Front 5 lug conversion issues

[SR20DETGUY08]

I have a bsae model 97 S14. I did the 5 lug conversion using all OEM Nissan parts from the dealer. The rear was nice and easy, no problems at all. But then the front is a different story. Basically, I put the hub on, it fits fine. The rotor slides over the hub with no problem. then I go to put the caliper and pads back on and run into this headache...

The brake pad is hitting the center of the rotor, which in turn, isnt allowing the rotor to go all the way on! The center of this rotor compared to the 4 lug rotor is a lot bigger as well. I have tried and re-tried everything I can think of and still have had no luck. I called around at local parts shops to see if maybe there is a diff. in ABS and non-ABS and maybe I got some ABS ones and theyre too big...but no luck. Anyone had this problem or know how to help me????

[Dattebayo]

What calipers are you using?

[SR20DETGUY08]

stock s14 that came on the car.

[Dattebayo]

Edited for incorrect information! I'm trying to do my part...
Modified by Dattebayo at 8:42 PM 3/1/2008

[ThuG LyFe]

did ur car have abs? b/c the abs calipers/pads are bigger than non-abs. so myabe the rotor is for non-abs so it's smaller?

i dono just a guess. maybe the SE calipers are different but i think it's just the differene between abs/non

[SR20DETGUY08]

I have heard of plenty of these converions being done and noone has ever mentioned a single thing about needing to use different calipers. My car is non-ABS...and all of the parts stores are telling me that there is no difference between ABS and non-ABS rotors...

[spooled240]

yeah I think s14 base and SE calipers are the same, just the ABS ones may a have bigger rotor for the sensor inside the rotor. Did you change the pads? If not you should get some SE one's from an auto parts store, they may be different.

[SR20DETGUY08]

yeah I thought about taking a grinder and hittin the center of the rotor...But then I thought hmm..thats kinda hill-jack. I thought about the pads idea..Im gonna go down tomorrow to the parts store and see if they have a set of the SE ones I can match up to mine. I dont understand why they would be any different though, and when you look at the caliper, it doesnt look liek there would be much room to have a diff. pad design anyway..

[spooled240]

i bet the SE pads are different..check it out man. IIRC, I was asked if my car was an SE or base when buying some pads.

[ryan15]

I dont know why it hasnt been mention yet, those rotors you have in the front are REAR rotors lol... I double checked but im pretty sure thats your problem.

Ryan

[spooled240]

ya know, I was looking at that rotor thinking that the contact area looked too small and the center section being too big so that may be your problem bro.

[Dattebayo]

I take back what I said, according to the online parts catalog at RockAuto.com, the rotors and pads are different for ABS.

[SR20DETGUY08]

they arent rear rotors....i thought that too!!!! lol I double checked part numbers and even switched out rotors from the front and rear! haha

[Didderson]

they arent rear rotors....i thought that too!!!! lol I double checked part numbers and even switched out rotors from the front and rear! haha

I was thinking that too. Sorry man I can't help then lol. Good luck!

[ryan15]

Well they def arnt front rotor they are waaaaay to thin, the center section is way to big, compare them to your old rotors, the diameter on those ones is also less, and they dont have the "breather" center section.

Ryan

[Dattebayo]

Yeah, they aren't front rotors, that's for sure. Good catch, guy.

Fronts are vented, no exceptions!

[SR20DETGUY08]

hmm...i must have some parts stores that arent very good then lol...wow good point on the fact that they arent vented up front! looks like i have some investigating to do.

[jetroy240]

maybe , they got the right box but wrong part inside

[le_ryan]

DOH !!!

lol

yeah those are rear rotors

[spooled240]

wow that's EXACTLY the problem! just realized they weren't vented in the pic...that is just a result of human error I'm assuming. It's a good thing that they didn't fit, you probably would have overheated the hell outta those rotors and get some bad brake fade..who knows what happens then

I'm planning on doing a 5 lug conversion myself on my '97 base model, just need the front hubs and some rotors/pads

[SR20DETGUY08]

yeah well make sure you get front rotors!! ha wow I feel like an idiot...

[ThuG LyFe]

lol @ them being rears...it did look small to me too but i didn't think that was a possibility.

anyway, just watch out for the abs/non abs rotors/pads b/c they are diff. it's weird though, my car is ABS but when i bought ABS pads it was too big (wide) and wouldn't fit inside the caliper. so i have a abs car using non-abs calipers??? weird.