OEM BRAKE UPGRADE

[PATHFINDER99NI]

The old pathfinder is about ready for new brakes all around and after upgrading my ‘95 Suburbans brakes to a larger OEM caliper and rotor, it got me wondering if the same can be done for the R50.

Does anyone know if there was a towing package that fitted our trucks with larger calipers and rotors? Maybe a diesel R50 in Australia was equipped with larger rotors/calipers? Was the German R50 equipped with larger brakes in anticipation of of Autobahn usage?

Just wondering, thanks all.

[mdmellott]

I haven't seen any different standard OEM R50 brakes and rotors that would be upgrades but I have seen quite a few posts regarding upgrades using V8 Pathfinder brakes and rotors on an R50. In all those posts, I see that wheels larger than 16" would also be required. Here's one of the posts I read in The Nissan Path forum. >>> https://www.thenissanpath.com/v8-brake- ... 16258.html

[PATHFINDER99NI]

I haven't seen any different standard OEM R50 brakes and rotors that would be upgrades but I have seen quite a few posts regarding upgrades using V8 Pathfinder brakes and rotors on an R50. In all those posts, I see that wheels larger than 16" would also be required. Here's one of the posts I read in The Nissan Path forum. >>> https://www.thenissanpath.com/v8-brake- ... 16258.html

Hmm , interesting, I’ll take a look. Thank you.

[Hawairish]

Won't work. "V8 Pathfinder" = R51. Different lug pattern, for starters.

[PATHFINDER99NI]

I haven't seen any different standard OEM R50 brakes and rotors that would be upgrades but I have seen quite a few posts regarding upgrades using V8 Pathfinder brakes and rotors on an R50. In all those posts, I see that wheels larger than 16" would also be required. Here's one of the posts I read in The Nissan Path forum. >>> https://www.thenissanpath.com/v8-brake- ... 16258.html

Yeah, looks like it’s a no go. The hub is completely different as well. No dice.

The upgrade doesn’t even have to come from a Pathfinder. Did the maxima or Patrol use the same type brakes?

[mdmellott]

Won't work. "V8 Pathfinder" = R51. Different lug pattern, for starters.

Yeah, looks like it’s a no go. The hub is completely different as well. No dice.

Yep. Y'all are right. The Nissan Path article only mentioned Pathfinder V8 to V6 brake upgrade but no mention of the R50s. Not sure if that was actually referring to R51 brake upgrades from R52 bake parts or something else. I never got the details. I was also reading posts about the WD21/R50 rear drum brake conversion upgrade to disc brakes but that looked like quite the chore of a project.

[Hawairish]

V8 R51 Pathfinder only existed in 2008 I think, so I interpreted that as being the donor in that particular swap, but it wouldn't surprise me if a more common version of this was to use Titan parts instead. R51, D40 Frontier, and N40 Xterra were practically identical in terms of front suspension, also sharing some frame characteristics with the Titan.

Putting WD21 rear discs on an R50 (or any pre-05 D22 Frontier or WD22 Xterra with C200 or H233B rear axle) does require the ability to tear down axle shaft assemblies and press them together with the WD21 backing plates. I've done the swap on my 04 R50 and 98 D22 2.4L 2WD (has a D21 H233B now). Adapting the parking brake and bending brake hardlines are the only actual custom work on the project.

[Hawairish]

The upgrade doesn’t even have to come from a Pathfinder. Did the maxima or Patrol use the same type brakes?

If you're talking rotors, no. Nothing attaches to our hubs except maybe ones from W/D21 or W/D22, and all of them had smaller rotors. No go on Patrols because they had straight axles, so entirely different hub and brake assemblies, despite same bolt pattern. All other Nissans had different bolt patterns. R50 rotors do not slip onto the hub like other rotors; that's already a limiting factor.

Calipers from other vehicles can probably fit, but it might be a long shot. Any time I've seen it done, usually the brake pad coverage is a mismatch on the rotor (i.e., the outer perimeter of the pad is beyond the rotor). I suppose it's still an improvement if there's more pad coverage in the end.

To that extent, you're likely just limited to any premium brand/product, like Power Stop. People seem to also suggest SS braided brake lines, too.

[AlanAZ]

Flushing the brake system with DOT 5.1 will significantly raise the boiling point, even compared to DOT 4, improving towing and long mountain downhill brake performance. It has better cold weather and smoother ABS performance, as it is lower viscosity. And the Bosch 5.1 fluid I use recommends a 3 yr service interval, rather than 2 yrs for DOT 3 and 4. Note: DOT 5.1 is not related to the silicone-based DOT 5, which should not be used.

[PATHFINDER99NI]

The upgrade doesn’t even have to come from a Pathfinder. Did the maxima or Patrol use the same type brakes?

If you're talking rotors, no. Nothing attaches to our hubs except maybe ones from W/D21 or W/D22, and all of them had smaller rotors. No go on Patrols because they had straight axles, so entirely different hub and brake assemblies, despite same bolt pattern. All other Nissans had different bolt patterns. R50 rotors do not slip onto the hub like other rotors; that's already a limiting factor.

Calipers from other vehicles can probably fit, but it might be a long shot. Any time I've seen it done, usually the brake pad coverage is a mismatch on the rotor (i.e., the outer perimeter of the pad is beyond the rotor). I suppose it's still an improvement if there's more pad coverage in the end.

To that extent, you're likely just limited to any premium brand/product, like Power Stop. People seem to also suggest SS braided brake lines, too.

How about brake upgrades from the Frontier or Xterra? I wasnt thinking about those when I posted, but it seems like their front brakes would be similar if not the same.

What do you think?

[PATHFINDER99NI]

Ok guys, I found that there was a brake upgrade in 99. After SN 350000 a larger 300mm rotor replaced the original 283mm unit. I’m assuming a new caliper and mount are needed, but I’ll confirm at Oreillys later next week. More info at this thread
front-brakes-rotors-too-large-t631559.html

[FrenchPople]

Chances are with the bogger rotor the same caliper was used. A different braket might have been used. Aa for the rear disc brakes on the WD21 you will only find them from a Sport Package Pathfinder. Honestly I love them over the Drum Brakes in the Rear. If you did a full Axle Swap you may be able to get it to work but I'm not sure what possible fabrication would have to be done.