300z Brake Upgrade: Pros vs. Cons

Forum for Nissan wheel fitment, tire selection, suspension setup and brake discussions.
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C-Kwik
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fiznat wrote:Yeah I dont understand why people keep saying that if you have x horsepower you're going to need bigger brakes. A stop from 100mph is going to require the same amount breaking power regardless of how much horsepower that car has... it's not like you're trying to accelerate and brake at the same time, are you?

I can understand getting bigger/better brakes if you're worried about fading or wear from heavy, prolonged use in a short amount of time, but to say that you need bigger brakes to stop your street driven car now that you have a turbo on it just doesnt make much sense to me.


There are several fators involved when choosing what braking system will work for you. But as far as HP, the more HP you havem the faster speeds you will hit between turns all else equal. And with that in mind, if the car still has to turn at the same speed it has to slow the car down from a higher speed to make the same turn and thus brake more. It will also depend on the type of course as well. Autocrosses typically do not involve a heavy amount of braking. Road courses with repeated high speed to low speed transitions can really fade your brakes fast. And this would be compounded as you make your car more powerful.


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C-Kwik
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Sqwigy X wrote:I intend on driving my car very hard, so I'm thinking I'm gonna do the Z32 brakes. But I think I'm going to stay with the 4-lug.


If you are gonna do the 5-lug swap, do it for a better choice of wheels. Doing it just for brakes will offer little to no benefit and just cost a lot more money.

BuudWeizErr
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Just FYI.

Don't bother doing a Z32 Brake swap without the Z32 Master Cylinder unless you like stepping on a sponge. The Z32 M/C feels a million times better. For +-100 dollars, you cannot lose.

Nismo_Freak
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Chet chet chet... I'm so disapointed that no one said anything about....

UN-SPRUNG WEIGHT

:)

jorge
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I thought it was only neccesary to use the z32 master cylinder if u were doing the rear swap also?

s13sr20chris
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unsprung weight...i second that

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Exar-Kun
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well...with a 5 lug covnersion, you can use Z32 uprights if you like, saving a bit of unsprung weight, allong with alluminum front calipers...

proeblem is, you gain it back with the larger rotors..unless you get some mad-bad-*** from texas to get you Z32 spec apex-i 2-peice alluminum rotors...\

:D

unsprung weight...less is more.-chet

s13sr20chris
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for real? i had heard that z32 steering knuckles, calipers, and rotors ended up being less unsprung weight than the stock stuff. i saw some comparison against the q45 brakes(cheaper than z32 brakes), the skyline brakes, and stock.

edit: i will most definitely take your word for it though.

jorge
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for just the front z brake swap, u recommend using the 17/16" Z32 Master Cylinder?

SingleCamSam
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The 17/16 is too stiff. I have Z front brakes and the 1" master cylinder on my S13 and pedal feel is great.

jorge
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SingleCamSam wrote:The 17/16 is too stiff. I have Z front brakes and the 1" master cylinder on my S13 and pedal feel is great.
thats what I heard from another source, do u have the item number for the1'' master cylinder, and what year z32 did that come off of?

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Exar-Kun
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chris, last I chcked, the alluminum calipers and rotor weighed a little more total than the stock front setup. if you also conver the rear, using the Z32 upright, the rotors and everything comes out 2lbs heavier than stock...(according to SCC)

-chet

s13sr20chris
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duly noted, and thanks.

SHIEF
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I've looked at the sticky icky on this. Not clear though. I plan on drilling rotors, does the Z32 brake calipers, and brake bracket bolt right up to my S13 hubs? Sorry but I'm a nissan newb, comin from honda, so I'm heading in the right direction.

BuudWeizErr
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I run the 17/16" and it feels great.

SingleCamSam
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Yeah but did you do the rear brakes as well? I only have the fronts.

AP Autosport
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I see some of you guys that are using the 300zx mc have 89's. I also have a 89 240sx and am trying to upgrade the mc but the problem I am having is without abs I have to use the middle hole and the flare fitting that I toke out of a old mc isn't fitting. What did you guys use?

thanks

BuudWeizErr
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SingleCamSam wrote:Yeah but did you do the rear brakes as well? I only have the fronts.


Nope. Stock S13 calipers in the back. Z32 up front.

SingleCamSam
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Hmm, that's interesting. My pedal is nice and tight with the 1" so i would have imagined that it would be TOO tight with the 17/16". I guess whichever one you can find would work well.


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