Door Brake (Stay)

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stuartljohnston

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I have problems with my door brakes, I've read that one possible replacement route is to use the door brakes from an E21, which apparently are cheaper and better designed.

Has anyone tried this/do they fit?
What other problems do I need to watch out for?

Thanks.
 
Pls. describe the problem in detail with the original assuming you want to keep the originals.

I have a similar problem- appears the pins are not the correct size..( Smaller than they should be or so it seems to me because there's play... fixing a previous restoration mistake) .. it's on my E9 bucket list. The brakes and pins are available.

Here's a link to change to something else: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=139642
 
I have done this, found a 320i brake in the boneyard for $5. The end of the arm has to be slightly ground down on top and bottom to fit the body bracket. The 320i pin is too thick to fit through the bracket holes so I used the stock pin pushed through a plastic tube insert i fabricated from a hose or something and placed in the arm end between the top and bottom holes. Works great.
 
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La Jolla Independent has new units of a different design than the original. Both of mine are broken beyond repair so I plan on using these when the car goes back together. I don't remember the price, but it didn't scare me to death when I got the quote.
 
Ditto on LaJolla; Carl rocks!

I've put a new style in my drivers door, and have one ready to go for the pass. door.
 
I just bought a new one from the local dealer. It is very different than the originals. Maybe it will last more than 100 door openings before it breaks.
 
mikes said:
La Jolla Independent has new units of a different design than the original. Both of mine are broken beyond repair so I plan on using these when the car goes back together. I don't remember the price, but it didn't scare me to death when I got the quote.
Click to expand...

What Carl sells may well be the e21 door brake. I bought mine from him 10 or so years ago, and recall that he described them as being from a "later BMW". They have worked great and were easy to fit. Before that, I was buying the e9 style parts all the time.

The only modification I remember making was drilling out the hole in the two tabs that mount to the front doorjamb to accept a larger diameter pin. I suppose you could retain the smaller dia. e9 pin, and put a thicker bushing in the door brake.
 
JMackro - went with the bushing instead to minimise the damage!! A bit of filling to the lugs of the e21 brake was required but all told a surprisingly easy mod...
 
I installed the new and improved door brake a few years ago. It is a bolt-in for the E9, no adaptation required, it just looks different. What an annoyance when the door brake does not work specially with my driveway's slope. I got so conditioned to the damn door flapping back at me that whenever I open a door I stick my leg out to hold it. The shrink wants 5k$ to cure me but my plan does not cover hypnotherapy. My first ride was a Renault 4L and it took me years to learn where a normal stickshift is or how to open a door.
 
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