Rear Disk Brake Attempt via 323 trailing arms, kind of long.

[Guest Anonymous]

Greeting to you all,

After viewing several links on various ways of adopting rear disk brakes, (and the various parts to use to the point of making me dizzy) I have been giving a serious thought of going the 323 trailing arm route.

I do know it is NOT a bolt on solution, I know that the rear spring seats from a standard trailing arm set have to be carefully welded in place.

What I don't know is what existing parts from the standard trailing arm (beside the seats) CAN be use on the 323 trailing arm. I have already rebuilt the existing set up (Bilstein HD, Eibach, new ueathane bushings and bolting hardware.

Will I need shocks and springs that fit the 323 t.a. or can I use what I have already, this includes half shafts, bushing etc. etc.

I have seen one project on line but it is in Swedish or German, the pics however showed it does not need coil over shock set up

This would be a serious project but with the ongoing confusion on what to use now, this seems to be a straight solution. If I did persue this I will make a complete and detail project link for the rest of us to try on the FAQ.

It takes a village to raise an idiot, I need all the help I can get.

Peace to you all.

J.E.2002

Code Name Lola

[DavinSF]

(nt)

[canadamatt]

Greeting to you all,

What I don't know is what existing parts from the standard trailing arm (beside the seats) CAN be use on the 323 trailing arm. I have already rebuilt the existing set up (Bilstein HD, Eibach, new ueathane bushings and bolting hardware.

Will I need shocks and springs that fit the 323 t.a. or can I use what I have already, this includes half shafts, bushing etc. etc.

If you want rear discs, its by FAR simpler to buy a kit or just get the brackets made up. I worked on some 323i arms (coilovers) for my 02 and it was a pain in the ass. Pics of mine below..and I also have some pics of 323i arms with the 02 spring perches welded on, I'll see if I can find them. Looks pretty stock.

Anyways, with 323i arms..you use the arms, stub axles..and thats about it. Toss the calipers and use e30 ones, you actually get a pad selection then, and they're way cheaper, as well as rebuild kits are easily available. There is only one 323i caliper pad choice..BMW . You'll need to run 02 halfshafts... when I went to put the 323i arms on my 02 with e21 LSD..I found the e21 halfshafts I was using were a hair too long. 323i rear backing plates can still be had, I got a missing one from Blunt. I also got some somewhat pricey 323i rear parking brake cables, haven't looked at putting them on yet. 02 trailing arm bushings can be fit, same thing. With the 323i calipers, Bavauto has stainless brake hose, or the e30 hoses with e30 calipers obviously. The 323i hoses aren't cheap. Use your 02 shocks and springs. And oh yeah, rotors are the same as e30 ones, and are pretty inexpensive as well.

http://www.disimilar.com/album/v/matt/BMW2002/suspension/

Hope that helps. I'll try to find the trailing arm pics with the stock 02 perches..

Matt

[Guest Anonymous]

CanadaMatt,

So I can use my existing rebuilt half-shafts and my 3.91 LSD, and it should bolt right up as well as my shocks, springs, bushings etc.

As for brakes, I don't want the rear to lock up before the fronts, so an e30 set up would compete with the front, the set of 323s I am looking at has a complete disk and calipers, maybe if I sold them Hmmmm.

Someone said that you have to install new sway bar mounts as well, true?

And that to install new sway bar the whole assembly has be lowered, true?

Finally, in you email you said you had a set of 323s in stock or was it pics.

Thanks for you input, It has been most helpful!!

[canadamatt]

CanadaMatt,

So I can use my existing rebuilt half-shafts and my 3.91 LSD, and it should bolt right up as well as my shocks, springs, bushings etc.

As for brakes, I don't want the rear to lock up before the fronts, so an e30 set up would compete with the front, the set of 323s I am looking at has a complete disk and calipers, maybe if I sold them Hmmmm.

Someone said that you have to install new sway bar mounts as well, true?

And that to install new sway bar the whole assembly has be lowered, true?

Finally, in you email you said you had a set of 323s in stock or was it pics.

Thanks for you input, It has been most helpful!!

For the e30 caliper 'lockup'...just ensure you have a disc/disc MC and a prop valve. I am running a MC from an old 5series, and I got an adjustable prop valve from Summit. What are you running in the front?

Sway bar mounts..yep, see link below. Easy to make, just a couple pieces of angle iron, and then triangle them off. I have a set of 323i calipers as well as e30 calipers (but not for sale

sway bar mount (no hole drilled yet)

http://www.disimilar.com/album/v/matt/BMW2002/suspension/Picture+033.jpg

And oh yeah...your track width will increase by about 1/4 inch on each side. Wheels will NOT fit under stock bodywork unless you have a perfect offset rim and not-so-wide tires. I am running 205/50-15 Azenis (known to be 'wide' tires for their size) with 15x6.5 rims, and they rubbed slightly on the trailing arm itself, so I had to take that down a bit (they have a lip of them) and they pretty much touched the wheel arch just sitting there (not driving). I guess if you had a narrower rear setup it would fit. This winter I'll be dropping the entire subframe again and moving the trailing arm pickup points in 1/4inch on each side so I keep the stock look. Only reason I'm doing all this is because I enjoy the work and find it challenging.. Otherwise I can't really see it being worth it unless you're an ultra serious track-monger.

Matt