z32 COMPARED TO q45 BRAKES

[540sx]

Does anybody know much about the Q45 calipers. I want to go with the Z32 but I am not sure they will fit my application.The Q45's will clear my wheels but what about stopping power?And what year Q45 calipers?

I found a website off one of these threads with a decent price for Q45 conversion.

[540sx]

I also am wondering about the hose connections.can I just buy braided lines for s13 or do I need some sort of conversion?

Thanks

[jdm_master_X]

the q45 setup requires the caliper, pads, pad shims, bolts, and caliper bracket to fit the s13/s14. of course 4 lug cars need to redrill the rotors. most of your setup should come from the donor car, and everything should be there.

i have the setup myself and i could have never asked for better stopping power. it may not be like a z32 with 4-piston brakes, but the 2-piston Q45 calipers are designed to stop a 4500 lbs car under 120 ft, and an s13/s14 is half the weight. plus braking bias is fine and pedal feel is excellent. no need for conversion lines or anything.

[elwesso]

Ive had Q brakes and Z brakes on my Q. Currently I run 30mm Z brakes, hawk pads, brembo rotors, blah blah blah.

Before I had OEM pads on my Q brakes, and the car stopped very nice. The Q brakes are VERY strong and even work decently with a 240 MC, could only get better with a Z or Q MC.. Its hard for me to tell which ones outstop each other, its very close. main reason I went to the Z is because the rear Q brakes are wimpy (solid rotors=eww) so i

IMO for a 240 guy it seems like the obvious upgrade for those who care mostly about performance, as far as upgrades go you couldnt ask for anything much easier, there are some decent pads out there for Q brakes.

I think the Q brakes have less clamping force but they have more pad area if memory serves, i could be wrong though, i dont remember how the Z pad size compare to the size of the Q. The only reason I went to the Z calipers is because theres more options as far as pads and rotors and the stuff is a litlte cheaper. When I did my Z brakes, I got a great deal on all the Z stuff that it was cheaper for me to put new Z stuff on than all new Q stuff.

[tennisitis]

I put rebuilt q45 calipers and pads on my convertible.. see pictures in convertible section... very easy.. fastbrakes.com has heavy duty 12 in rotors with four lugs that are drilled and slotted for 120 bucks/pair.. the car stops great, no connection problems, its a straight bolt on...

[540sx]

Thanks for the info, I bought the Q45 front brake kit from fastbrakes. for the rear I got steel braided lines and hawk hps pads with my stock rotors for now. with speed bleeders all around.

Q45mc or Zmc better? Are there any decent rear conversions that let you keep the ebrake?

[180fan]

with the q45 brakes, use your 40's bmc.

rear conversion? you can still keep the ebrake, just it takes a bit more work. you can still retain 4 lug if you find the right ebrake setup as well.

[540sx]

You mean to keep my MC for the front Q45 brakes I am guessing.

and for the rear are you saying that I can use the q45's and still keep my ebrake.

I do not quite understand how the ebrake works. I am new to this. Why would I need to change from 4 lug?

[EviL inside]

i just did this upgrade on my 240sx, and it's night and day, and much less expensive than the z32 brakes.

i grabbed a second set while i was pulling mine, and i'm selling those if you're interested.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...&rd=1

[540sx]

thanks for the offer but I already purchased the kit from fastbrakes

good to hear it makes a noticable difference.

[jdm_master_X]

with the q45 brakes, use your 40's bmc.

rear conversion? you can still keep the ebrake, just it takes a bit more work. you can still retain 4 lug if you find the right ebrake setup as well.

i believe there was a member here who used the drum brake cables from a 91-93 b13 sentra. i forgot where on this forum i saw it but it wasnt too long ago. definitely search.

**edit** found it

zerothread?id=246017
Modified by jdm_master_X at 1:55 AM 6/1/2007

[burgy240]

I run the Q's up front on my 240 (in sig). I like this option for a daily driver much better because it is directbolton and you don't have to change the BMC. your bias is still good and the pedal feel is solid. I only did the front however.

The Z set up will definately stop harded but it will lock up much easier too. you have to have the conversion lines and change BMC. you can do the rears with these and use the R33( I think its the R33 maybe one of the other skylines, and I believe its the cables from the GT-s or GT-t models, not the GTR) ebrake cable.

I love my Qbrakes. they stop very well and feel solid all the time.

[540sx]

I bought the Q45 setup from fastbrakes and it did not comewith the pads they said it would come with and my invoice says nothing of the steel lines and I did not recieve them in the package. waiting on my rear brake pads and steel lines.

Nice ride by the way. How is the clearance going through dips with the body kit?what is you tire diameter and how low are you dropped?

I would like to do an s15 conversion but I like to drive fast in the city so I need some clearance.

[burgy240]

since this is my DD I'm not too low. Probably 1.4 and 1.2 front to back. I have very few clearance issues since putting on the 18" Z wheels. Of course Zbrake, and Q's fit behind those wheels since they come on a car with the brembo's. I've done some high speeds in this and the only thing I worry about is the hood sometimes. Thanks for the compliment too by the way.

[540sx]

looks like your side skirts are higher in the middle allowing for more clearance going over bumps.

Do you know if any part of your body kit is lower than the frame of the car?

I am trying to find side skirts that have similar clearance properties to the ones you have. some vaders angle up in the middle but I do not like them so much. the demons are too drastic. so any ideas would be great.

thanks

[180fan]

jdm_master_x, good find. With the z32 rear ebrake, you have to look at the hub bearing to see if it's the right one to use for retaining a 4 lug.

[540sx]

how much did you spend on the s15 conversion?

did you change the radiator support and were you able to do byself.

[burgy240]

how much did you spend on the s15 conversion?

did you change the radiator support and were you able to do byself.

My conversion was done back in 2001 and I don't remember how much it was. S14's do not need the radiator support swapped out, but s13's it is highly recomended. If you want the fenders to line up perfect then you WILL need body work specialist but if not then you can do it yourself on an s14.

As for my body kit hanging down past the frame..... yes it does everywhere. I have a good half inch lower kit then the rest of the car. someplaces maybe even more.

[Florida240sx]

Hmm I got 2 sets of z32 brakes... and one set of q45

[lumberjackj]

can you post some decent size pics of the caliper fronts? I took mine apart and dont remember what pieces go together.

thanks

[EviL inside]

[burgy240]

Hmm I got 2 sets of z32 brakes... and one set of q45

Hook me up with a set of the Z's and I'll give you My Q's after I swap them.

[sroines]

I agree, they are definately night and day. Just got them on this weekend.

[Chukidori]

Correct me if im wrong....but the Q45 even though its a 2 piston is a floating caliper VS the 4 piston fixed caliper on the z32.

Isnt there an advantage to floating caliper design that increases its clamping force ? but i also hear floating calipers have a tendency to "stick" and wear pads.

[EviL inside]

I agree, they are definately night and day. Just got them on this weekend.

i'm glad it worked out for you.

but i also hear floating calipers have a tendency to "stick" and wear pads.

anything poorly maintained can fail.

as long as the pin bolts are lubed, and everything is kept clean, they are fine. i'd be willing to say at least 80% of disk brake setups on the road today are sliding calipers. systems that don't work also usually don't proliferate.

[gr8bryt]

This seems like a pretty good set-up, if memory serves correctly there's a write up about this somewhere else here on NICO. I've been exploring this as a short term alternative until I get my big brake kit.

.......I've done some high speeds in this and the only thing I worry about is the hood sometimes. Thanks for the compliment too by the way.

That's the C-west cf hood right? I was looking to get that one as well, why not go with hood pins? I know that they don't look appealing and the thought of putting holes in that hood should probably be a crime; but it's better to be safe than sorry. btw your car is SWEET!

[EviL inside]

This seems like a pretty good set-up, if memory serves correctly there's a write up about this somewhere else here on NICO.

really though, the swap is so easy that if you need a write-up, you shouldn't be working on your car.

[drewc87]

will 97 and 98 q45 rotors fit on a s13? they are different part #'s then the ealier 1's.

[jdm_master_X]

they should bolt up if you remove/trim the backing plate. they are just slightly bigger than the previous generation Qs IIRC.

[hbpignosePA]

ok im having problems with the q45 setup..... the pistons are not moving in syncronation..... its causing the pads to not wear correctly.....(im running the fastbrakes rotors)....... what causes the pistons to move at different rates? is it a bleeding problem, or the cailpers that need rebuilt......