Z32 Brake Upgrade, complete! *PICS ADDED!*

[sijoko]

Wes,

Here is some info for you in regards to your brake swap.

http://www.se-r.net/about/200s....html

"We also wanted to do something to improve the pedal feel of Project SE-R. The hydraulic system used by the brakes works like a liquid lever arm. The amount of force that your leg can provide is multiplied by the ratio of the area of your master cylinder piston to the area of your caliper pistons.

If you have one square inch of master cylinder piston and ten square inches of caliper piston, the strength of your leg is multiplied by ten. The ratio of movement goes the other way. To move the ten square inches of caliper piston one inch you would have to move the master cylinder piston ten inches.

This is why the brakes are a liquid lever, the force is multiplied by moving the master cylinder piston a greater distance. That is how you can stop a 3000 lb. car traveling 60 mph so effortlessly. This is the same principle as a lever arm or even a hydraulic floor jack.

The Wilwood 4-piston front caliper used in our front brake system has almost twice the piston area as the stock brake caliper. The effect of this is increased clamping force because of the additional surface area of the caliper pistons. One drawback is that the brake pedal now has a longer throw than previously.

In our opinion, the brakes had a mushy feel and although very powerful, were difficult to modulate. What we needed was a bigger master cylinder to reduce the amount of pedal stroke and obtain a better pedal feel.

The SE-R's stock master cylinder has a bore of 7/8-inch. We searched Nissan's corporate parts bin and found that the Altima master cylinder has a bore of 15/16 of an inch.

Although the difference in master cylinder bore seems small, 1/16-inch makes a significant difference in feel. We found that the Altima master cylinder is a bolt-in with a direct fit in the brake line ports. The 1/16 of an inch in piston diameter made a world of difference in the way the brakes felt. The pedal stroke was now only slightly longer than stock with a firm, easily modulated feel."

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In other words, your brakes will never be as firm as the stock setup until you change to a larger bore Master Cylinder.

-sijoko

[911/Q45]

Can you tellme how the pedal feel is compared to stock???

Identical to stock.

[sijoko]

Wes,

Here's an article on a 240sx with the Z32 brake swap:

http://www.nissanperformancema...rakes/

"With the brakes installed we took it on a short test run. After properly seating the pads the Z32 brakes feel more responsive than the original brake setup.

Brake pedal feel was linear and easy to modulate, but due to the now-tiny brake master cylinder pushing 3 more pistons per side there was more of a "dead" initial pedal feel. This could be fixed by upgrading to a 300ZX brake master cylinder, but for the time being the brakes feel great and responsive. "

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Is this the symptom that you are talking about?

-sijoko

[elwesso]

I thinkim gonna try and find a Z32 MC, thanks guys...

just FYI, i took the Q on a little joyride tonite and the brakes feel so much better than they ever have.. I dont see how the braking could be any better than what I have now..

I heart my Z32 brakes!!!

[squeefoo]

I think I'm gonna try and find a Z32 MC, thanks guys...

You're welcome. Glad they finally feel good !

Why not check and adjust the pushrod and pedal play first, since it doesn't involve bleeding/cash outlay (pun intended)

[elwesso]

im waiting for you to try that first!!!!

[squeefoo]

Alright.... I'm going to start it up tomorrow (I just love the stress of listening to the chains rattle 'til the adjustors pump up). Finish taking pics, and then I'll look it all over and have a report ASAP.

[elwesso]

I still dont think it will make the pedal feel firmer like I want it, it will just make it engage sooner... Firmer pedal feel is really what im after..... But let us konw how it turns out!

[squeefoo]

FYI : When I looked up the Q45 master cyl. in the Wagner master brake catalog it tells me the 90 - 2/93 master cyl. has a 1 and 1/16 " bore or 26.99 mm. My FSM for 90 also says 1 1/16 or 17/16" (?)

After 2/93 it is 1" or 25.4 mm

No haven't adjusted anything yet -PS issues suddenly.

[squeefoo]

Although the difference in master cylinder bore seems small, 1/16-inch makes a significant difference in feel. The 1/16 of an inch in piston diameter made a world of difference in the way the brakes felt. The pedal stroke was now only slightly longer than stock with a firm, easily modulated feel."

Hmmmmmmm...... Might be the difference