Maxima Brakes on S13?

[rico05]

I have heard of this working on an S13. What years and parts are compatable? There are 5-6 Maximas at my local jyard that I can pick off of.

[Nismo_Freak]

Maxima's are 5-lug FYI.

Your also gonna need to make sure the hub diameter is the same and that the calipers will mount to your spindles.

[WongFeiHung]

You need 93-98 Altima rotors (4 lug) + 93? Maxima calipers...Doing this swap this weekend, except I will be using 180sx rotors...

[USsil80]

what are the clalipers.... 4 pot like the 300

[WongFeiHung]

It's only 1 piston, but its very large...much larger than the stock 240 ones...and a big bonus is there is a wide selection of brake pads for the Maxima calipers...This is basically the setup on the JDM 180SXs...

[USsil80]

would you say it is an UPGRADE such as heaat dispation and stopping area or would you say just get 300z

[rico05]

The rims I plan on getting won't allow me to get Z32 calipers w/o spacers (Watanabe RS-8s). That is why I am considering this. Now what about caliper brackets? Is all you need the calipers and rotrs, or do you need any other parts? Also, I have Goodridge SS lines, will the Maxima calipers work with these? Looks like those expensive Axxis pads are trash now:(

[USsil80]

that is a good question.. with the 240sx lines mate up to the maximias calipers

[rico05]

I know that the caliper brackets are different casting, but are they the same size? I had to replace mine but I forgot to take a good look at the Maxima ones. Looks like I may just keep my current brake setup.

[WongFeiHung]

would you say it is an UPGRADE such as heaat dispation and stopping area or would you say just get 300z

Better heat disipation because of the larger rotor, better stopping power, better selection of pads...The Z32 upgrade is a superior upgrade, but on most of our cars its more braking power than we need and also much more expensive than this upgrade...and you dont have to change ball joints or control arms or whatever...

I'm pretty sure you need the caliper bracket from the maxima as well...I'll double check tonight...I just bought a 'loaded' Maxima caliper set from O'reillys, everything you need except for the rotors...

Yes the 240 lines work, but they might run a little differently...

[vududoc]

let us know the outcome and stopping improvement

[bob marley]

I guess I'll post this since it's somewhat related. I took a set of 180sx calipers and rotors off my clip since they were in good condition. Are the 180sx rotors the same as the Altima rotors? What about brake pads. Phase2 says 94-96 Maxima pads work. Can anyone verify this?

Thanks, Johann

[WongFeiHung]

Here we go...also painted the calipers...

[rico05]

I pulled off the calipers off of a 1994 MAxima and compared them to a caliper off of a S13 sitting right next to it in the jyard. The piston really dosen't look any bigger. ANy comments?

Also, did the stock soft lines bolt up just fine? I have Goodrigde SS lines and I wonder if I could still use them if I did this.

[WongFeiHung]

I am pretty sure the piston is larger and the pad sweep area is much larger, the rotor is notiecably bigger and there is also a larger selection of pads for the Maxima calipers.. The lines should work, you just mount the brake line to the caliper you will need to point it up so you can use the stock line mount position...you'll see what I mean...

I should have took a comparison picture of the calipers...but I already turned in the old ones as cores...

[Cloudedone]

How is the stopping improvement?

[HaveBlue]

i would say the q45 brake upgrade was more worth while. at least for me. the only added complication was drilling the rotors from 5 lug to 4 lug. the calipers and rotors are much bigger and the brake system feels much better. my only fear is locking up the front wheels under severe braking. im getting wider rims and better tires to improve grip.

[WongFeiHung]

Stopping improvement is definitely improved, I can feel the brakes aren't having to work as hard for the same stopping. The Q45 upgrade would show more improvement, but it's nothing I really need right now with my setup...and I wasn't sure if it would clear my stock wheels, the maxima calipers barely clear...

[HaveBlue]

the stock teardrop alloy wheels on my 1990 clear the q45 brakes. i had to cut the dust shields though.

[s13sr20chris]

a larger piston in the caliper would probably be undesirable as it would cause a longer pedal travel. it also cause the brake bias to shift forward.

[bob marley]

a larger piston in the caliper would probably be undesirable as it would cause a longer pedal travel. it also cause the brake bias to shift forward.

Then again, these calipers did come stock on the 180sx, so I assume nissan would account for this.

[HaveBlue]

yes, but it depends on how big your brake MC is. if you look it up you will find there were at least 3 different sized brake master cylinders in the 240sx over the years. the largest being 17/16" (1 1/16"). i believe the 300zx used this large size as well. not 100% on that though. roughly the base models had the small ones, se and ABS equipped models had the larger ones, as did the automatics.my 1990 is an automatic and the q45 brakes did not increase pedal travel or pedal stiffness. they feel very good and it requires much less pedal pressure to stop than it did before.

[bob marley]

yes, but it depends on how big your brake MC is. if you look it up you will find there were at least 3 different sized brake master cylinders in the 240sx over the years. the largest being 17/16" (1 1/16"). i believe the 300zx used this large size as well. not 100% on that though. roughly the base models had the small ones, se and ABS equipped models had the larger ones, as did the automatics.my 1990 is an automatic and the q45 brakes did not increase pedal travel or pedal stiffness. they feel very good and it requires much less pedal pressure to stop than it did before.

True. I forgot about this, but I think the 180sx also has a larger MC.

[s13sr20chris]

well less pedal pressure is not always a good thing. thats what vacuum boost is for. i would lean towards a stiffer pedal myself.

[crzycav86]

well less pedal pressure is not always a good thing. thats what vacuum boost is for. i would lean towards a stiffer pedal myself.

but then there are those times when you wish you had a really light pedal...

On monday, we had some flooding, and I was stuck in bumper to bumper traffic on my way home from school for over two hours(normally a 30 minute drive). as the highway started sloping down, i resorted to using my e-brake to stop, because my feet were so tired.... the whole ride home was a very interesting experience...

[s13sr20chris]

yes, this is all so conceptual. in practice streetability becomes much more important than i make it out to be.

[USsil80]

soo what pad are you using ...do you match the front to the back

[WongFeiHung]

Well, brake pad choice can be very subjective, but I'd recommend at least an equal pad in the rear...

[USsil80]

yea that is what i want to do but i can't find anything that matches..........i am looking for ideas so i don't have really bad brake bais