E30 rear drum to disc conversion

[Yapster]

Sorry to trouble all of you here. I recently acquired a 316 with rear drum brakes. Keen to convert to disc brakes. Unfortunately in Singapore there are no 2nd hand sets lying around and it's too expensive to obtain new parts.Hope you guys can help me out to point out a reliable workshop in JB which would be able to do the conversion. What would the estimated cost be?Thank you! Your help is much appreciated!

 

[gizmoz82]

price for e30 rear disc around rm550-600..if at place cost for conversion labour charge only rm150.

 

[kelvinjb]

Dun forget about the hand brake cable..... That is Around RM150-RM250

 

[Yapster]

thanks for your replies!
do i only need to change the brakes or the entire trailing arm assembly?

 

[kgb]

Dun forget about the hand brake cable..... That is Around RM150-RM250

Can't hand break cable be reused from discbreak setup? I am also looking into this in a very near future.

 

[kelvinjb]

Different. U will know when u really do the conversion.

 

[berserkdroid]

Can't hand break cable be reused from discbreak setup? I am also looking into this in a very near future.

If you are referring to using the cable from the drum brake set, then no, you'll have to get a cable set suited for the Disc setup, reason is the bit of the cable that goes into the brake assembly is different from the drum brake set.

In any case, change the cable anyway, you won't want the old one failing at a crucial moment.

 

[kgb]

If you are referring to using the cable from the drum brake set, then no, you'll have to get a cable set suited for the Disc setup, reason is the bit of the cable that goes into the brake assembly is different from the drum brake set.

In any case, change the cable anyway, you won't want the old one failing at a crucial moment.

roger that. Am yet to do conversion, that is why dunno.

 

[berserkdroid]

roger that. Am yet to do conversion, that is why dunno.

... and once you do the conversion, you'll ask yourself "dammit why didn't i do this sooner"...

 

[gizmoz82]

If you are referring to using the cable from the drum brake set, then no, you'll have to get a cable set suited for the Disc setup, reason is the bit of the cable that goes into the brake assembly is different from the drum brake set.

In any case, change the cable anyway, you won't want the old one failing at a crucial moment.

bro acctually mine use back the ori cable from the drum.no issue for parking handbrake & i still keep the ori cable for the disc.my mechanic said still can use the cable from the drum set..

 

[berserkdroid]

bro acctually mine use back the ori cable from the drum.no issue for parking handbrake & i still keep the ori cable for the disc.my mechanic said still can use the cable from the drum set..

Mine cannot...

 

[kelvinjb]

But be careful of your mechanic......

He might have bend or pull extra on the cable....

It might break....

 

[kgb]

... and once you do the conversion, you'll ask yourself "dammit why didn't i do this sooner"...

dammit, stop poisoning me already. I've just changed wheel bearings on my drum set :listen:

Soon soon.

But thanks anyway.

 

[pussy]

the original set up is quite fine for a 318 unless you have mod the car till 325 engine, etc

 

[fabianyee]

thanks for your replies!
do i only need to change the brakes or the entire trailing arm assembly?

U need to change the entire trailing arm..

dammit, stop poisoning me already. I've just changed wheel bearings on my drum set :listen:

Soon soon.

But thanks anyway.

If you're not a hardcore driver, u won't feel much difference...
Better feel to change the front brake setup from the thin non-ventilated disc rotor to the thicker ventilated disc rotor.. the ventilated disc rotors has better cooling...

 

[gizmoz82]

But be careful of your mechanic......

He might have bend or pull extra on the cable....

It might break....

more than 1 year still no prob. bro....but i still keep spare the ori cable for disc set...

 

[Yapster]

besides improved performance looks better too mah heehee

 

[gizmoz82]

i got another set of rear disc brake...pm if intrested..

 

[kgb]

the original set up is quite fine for a 318 unless you have mod the car till 325 engine, etc

Totally agree, very much sufficient. However, if you are telling this to a human being, especially one that own e30 and has an option of "upgrading", you'll be probably wasting your time.

You'll still have jokers out there who'd think they know better, and guess what, i am one of them :stupid:

From this:

to this:

Undoubtedly, upgrade looks great. Everything was plug and play, very easy upgrade if you ask me, straight forward, any half decent mechanic should be able to do.

However, expect the following:
- you might need to change wheel bearings, one of which is out in my case
- breaking performance had worsened, in my case. And that is most disappointing part.

It is safe to say, that in my case, i am left with about 80% breaking compared to what i used to have on my drums. That probably means that i am up for new disc rotors and break pads, hopefully it'll help.

Unless someone knows best, pls do share. Thanks.

 

[fabianyee]

Did u service the brake calipers before installing them???