180SX brakes on your 240SX

[afracer]

This article was pulled from 240SX Wiki:

The owners of S14's ('95-'98), can upgrade their brakes using 1995 Nissan Maxima calipers, rotors and pads, and for those with 4 bolt use 1995 Nissan Altima rotors with a 3mm spacer between the caliper and the spindle.

For the owners of S13s ('89-'94) You can upgrade your stock front brakes to JDM 180sx spec using USDM parts. This upgrades main benefit is the additional mass to the rotor for heat dissipation. The caliper pistons are not so large as to impact braking bias more than a trivial amount. The following will be needed for this swap:

stock non abs s13 brakes VS 180sx style brakes('93-'97) 1st generation Nissan Altima rotors. These are 280x22mm and have a 4x114 bolt pattern.

('89-'99) 3rd and 4th generation Nissan Maxima brake calipers

('89-'99) 3rd and 4th generation Nissan Maxima brake caliper mounting brackets

('89-'99) 3rd and 4th generation Nissan Maxima brake caliper mounting bracket hardware kit

('89-'99) 3rd and 4th generation Nissan Maxima brake pads

These parts all directly bolt onto the s13 with no major modifications needed. This swap retains near stock

Well, today I just confirmed the rumors about using 2001 Sentra SE-R rotors and pads, although I think all the newer Sentra's also use the same front rotors. Anyways, I had 180SX (JDM) brakes on my S13 (USDM) left over from the front clip I got my SR20 out of almost 5 years ago. I've been running on these brakes with Project Mu pads I brought back from Japan with me all this time and they actually worked damn good, especially when I was road racing out in Mineral Wells. I loved these pads. Without the option of buying another set for a reasonable price here in the US, I started researching what kind of replacement pads and rotors I could use here in the US. Finally I saw a rumor that the Sentra SE-R and Maxima used the same thing, so I went to Tire Rack and ordered a set of Brembo Sports pads for an 01 Sentra SE-R that were on closeout for $40, and then went to AutoZone and got a new pair of matching rotors for $29/ea. They bolted right on like what I had! So if you have JDM 180SX/Silvia brakes or are roaming the junkyards and find a Maxima/Sentra SE-R, it's a viable and affordable option. They've also got race/track pads available, so it's not a dead end for racing hard. So far the pedal feel is so much better (my old rotors were WAY worn down and the pads almost not there) and it grabs real nice, but I'm still bedding them in. Just thought I'd share.

There are tons of other braking options out there, but I fell in love with the stock 180SX setup with good pads and disks the first time I track'd the car. I know, I tought they'd be too weak, but to me it has the perfect balance.

[4cefed]

Anyone else try this yet? I can get calipers brackets, pads and rotors out of rock auto for about $250. It looks like a decent upgrade path and claims not to screw with the brake bias much.

[masterdisaster]

yup .. it's true ..

and just to clarify something .. altima 93-02 , maxima , sentra +02 se-r or base models .. all use the same damm parts . whether it's the calipers, pads or rotors (maxima for 5 luggers)

Nissan parts are like hookers.. they get passed around on their complete line up .. my 1991 180sx (sr20det) uses the same parts as a 2006 sentra ..lol stick with what works!!

p.s 180sx that came original with ca18det use the same brakes as usdm s13 .. so don't be fooled!!

[nifares240]

the best OEM upgrade are the z32 brakes all around.

[4cefed]

Yeah, probably, but I wasn't looking for "the best." I wanted to know if anyone else tried this set-up. I'm not shelling out for a five lug swap or spending time drilling rotors. Will I be able to use my stock wheels with the maxima calipers?

[nifares240]

you don't need to go 5 lug with z32 brakes. should clear maxima calipers.

[4cefed]

I also didn't want to fit z32 brakes to the rear, I like my non-drum parking brake. Was there a stock 4 lug rotor that worked with the z32 front brakes?

Did you say my stock wheels should clear the maxima calipers?

[4cefed]

Update:

This works awesome. I think I have the wrong pad/rotor combination though, my pads are overhanging the rotors by about 3/16ths or so. The sentra rotors measure out to be 11" but it looks like the caliper brackets would fit about 11.5 at the most. I used maxima pads, I wonder if I was supposed to use sentra pads to eliminate the overhang.

My stock 15" wheels fit right over with no problems. Now I can actually lock up the front wheels. So I don't want much more brake without widening the tires. Thanks for the info OP.

[asoomal]

I also didn't want to fit z32 brakes to the rear, I like my non-drum parking brake. Was there a stock 4 lug rotor that worked with the z32 front brakes?

Did you say my stock wheels should clear the maxima calipers?

Drums are better...