WE NEED A BRAKE FAQ!

[sil80drifter]

We already have wheel, tire, and suspension FAQ's... What's missing?

BRAKE FAQ. Could someone please make one with all the possibilities (300zx, cobra, q45, sentra) and compatibilities (sizes, hub bores, lines,etc) listed, and all the links (past projects, ASADs listing, ultimate 300ZX brak swap link) and etc listed as well? It would make this Forum the ultimate.

sil80

[yokota180sx]

every nissan brake fits on a 240what more do you want?

[sil80drifter]

Come on.A general guide for all brake options, combined with all rotor options, and fitment and hubcentricity issues and links.... that would be invaluable! Then combine that with what fits under what kind of wheel.... it would even better. And no not all nissan brakes fit, some require brackets, bigger wheels, spacers or different offsets, and conversion brake lines (both front and back and for the e-brake). So it's not that straight forward.

Anyone!?

sil80

[AZhitman]

Good idea.

Also, a guide to choosing rotors and pads.

Does anyone REALLY know the difference between an OEM rotor and an ebay rotor? Think so?

Let's do this thing... I have a couple sources, post up some more info you guys want to know about!

[RB20DETodd]

hawk hps overrated

brembos on ebay are not real brembos

zinc/cadium plating is a must

yes

[AZhitman]

Correct.

Correct.

Mostly correct (some alloys are less prone to rust than others), cheap Chinese rotors rust faster than a '66 Datsun in Chicago.

We're off to a good start thanks to Todd.

[a_ahmed]

HPS <- Sucks ***

HP+ pads <- Nice Street and autocross (I run them right now and love them, I didn't want to get anything more agressive as I don't intend to upgrade my current setup further, I want to ditch and go for something else).

Blue <- A step above HP+

Some ideas for the FAQ might be... what rims you need for certain rotor/caliper combinations.

For instance 14" BBK would require 18", 13" BBK would require 17", 15" with 8 piston calipers would require baller status and 19" rims :P

One thing I didn't know was that I could not hook up Z32 e-brake cables on s13 (too short)... apparently people say R32 e-brake cables are a good thing to get when doing S13 rear z32 and e-brake conversion...

[working4aS13]

Greg, I sent a fairly lengthy email regarding this thread subject.

[grffnsmth]

I vote yes for a Brake FAQ, you never know it might come in handy one day.

[Bronze MFP]

when doing a full 300zx brake swap and you want a NON GHETTO working ebrake on an s14, r33 gtr (or gtst) ebrake cables bolt right up like they were meant for the s14. on an s13 i believe 300zx 2+2 cables work well. axxis metal master pads are GREAT street pads. I've had mine forever (like 2 years) and they are just now getting to the point where they need to be replaced. Good initial grip but get better once they are warmed up, quiet, fairly low dust. great all around street / autocross pad.

[sil80drifter]

This is probably not too helpful but...

STOCK FRONT BRAKES:

300ZX Calipers and Cobra rotors:

It's somewhat of a pain, as I had to grind down the caliper ends to have less pad overhang, and slot the caliper adapter brackets, as they were for a maxima, not a 240SX. The wheels are 8.5x18, 35 offset and need a 5mm spacer to clear the caliper (right now clearance is less than 1/2 mm, so need extra 5mm for peace of mind), but since the coilovers need 15mm spacer to clear wheels anyway, that won't be a problem.

Spacers are about $70 bux on ebay, aluminum/magnesium alloy, hubcentric, with their own hub ridges and extended studs.

Overall cost = 300ZX calipers = $200 (+- $50 dependign where you get them)Hawk HPS pads = $50Cobra rotors = $90 shippedRedrill = free (did myself)caliper brackets to fit Cobra rotors = $50 (for Maxima, need to be slotted to avoid overhang)Conversion lines = $80 (front and back, rear just OEM SS replacement)Spacers (need them anyway for wheels but will include here too) = $70Hardware (bolts, nuts, washers, all grade 8 or better) = $20

Total cost = $560 and some elbow grease.I doubt one can make 13" big brake kit for less. Usually they are about $2k more, granted from a reputable company, but if I didn't trust my own work, what am I doing here in the first place, right?

sil80
Modified by sil80drifter at 11:55 PM 8/12/2007

[BoBof4t]

Great Idea!

[working4aS13]

Here is my take on a brake FAQ. I wrote it as a 5 lug and Z32 brake upgrade for the 240SX (more specifically the S13) but I believe I covered most if not all issues relating to a braking system. I wrote this to the norm 240SX owner, under funded but wanting better brakes.

http://brakefaq.epijunkie.com

I welcome any commentary.

[sil80drifter]

Infinite is actually spelled "inifiniti"

http://www.infiniti.com/

and now that i think about it, it's an odd frikkin word...just say it how it's spelled a few times over... it's freaky!

Oh and also... it would be a good idea to note which MCs from which year 300Zx fit (without bending brake lines) which 240SX (89-90 s13 w/w/out ABS, 91-94 s13 w/w/out ABS, 95-98 s14 w/w/out ABS). I know the fitment is different for all of those, so which 300ZX MC is bolt up (save the fact that non-ABS will have to use the flare from the old MC) to those models?

Also, regarding your coment about the Cobra brakes (yeah hahah, of course): Even if not the entire width of the rotor is swept, the heat absorption capability of that 330mm rotor is greater than of a 280mm Z rotor. You can say "you may not need it" but I say this: If you are running 4 lug, and 17-18" wheels and are getting spacers for your coilovers anyway, and have to redrill the 5 lug Z or Cobra rotor ANYway.... spend $50, get the conversion bracket and use the Cobra rotor. If you're going with a cheap brake kit, go all the way. For someone who is running stock or 16" wheels and wants to be sure of fitment, yeah, the stock 300ZX rotor/caliper combo will sit about 7-8mm closer to the hub, so they may (or may not) be saving themselves some spacers. But again, if offset issues are the worry, the only thing we know about the 300ZX rotor/caliper combo is what stock wheels it fits (i.e. stock 300Zx wheels for a 5 lugger, and stock s13/s14 wheels if you get 26mm calipers). All aftermarket wheel fitment is a wild game, and everyone always says "if the spokes are deep set then it won't fit, if they are shallow, then it might." To me that's as much of a guessing game as that of the Cobra rotor/caliper bracket.

Excellent write up btw, combine that with the Ultimate 300ZX Brake Swap and that's anything anyone ever wanted to know for the 300ZX brake swap. I'm hoping for a detailed write up of a VR-4 rotor swap (with inside pics and measurements) and with my adding my info for the Cobra rotors/brackets we'll be ALL set on the 300ZX brakes.

On a different note, has anyone looked into the rear rotors of the Sentra SE-R, used with stock 240SX rear calipers wiith a bracket to fit the larger circumference? The rotors are both hubcentric and 4-lug, so the only thing to be fabricated is the bracket, and after having drilled mine, I can say that anyone could make their own from some mild steel.

sil80

[sil80drifter]

And to also add to the comment above - I've just gone from Axxiss Metal Masters to Hawk HPS, and I can say that the HPS grab better. The bite is felt better, and if I were to quantify it, maybe by 20-30%, but it still feels nicer. The only other thing is, and I am not too sure of it - it seems that the HPS need a little warm up? I thought they wouldn't, being a street pad and all... maybe it's just my imagination. Anyone else have experience comparing HPSs to another pad, back to back?

sil80

[ss82480]

Yeah thats a great write up. Lots of useful info... How long it take you to write it all?

[Arabrockermang]

I thought I'd be the first to use a Cobra rotor dammit lolz

Well I'm using the rear brembo 4 piston of a srt8 but I don't think it was the best caliper to use since its got small pistons

[simmode1]

Lol... This thread is over 3 years old! But it's got useful info, so thanks for zombie bumping it!

Makes me wonder how much better these other options are over my HPS pads and slotted rotors... Hmmm...

[Arabrockermang]

ya I still gotta install them but whats scaring me is if they are gonna fit under my 17s or not lol

I thought ya why not since they are bearly bigger than the 350z rotors but from your picture they are alot bigger rotors I know for a fact the calipers are bigger. The wheels I got are obviously made just to clear big brakes so it might work if not I got a pair of Mercedes calipers for free to save my a**.

Well get my rotors in a few days hopefully before this weekend so wish me luck