipers and discs for this transfer?
Any info gratefully received

Just wondering why you feel the need to upgrade your brakes? Do you intend track use? I have found the M44 standard setup fine for "spirited" road driving. Have you found them wanting in some regard?

 

[smiffy]

won't a significant increase at the front only, start to cause a bias/balance issue?

(thinking out loud again, maybe I should shut up)

 

[Honey_Badger]

Apparently as they are still 285mm, it shouldn't cause too much change, if any. Worse case it just changing the master cylinder too. The Z is so light anyway and I prefer more brake at the front. I'm only changing to a wider disc instead of the 12mm standard solid disc in effect

 

[Honey_Badger]

One reason is they look better, second is I fancy doing some work myself, and third is mainly just cos I can. All selfish really

 

[pgunter]

Ok let’s clear up a few myths.

286mm and 300mm discs have the same calliper units. The difference is the carriers which position them out further to allow for the bigger disc radius. Moving from 286mm to 300mm is actually a very large surface area of braking as you have 2 extra larger diameter zones on each wheel. So you are adding 14mm x 4 to each car. It does not upset the braking bias in any way.

The Zedshed have changed and upgraded many zeds to the larger brakes and it was one of the first things I did on my 2.2. If you ask several of the members on here about the difference, they will say the extra stopping power is a great thing to have.

The argument about using 17” wheels is actually to allow cooling air to circulate.

As @GazHyde amd @Lee will agree, having better brakes is something worth doing.

 

[Sean d]

Ok let’s clear up a few myths.

286mm and 300mm discs have the same calliper units. The difference is the carriers which position them out further to allow for the bigger disc radius. Moving from 286mm to 300mm is actually a very large surface area of braking as you have 2 extra larger diameter zones on each wheel. So you are adding 14mm x 4 to each car. It does not upset the braking bias in any way.

The Zedshed have changed and upgraded many zeds to the larger brakes and it was one of the first things I did on my 2.2. If you ask several of the members on here about the difference, they will say the extra stopping power is a great thing to have.

The argument about using 17” wheels is actually to allow cooling air to circulate.

As @GazHyde amd @Lee will agree, having better brakes is something worth doing.

So, all you need is discs and carrier, I assume the advantage comes from moving the caliper out onto a lager circumference.

 

[pgunter]

So, all you need is discs and carrier, I assume the advantage comes from moving the caliper out onto a lager circumference.

You are spot on @Sean d the carriers and discs. Plus I would say pads if you are replacing discs too.

 

[Sean d]

You are spot on @Sean d the carriers and discs. Plus I would say pads if you are replacing discs too.

Thats a future mod for me as got my hands very full at the minute, and I have just painted the carriers

 

[Honey_Badger]

I'm guessing then @pgunter that I won't be feeling too much of a difference as all I will be doing is fitting the calipers to accommodate the wider 22mm vented disc compared to my standard 12mm solid disc?