Brake Rotor Alternatives?

texasnick · Post by **texasnick** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 10:27 am

Hey guys,

We are currently looking at sprucing up our brakes on the '75 530i for the upcoming ChumpCar race in Calgary. I have a couple of questions maybe the gurus can help with

(1) Does EBC make yellowstuff pads for a '75? I can find them for 80-81's, but the earlier E12s take different pads right?

(2) I'm having difficulties finding front rotors. Rears seem to be easy enough to source, but none of my resources up here have the fronts in stock. Are there any other BMW rotors that have the same dimensions as those that would fit a '75? Not looking for anything special, just some blanks.

Thanks in advance,
Nick

Mike W. · Post by **Mike W.** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 4:23 pm

Bavs and early 530s are the only ones that use that rotor. I don't know about shipping to Canada, but Rockauto often has very good prices on rotors, and they currently show some for $23 or something ridiculous like that. and yes, that's the fronts. On pads, I know they show a different part number, but I think the later vented rotor brakes use the same size and shape pad as the early non vented one. I don't know why the different P/N, but I think it's the same size and shape. I could scan and email you an image of one if you need, I think I've got some late pads around.

texasnick · Post by **texasnick** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 5:46 pm

thanks for the reply!

We just checked rockauto. Shipping to Calgary is going to be around $150 for all 4 LOL. Crazy shipping prices.

What year E12's share the same rotor as the '75? I'm hoping 75-79 share the same and 80-81 are different?

garethashenden · Post by **garethashenden** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 7:28 pm

You could swap the front struts from a later car and then use those rotors and pads.

Mike W. · Post by **Mike W.** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 2:02 pm

Yeah, Rockauto is a crap shoot sometimes due to shipping. But I just remembered you have a really early one, with lug studs, not lug bolts like later ones. I think 77 was the start of vented rotors up front, definitely not 80, from what I see it looks like they used the same stuff from 77 on. I know even the later ones aren't common up there, but if you can find a way to get later ventilated ones I'd go for them.

Bavs, E9 coupes and early E12s were the only ones that used solid lug stud rotors.