Xterra Brembo Brake Caliper Upgrade

[Big-Bird]

Has anyone tried to do a Brake caliper swap on the Xterra?

For example: Taking the 350Z/G35 Brembo brakes and getting them to fit?

Wondering how easy/hard this would be to upgrade the braking system.

I also thought this would make an intersting topic.

[C-Kwik]

From what I can tell, the Xterra has 6 lugs. The 350Z uses 5. Hub bore may not be the same either. The Titan brakes might work, perhaps with a bit of rotor modification. From my understanding, the Titan's hub bore is smaller than the Frontier. I'm thinking the Xterra's is the same. My GF's uncle fit some Titan wheels on his Frontier, but had to have the hub bore machined out to fit on the Frontier hub.

[XterraVersa]

There are upgraded brakes on the market. I think at 4x4part.com you can find a few.

I couldn't imagine needing more braking power on the xterra. I thought the nose was going to hit the pavement the 1st time I slammed them on the test drive. Even with 33s on, there is more than enough stopping power.

[Big-Bird]

The 2000 Xterra's brakes are kinda weak. By doing the caliper swap up front I would also do a Rotor conversion on the rear. She would stop super fast then. Big help on the trails too! But rotors are not my issue. I want the increased braking ability because of the 300+ pounds on the nose that my Xterra has to carry. That winch and TJM bumper aren't just for decoration you know. Brembo's are 4 piston units. The Stock X's are dual piston babies.

The stock bracket that the caliper attaches to is bolted to the spindle by two 21mm bolts. The Caliper's on the 350Z and Xterra look about the same size but I haven't taken either one off to compare.

Automotive Customizers has rotor upgrades and stainless braided brake lines. I didn't see a high performance caliper on the site...but then again Jane@AC does have some wicked parts. I should call her and see if her shop guys have tried this conversion I am wanting to do.

Off to do research!!

[Big-Bird]

So I ordered one Brembo Caliper from an 03' Se-R Sentra and I am going to do a test fit on my 2000 Xterra. I will keep y'all posted as I attempt this upgrade. Mock Installation starts Thursday night. (August 16)

No idea if it will work and I don't want to hear from the P-nut gallery about why would I do it, Or that it won't work.

Here's the images...



This Caliper is huge! It's 10" long and 5" wide.



These are my 15x8 Rock Crawler rims. I suspect that these won't fit anymore if the calipers do. Could be a good excuse to scoop some 17" Alumimum Wheels.

[Big-Bird]

BUMP

[hsckris]

I think you might be spending a lot of time for minimal benefit.

I think that I'd first try replacing the lines with braided or solid metal ones. This should improve your braking feel. Bleed the brakes at the same time and you could tighten it up some. I've done this before with some success. You could probably try a better brake pad too.

If that doesn't do the trick, I think the only thing that will significantly improve your braking power and shorten your stopping distances would be replacing the pads, rotors, and calipers with higher performance parts.

[Desert Rat]

Interesting idea. I think the stock calipers are dual piston, but I can't remember for sure, as it's been a while since I did the pads on mine. A larger braking surface is what you need for significantly improved braking performance.

As for going to a disk brake rear, I'm curious if the WD21 disks could be converted. Your H233B has a different spline count than that of a '93-95 Pathfinder, but i'm not sure if that would play into the brake install. You'd also need a proportioning valve to adjust the brake bias when you go to disks.

Post up if the sentra calipers will work.

Also, on replacing calipers, a good trick to minimize brake bleeding is to wrap a pair of needle nose visegrip jaws real good with electrical tape to soften any sharp edges, and pinch the soft brake lines just above the caliper to minimize fluid loss. By doing this, the bleeding can be done in about 3-4 pumps per side. Of course going to steel braided lines (which I have on my SAS'd Frontier) will require lots more bleeding and significantly more brake fluid in the master.

[Big-Bird]

I think you might be spending a lot of time for minimal benefit.

I think that I'd first try replacing the lines with braided or solid metal ones. This should improve your braking feel. Bleed the brakes at the same time and you could tighten it up some. I've done this before with some success. You could probably try a better brake pad too.

If that doesn't do the trick, I think the only thing that will significantly improve your braking power and shorten your stopping distances would be replacing the pads, rotors, and calipers with higher performance parts.

The calipers are simply an experiment. As for the comment "spending a lot of time for minimal benefit", I have to disagree. If it fits and it works this could be very helpful in my future plans. I am scheming on an engine upgrade and suspension change. If I do this I want to know what my brake options are. Brakes are often overlooked and in reality should be the first thing on a to-do-list.

The rotors, pads and brakeline upgrades are already being considered in this plan. But as I said no-one has gone on record to try what I am going to do tonight.

Worst case scenario: Brembo's won't work without serious cash infusions and access to a machine shop.

Middle-quasi Scenario: Calipers do fit, pads are a perfect match. All the parts sorta line up but there is some obvious stuff to upgrade. Most likely item is the rims will need to be 17" or better in order to clear the calipers.

Fits and works: Now I need new rims so I can show off my Gold Brembos. Now all I need to do is get an adjustable proportioning valve so I can adjsut the rear brakes.

[audtatious]

I think the stock calipers are dual piston, .

Yes, they are dual-piston.

Document the Brembo upgrade as you do it (assuming it works). I'd go ahead and upgrade to SS lines and such at the same time as well.

[Big-Bird]

OK. Here's what I discovered.

The Xterra's front brake assembly uses a bracket that is bolted to the knuckle using 2 large 23mm bolts. The dual piston caliper is secured to the bracket using a pair of 14mm bolts on slide pins. Overall length of this assembly is around 10 inches x 5 inches. But because the pistons are one side the caliper is wider on the inside. This comes into consideration with rim clearance issues. ( Read on to find out more )



The Brembo Caliper does not require a separate bracket because the Brembo caliper does not need to float. The body is solid and only the 2 sets of dual pistons move. Dimensionally the Brembo caliper is 10" long and 5 inches wide, but it is symetrical in design. There is equal amounts of Caliper body on both sides. This means the side you see sits out a bit further when compared to the stock piston. This is where wheel clearances become important.

The pleasant suprise I discovered was that the Brembo Caliper will fit on the Xterra knuckle, but the Xterra's vented rotor is wider than the brake pad opening in the caliper.

So now I need to find out the rotor thickness of vented or cross drilled rotors like these to see if I can gain some clearance at the rotor or if it's even feasible. I did confirm the Brembo tabs for securing the caliper to the knuckle are the same as the stock Xterra caliper bracket but that the Brembo requires a shoulder bolt and about an 1/8" less thread diameter than the stock Xterra ones. (This is a minor issue IMO)

The other nice surprise was that my brake lines will fit the Brembo Calipers with no modifications at all. The line's attachment point is the same for for both calipers.

Lets say this is a futile effort and I drop it. We can offer some true insight if anyone asks us about this later on. At least we have some evidence about it. It's more than any other site or even dealership ever offered on this topic. Quite likely this little Brembo/Xterra foray of mine is a first.

[audtatious]

Since you are using a Sentra Brembo caliper, would a G35 Brembo caliper be wider?

[Big-Bird]

A G35 might be wider, but the dealership let me borrow this one with no restocking charges. If I order a Z350 or G35 one then I have to pay for it up front. And then I could be stuck with a very pricey part.

I have the specs from the Sentra's...If someone with Brembo's on a G or Z could measure that gap for me and the distance between the mounting tabs ( The Sentra's were 4" from center to center). I might be more comfortable in ordering one then.

[audtatious]

OK...Here are the specs (rotor size x rotor width):

2004 Xterra Front Rotors: 10.2” x 1.0” (4x2) / 10.9” x 1.0” (4x4)2002 Sentra SE-R Brembo: 12.01" X 0.87"2004 G35 Coupe Brembo: 12.76" x 1.18"

[nissandoms47]

Dang I thought it was going to actually work haha. I've also been looking for high performance brake upgrades on my 96 pathfinder. After reading this, one thought was that you could get a larger brake rotor off a VQ powered pathfinder, 01-04. They use the same mounting as about all of the 96-04 nissan trucks and they're 1" bigger. I measured my rotor and it was 10.9-11". The VQs are 12". So combine that slightly larger rotor with a nice caliper that will fit and you would be a stopping machine. As for rear discs. You could use some WD pathfinder rear disc rotors and then use a caddy caliper that had the build in parking brake lever. I was also looking at some wilwood calipers on summit that might possibly work. Fairly cheap too considering brand new calipers for a pathfinder were $129.99. Wilwoods are like $2 cheaper but who knows how that would be when your mounting them. BigBird. Do you think the rim would have cleared the caliper when mounted to the wms? Or would you need a wheel adapter spacer to stick the wheel out more to allow wheel/caliper clearance?

[Dano]

That's pretty sweet Wade. I'd really like to see it done if you think you might want to finish it!

-Dan

[audtatious]

Dang I thought it was going to actually work haha. I've also been looking for high performance brake upgrades on my 96 pathfinder. After reading this, one thought was that you could get a larger brake rotor off a VQ powered pathfinder, 01-04. They use the same mounting as about all of the 96-04 nissan trucks and they're 1" bigger. I measured my rotor and it was 10.9-11". The VQs are 12".

The '04 Pathfinder has 11.8" x 1.1" vented front brakes.

[nissandoms47]

Sorry I wasnt so precise . Thats still about another 1/2" of braking surface on each side which I would think would make some kind of difference. 04' pathy is 11.8 and the 04' xterra is 10.9 or whatever. In the offroad world every little bit counts. Especially when you're trying to stop 33 MT/Rs mounted on steel wheels.

[Big-Bird]

I took the caliper back to my Nissan Parts Guru on Friday and we discussed the issues so now here's the plan.

He is certain there is a rotor out there that will fit the Xterra, is comparable in diameter to the Sentra's 12.01" and .87 thickness and is vented or slotted. So I haven't given up yet.

Wheel clearance is certainly a factor: The stock wheels have less than 2 so stock wheels will not work with this. Just some rough measurments tell me I need no less than 2.5" of clearance between the Brembo Caliper and the backspace of the wheel's center. ". There are many aluminum wheels that do that. But it could be a trial and error thing.

Perhaps a wheel from the Xterra or Frontiers in the 16" or 17" sizes might work.

[projekz]

According to those measurements, could you fit G35 Brembo Calipers with 04 Pathfinder rotors?

[Big-Bird]

My parts guy is still looking into the options. He has friends in the Nissan Aftermarket and they are interested in this attempted modification as well.

But they are taking some time getting back to him. Don't worry though, when I know more I will inform y'all!

[Dano]

Heck yeah. This is freakin' cool Wade! Pretty freaking COOL! ...and i'm excited to see the finished product

[Big-Bird]

anyone got a G35 or 350Z with Brembo's? I could really use some front caliper dimensions.

1) Distance between the mounting tabs. Center to Center of the bolt holes.2) Total space inside the caliper body. (How wide, high and deep is the brakepad opening?

If the opinions are right a G's or Z's Brembo should be large enough to accomodate a Titan rotor. Oddly enough they are same bolt pattern and hub opening as my 2000 Xterra.

Thanks in advance to the helpful person.

[Dano]

Bump for answers! C'mon peoples!

[XJ98jeep]

Whatever happened to this? I'm really interested in doing it. Dunno how this forum is about bringing threads back from the grave, so I'm sorry if it doesn't fly.

[Desert Rat]

Wade torched out the IFS and swapped an a Dana 44 solid front axle a couple years back.

[clarkandrew45]

Wheel clearance is certainly a factor: The stock wheels have less than 2 so stock wheels will not work with this. Just some rough measurments tell me I need no less than 2.5" of clearance between the stuff.comBrembo[/url] Caliper and the backspace of the wheel's center. ". There are many aluminum wheels that do that. But it could be a trial and error thing.

Hi there big bird, I think we are on the same boat here. Are you sure about those measurement? What was the result on this one? please also advice me, i know this was 2years ago but still hoping for your feedback.

[adambullet]

Hi there big bird, I think we are on the same boat here. Are you sure about those measurement? What was the result on this one? please also advice me, i know this was 2years ago but still hoping for your feedback.

hey there clarkandrew45. have you been able to receive the update you were looking for? just let me know if you still need this, we can talk via PM.