where to find 4 piston e31 calipers?

[stephenlc]

I am having a hard time finding these calipers, and all the places online that say they carry them are out of stock. Could someone point in the right direction. Thanks

[pgrindstaff]

There is a set on ebay that I was watching. Price started out nice and low but is way out of my range now. Here ya go: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=220234717383&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=012

[mottati]

you can get them at the dealer brand new for about what that ebay auction ended at. I was also watching that auction, and have found it's worth checking with the dealer before bidding on stuff like that. I got a price of about $370 per caliper, brand new, so why pay >$700 for a used set?

[Tiger]

Rockauto has them for $190 per side rebuilt... that is including the core charge as you are not likely tor return one. Just order a set and see if you get them.

[mottati]

You sure that price is for 4 pot Brembos?

Or is it for the the 'NORMAL' e31 calipers?

brembo 4 piston off an e31. Realoem lists them at $600 per piece, but we all know realoem is not acurate on prices. My parts guy thought he may be able to get either rebuilt or oem (i.e. not in a bmw box) even cheaper and is supposed to get back to me about that.

[attack eagle]

you can get them at the dealer brand new for about what that ebay auction ended at. I was also watching that auction, and have found it's worth checking with the dealer before bidding on stuff like that. I got a price of about $370 per caliper, brand new, so why pay >$700 for a used set?
You sure that price is for 4 pot Brembos?

Or is it for the the 'NORMAL' e31 calipers?

[stephenlc]

I already tried that, they only offer a rebuild service. They have no calipers to sell.

[Tiger]

Then try:
http://www.partsamerica.com/productdetail.aspx?MfrCode=A1C&MfrPartNumber=191898&PartType=5003&PTSet=A

They are cheaper there... $170 with core charge.

[DueyT]

Why does everyone seem to be so big on the 4-pot E31 brakes?

Bruno's site says "the E34 540i brakes develop 686 lb-ft of torque on the fronts at 500 psi line pressure; the rears produce 313 LB-ft" and "the later 840i/850i (not CSi) brakes...generate only 593 LB-ft of torque"

Interesting to note that 850i single piston setup is the braking force king: "the 850i single-piston front brake (like I have) generates 737 LB-ft, the highest of any BMW brake I know of..."

I have to say, if I hit the binders cold, I get the ABS up front, so the 540i single-piston setup is exceeding the traction of my 235/45-17 ContiSport 2's...can't get much better than that (including still getting ABS with several max braking cycles, i.e. minimal fade)

Just wondering.

Cheers
Duey

[MasssiveLee]

Great info. But there's more than just clamping force. Fixed calipers offer more modulation and pedal feedback than sliding ones. A stiffer pedal feel that allows better braking for track use.

[attack eagle]

they should be more modulable being multipiston, and a better match proportion wise to the 540i rears.

[stephenlc]

Then try:
http://www.partsamerica.com/productdetail.aspx?MfrCode=A1C&MfrPartNumber=191898&PartType=5003&PTSet=A

They are cheaper there... $170 with core charge.

None of the items in your cart are currently available in our stores or warehouses. Please contact Customer Service at (877) 808-0698 - alternate items may be available that will meet your needs.

[BigKriss]

I'm not saying the info Bruno provides is wrong, I wonder were he got it from though.


Why does everyone seem to be so big on the 4-pot E31 brakes?

Bruno's site says "the E34 540i brakes develop 686 lb-ft of torque on the fronts at 500 psi line pressure; the rears produce 313 LB-ft" and "the later 840i/850i (not CSi) brakes...generate only 593 LB-ft of torque"

Interesting to note that 850i single piston setup is the braking force king: "the 850i single-piston front brake (like I have) generates 737 LB-ft, the highest of any BMW brake I know of..."

I have to say, if I hit the binders cold, I get the ABS up front, so the 540i single-piston setup is exceeding the traction of my 235/45-17 ContiSport 2's...can't get much better than that (including still getting ABS with several max braking cycles, i.e. minimal fade)

Just wondering.

Cheers
Duey

[DueyT]

Great info. But there's more than just clamping force. Fixed calipers offer more modulation and pedal feedback than sliding ones. A stiffer pedal feel that allows better braking for track use.

Thanks.

I suppose I haven't done enough tracking to appreciate such a brake set-up.

Without a doubt, though, the brakes on my 540i/6 are like nothing I've ever driven before.

Cheers,
Duey

[Antnicuk]

Why does everyone seem to be so big on the 4-pot E31 brakes?

Bruno's site says "the E34 540i brakes develop 686 lb-ft of torque on the fronts at 500 psi line pressure; the rears produce 313 LB-ft" and "the later 840i/850i (not CSi) brakes...generate only 593 LB-ft of torque"

Interesting to note that 850i single piston setup is the braking force king: "the 850i single-piston front brake (like I have) generates 737 LB-ft, the highest of any BMW brake I know of..."

I have to say, if I hit the binders cold, I get the ABS up front, so the 540i single-piston setup is exceeding the traction of my 235/45-17 ContiSport 2's...can't get much better than that (including still getting ABS with several max braking cycles, i.e. minimal fade)

Just wondering.

Cheers
Duey


they just wont last on track no matter how much clamping force they have. Bigger discs dissapate more heat, maintaining efficient braking for longer.

[Tiger]

Same issue of not available... front caliper. Ya know... might just as well buy Bruno's setup with WiIlwood Superlite calipers and 13" rotors.

[mottati]

Then wouldn't you go with the M5 disks instead, since 345x32 would seem to be the best at disapating heat (compared to the E31's 324x30 or my 302x28s)?

the euro m5 calipers are about double the cost of the e31 brembo 4 pistons.

[DueyT]

Then wouldn't you go with the M5 disks instead, since 345x32 would seem to be the best at disapating heat (compared to the E31's 324x30 or my 302x28s)?

[dauchande]

Does switching to these calipers change the braking bias?

[mottati]

Wow, $700 just for the calipers alone. Is this an anomaly or the real going rate?

this is the first set i've seen for a while on ebay. I think it's an anomaly. I called my friend at my dealer parts dept before i put a bid in and found that i could get them new for a similar amount of money.

[flipwils]

Wow, $700 just for the calipers alone. Is this an anomaly or the real going rate?

I have a set of the four-piston E31 Brembos on my car and the E34 M5/540i vented rears that I was thinking of parting with. They had all new rotors and pads last summer (probably 8K miles on them), and I have one track event on them. I'm wondering if I could get $1K for the whole set up?