Replacement caliper for '75 brakes

[Gary]

I was going through the massive pile of paperwork that came with the Sportwagon and noticed a slip for a 1979 BMW 320I caliper. The note with it said switch left and right. Has anyone heard of this substitute?

[kwilford]

Otto's post where he showed the '77 320i vented brake photo says to "swap sides" next to the caliper. I bought a set of NOS calipers off eBay that were listed as fitting either the 320i or the '75 Opel, but I haven't installed them yet. I seem to recall Kat saying she installed a used BMW caliper from Pick Your Part on the SportWagon, and she had to modify the brake line connection. But I don't recall her saying anything about swapping sides.

But it will be a wee time before I get to the SportWagon's brakes to check them out. But when I do, I hope to install those new calipers, and also a set of Brembo slotted and cross-drilled rotors I bought off eBay (also off eBay). So let me know what you find out.

[tekenaar]

Here's what I have on my '72 2.4 GT . . . s/b self-explanatory!

[Gary]

The rotors on mine are solid. So that '79 BMW caliper fits the solid rotors. The '77 only had the vented discs.

[Paul]

Yes the passenger for the BMW goes to the drv side on the Opel. On the BMW the brake line enters the bottom and on the Opel it inters the caliper from the top.

I had to buy one for my Manta. Used a 320i solid rotor using the opposite side from the Opel. A reman caliper loaded with pads was less than $40.

[Gary]

So the BMW solid rotors fit the Opel hubs?

[nobody]

I was just doing a few comparisons and the Raybestos #s for them are the same Opel VS BMW at least for the calipers. The prices were close but the core charges for Opel were around 60 and for BMW a max of 15. Yes the same part # from the same source too. How odd

[GTJIM]

So BMWs are of some use after all? Especially in the braking department.

[tekenaar]

The rotors on mine are solid. So that '79 BMW caliper fits the solid rotors. The '77 only had the vented discs.

Actually, the '77 offered both solid and vented rotors. They changed to solids late in the year, that's why you have to specify which brakes are used for that model year when ordering replacements.

[Paul]

Gary,

I don't know about the rotors, but the calipers for the solid rotors work!!!

[kwilford]

So the BMW solid rotors fit the Opel hubs?

I believe the cross-drilled, radiused rotors I bought on eBay were listed as fitting both the '75 Opel Manta/1900 and a Lotus Esprit. I don't recall them fitting the BMW

[madhatterpdc]

cross-drilled rotors I bought off eBay (also off eBay).

radiused rotors I bought on eBay.

I get the impression that you buy a lot of stuff on eBay.
Just poking fun, I buy plenty off of ebay myself.

Serious question back on topic. Does this swap impact the offset of the wheels?

[nobody]

While I was at work and seeing how much window time I could do I called a few wrecking yards. I found 2 sets of calipers both selling for 5 dollars a caliper. I already sourced the stock 75 rotors at around 39 each. This is sounding just too tempting so far.

Just out of curiosity if there is anybody that has a 75 front brake type, could you post a few dimensions? I'd like to know hub inner face to rotor centerline and thickness at the area for the studs. thanks

[neuropel]

I'm in the middle of doing this conversion on a 74 manta. You can find Brembo 75 manta rotors at www.coximport.com for $27. Part number is 25052. They're one of the few places that have them in stock. A few other places sell them as well...just do a google search for brembo 25052.
Autopartsgiant.com lists an autospecialty vented rotor for the manta, but the part is not available (EBR-044L and EBR-044R). The regular non vented rotor EBR-044 is not available either, unfortunately. Bummer too...the vented ones sold for between $55-$60 each and the non vented were around $21 .

I need to re read this thread on the part where you have to swap the rotors around. With just a quick look, the 75 calipers looked like they would bolt right on to my 74 manta. The only difference appears to be that there's a little more pad on a slightly larger diameter rotor (perhaps a slight thickness difference?).

-Todd K.

[Paul]

Todd,

I hope I haven't confused anyone, its not swapping the rotors around. Its swapping the drivers side BMW caliper to the Opel passenger side and etc. Its to get the brake line fitting input into the correct location.

[neuropel]

Sorry Paul...I meant calipers...just had rotors on my mind from having ordered them today. I'm sure it will make sense when I finally have all the pieces together and ready to go back on. I got my large bore rear wheel cylinders today for the rear from Autopartsgiant.com (around $17 each) along with some other brake parts.

[Gary]

Just picked up a pair of BMW 320I calipers on eBay. The saga continues... Stay tuned.

[Gary]

The calipers arrived today. $51.00 + $20.00 shipping. Photos tell the story.

[nobody]

I was out and about today and found a 78 320I in a junk yard. I took the rotors, hubs, calipers, lug studs, bearings you name it. The calipers looked good and had almost new pads on them with all the hardware. I broke out a spindle to try them on and it was looking pretty good until I went to try the caliper after putting the hub and rotor on it. It is about 3/4 of an inch from fitting so I've been there tried that and the rotors from this car don't fit. It's ok I only spent 31 bucks for it all.

[neuropel]

Ever see Otto's article on the 320i setup he installed on his GT?
At least your calipers will work with the Opel rotors!

Todd