Z32 bigger brakes

[GamblerZ]

Has anyone had experience in installing the SPL big rotor front upgrade kit? That is a sizeable increase over the Z32 rotors.

[TampaLinc]

It looks similar to the Supra TT front rotor kit, from McKinney Motorsports, I have on my car. The problem with the Supra kit is you have to have the center bore enlarged on the rotors, which shops around here don’t won’t to do for liability reasons. When the rotors I have now wear out I will probably sell the kit and switch to the SPL kit.

The braking is fantastic. I also upgraded the rears to Z32 calipers and rotors and in the near future plan on installing a proportioning valve.

[cosmoworks]

See the last pic in this auction (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=8051745973) to get an idea of the size difference between a Z32 rotor and the Z33 track rotor. :cool:

As TampaLinc stated, the Z33 track kit has the added benefit over Supra TT rotors since the centerbore is already the Nissan standard 66.2mm.

-Cosmo

[zads]

I don't get why the conversion between 240sx and 300zx would be different.. (as the auction title says)
If the 240sx to 300zx brakes are a direct conversion..
why would the 240sx to 350z and 300zx to 350z be different?

Also, despite what the auction says, you CAN run 16" wheels over that brake kit, I'm sure.. I have a 13" front brake kit with 300zx calipers, and you can fit 16" wheels over that (but not all of them, depends on the specific 16" wheel model).

[cosmoworks]

I don't get why the conversion between 240sx and 300zx would be different.. (as the auction title says)
If the 240sx to 300zx brakes are a direct conversion..
why would the 240sx to 350z and 300zx to 350z be different?

Because the mounting ears on the spindles for the calipers are different widths on the 300ZX versus the 240SX, and the adapter bracket bolts to the BACK side of the mounting ear. So if you bolted that bracket on to a 300ZX, it would put the caliper too far inwards and not line up with the rotor.

-Cosmo

[GamblerZ]

I was actually wondering the same thing as ZADS. Despite COSMO'S explanation above, I am still scratching my head wondering how is it that the Z32 caliper will fit the S14, but the Z33 adaptor bracket for the will NOT fit the Z32. I sure would like to upgrade my Z32 brakes. That car is a pig when it comes to stopping. Nevertheless, I am doing the Z33 upgrade for the S14. I just wish someone would post who did it and would comment on the results.

[chmercer]

my buddy has the SPLPARTS rotor adapters, his car stops like CRAZY.

[Rogue240sx]

I was actually wondering the same thing as ZADS. Despite COSMO'S explanation above, I am still scratching my head wondering how is it that the Z32 caliper will fit the S14, but the Z33 adaptor bracket for the will NOT fit the Z32. I sure would like to upgrade my Z32 brakes. That car is a pig when it comes to stopping. Nevertheless, I am doing the Z33 upgrade for the S14. I just wish someone would post who did it and would comment on the results.
That's because the calipers originally mount on the opposite side as these brackets do. Usually you bolt the bolts from the rear these you bolt them from the front and the bracket sits on the rear on the spindle which is a different thickness on a 240sx compared to 300zx. Take a look at those pics from the auction.... This can be noticed by the difference it caliper bolt length from the 300zx compared to the bolts used to bolt the stock caliper brackets on the 240sx.

[ae86driftn]

I have SPL kit. It's awesome. Gonna get Z33 Brembo calipers soon ,cause the Z32 caliper are made for 11" rotors and dont contact all of the Z33 rotors,

but a great up-up grade from stock
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e104/Dkeeper240/74c084e1.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e104/Dkeeper240/6ef8ea4e.jpg

[cosmoworks]

I was actually wondering the same thing as ZADS. Despite COSMO'S explanation above, I am still scratching my head wondering how is it that the Z32 caliper will fit the S14, but the Z33 adaptor bracket for the will NOT fit the Z32. I sure would like to upgrade my Z32 brakes. That car is a pig when it comes to stopping. Nevertheless, I am doing the Z33 upgrade for the S14. I just wish someone would post who did it and would comment on the results.

GamblerZ, for a more detailed pictoral explanation of why it doesn't work, see my post on FA using some old GMS brackets designed for a Z32, but adapted to my S14:
http://forums.freshalloy.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB9&Number=67928097

-Cosmo

[GamblerZ]

Excellent write-up on FA! Very informative. I appreciate the input.

[upSLIDEdown]

GamblerZ, for a more detailed pictoral explanation of why it doesn't work, see my post on FA using some old GMS brackets designed for a Z32, but adapted to my S14:
http://forums.freshalloy.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB9&Number=67928097

-Cosmo


So were the brackets you posted the CAD drawing for for a 240, or for a Z32? According to the chart posted at the bottom of that thread, the rotorss are the same for a BNR34 as they are for the Z33... As long as the hat height is the same. If that's the same also, then those brackets should work with the Z33 rotors too then, correct?

[[email protected]]

The ultimate Z33 Front Track Rotors IMHO:

Stop Tech's 2 piece Aero Rotor...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v461/PerformanceNISMO/VIR10022004/DSC00781.jpg

[cosmoworks]

So were the brackets you posted the CAD drawing for for a 240, or for a Z32? According to the chart posted at the bottom of that thread, the rotorss are the same for a BNR34 as they are for the Z33... As long as the hat height is the same. If that's the same also, then those brackets should work with the Z33 rotors too then, correct?

The CAD file in the FA post is for using BNR34 rotors a 240. BNR34 rotors have the same diameter as Z33 track rotors, but not the same hat offset, so that drawing in my FA post will NOT work with Z33 track rotors.

-Cosmo

[Siizzzoooo]

I've got the spl kit on my S14 as well

Just the overall feeling over the standard z32 brake upgrade is worth buying. I love it.

Fits perfectly behind my Z33 17" wheels

[upSLIDEdown]

The CAD file in the FA post is for using BNR34 rotors a 240. BNR34 rotors have the same diameter as Z33 track rotors, but not the same hat offset, so that drawing in my FA post will NOT work with Z33 track rotors.

-Cosmo

Argh, that's what I was afraid of... O well. BNR34 rotors are a little harder to find. I assume they'd probably be more expensive too, but I dunno.

[cosmoworks]

Argh, that's what I was afraid of... O well. BNR34 rotors are a little harder to find. I assume they'd probably be more expensive too, but I dunno.

Why be afraid? :cool:

350Z track rotors are much easier to find here in the states and cheaper to boot too! Plus the brackets can be had cheap on eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=8051745973)... most likely cheaper than taking a CAD drawing to a machinist yourself.

-Cosmo

[NemeGuero]

Honestly, do you actually NEED more braking power than Z32 brakes can dish out?

I'm not talking about the half set-up.. I mean all 4 corners. (don't be a bitch)

[upSLIDEdown]

Not being a bitch... I already have 30mm aluminums. (all 4 corners) along with the master cylinder, stainless lines, metal master pads (soon to be Hawk HPS), and super blue fluid. I just want more. ;) As far as the machining goes, I could have them done for free, I have a friend that does CNC work that would do it for nothing... I figure what I'll do is wait till I wear these rotors out, and then get Z33 rotors to replace them. Maybe by then someone will have the dimensions of the adapters posted somewhere, cause I really can't see paying that kind of money for something I can have done for free. If I get dimensions, I can draw it up in CAD and give it to him, and he'll mill em out for me.

[NemeGuero]

Good shit! But you really need more?

What tires are you using? 'cuz if you're outstopping your brakes, most likely its due to a small contact patch. Without good tires your brakes can be as massive as they like, but you won't stop any better.

[turtl631]

Getting better bias is a concern as well, full Z32 setup with same pads all around results in a little more rear bias than is ideal.

[NemeGuero]

Get a proportioning valve.

[turtl631]

Not really ideal for the average 240 owner who uses their car for mostly street, some track. Bias is easy to calculate with different sized rotors and calipers, allowing you to shoot for something close to OE bias. Playing with a proportioning valve is a lot less precise for most owners.

[Ricks15]

Can you use the 300ZX brake caliper on 4lug?

[cosmoworks]

Not really ideal for the average 240 owner who uses their car for mostly street, some track. Bias is easy to calculate with different sized rotors and calipers, allowing you to shoot for something close to OE bias. Playing with a proportioning valve is a lot less precise for most owners.

Turtl631 hit the nail on the head. If you do the math, you'll find that using a Z32 master cylinder on 12.75" front rotors and rear Z calipers actually puts the front/rear bias very close to OE specs. Using a full Z32 all-around has more rear bias than stock (assuming same pads used all around).

Also the other main reason to do it is not necessarily because you expect to stop in shorter distances... cause as NemeGuero pointed out, you won't. As long as you can lock the brakes, stopping distance is the same. But the advantage of larger rotors allows you to stop the same distance using less overall force on the brake pedal (something all 17/16" master cylinder users definitely wouldn't mind).

Ricks15, yes you can use it on 4-lug... you just have to drill the rotor out to the 4-lug pattern.

-Cosmo

[SoSideways]

I did the calculations as well, and it would seem that using Z32 front brakes + S14 rear brakes with the same kind of pads would result in pretty much the same brake bias as the stock S13 brakes would achieve, thus the JDM S14 and S15 have this setup.

[upSLIDEdown]

Stopping power isn't really an issue, I mean the car stops like a Porsche now. As far as bias, I don't have any issues with it. I mainly want the Z33 Track rotors up front to fill up my 18" wheels. They will also provide less fade once I start tracking regularly, although I don't know that I'll even be able to get the Z32's to fade at all...

[Ricks15]

Need someone to clear up some confusion here, I can use Z32 calipers on a 4lug 240, but does that mean I can still use 240 4 lug rotors or do I have to modify 300zx brake rotors with a drill to have 4 lug??? rotors are the question and also pads, without a doubt 300zx pads?

[turtl631]

Yep, you need to redrill rotors to 4 lug.

I have an availability question myself: does anyone have a a cheap source of blank 350Z track rotors? If I use this setup I'd rather use cheaper blanks that I don't have to worry about if they get cracked or otherwise messed up at the track. I can't find any rotors listed at autozone, napa, rock-auto, etc. however. Cheapest is powerslot at 230 a pair; ouch!

[Rogue240sx]

Have a machine shop redrill the rotors for you, don't do it yourself. machine shops have the tools to make sure the holes are aligned properly.

[Ricks15]

Thats what I was about to say.

[240shorty]

I've heard that it is not that necessary to align the holes 100% perfect for redrilling rotors, since they center on the hubs. The average person could do it with a little precaution and care. I wouldn't hesitate to do it personally.

[SoSideways]

[off topic]

240shorter - KA24DE-R inside?

[/off topic]

[on topic]

Retaining 4 lug for Z32/R-chassis brakes is only for the front though, I think.

Because for the rear, unless you don't run the Z32/J30/R-chassis e-brake assembly and just straight up use the Z32/R-chassis 2 pot calipers and rotors, then you'll have to stick with the 5 lug stuff don't you?

I've never heard of someone running Z32/J30/R-chassis e-brake assembly and still running 4 lug hubs.

[Rogue240sx]

it's not centering that's the problem it's the uneven stress it can put on the wheel studs during braking I'd be worried about.

[shortandsour]

ok i have the R32 GT-R calipers how would those work with this kit??

[Ricks15]

300ZX calipers for front and J30 brakes for the rear and all for 4lug setup, I doubt autozone carries the calipers but correct me if im wrong? Ive heard lots of stories from lucky zilvians who have fount there brakes at the junkyard. Would these calipers cost too much if I were to go to a nissan dealership for the parts?

[cosmoworks]

Ricks15, you need to re-drill Z32 rotors to 4-lug to be able to use them with Z32 calipers. Buying calipers from Nissan are MUCH more expensive than buying remanufactured units from your auto-parts store.

turtl631, you can get the kit with the rotors:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8055437754
Also replacement rotors can be had for $200. They cost way more than 300ZX blanks, because the car is relatively new. Give it another 2-3 years or so, and I think you'll see rotor prices more in line with what you're used to paying.

SoSideways, you can use Z32 rear calipers, rotors, and e-brake and still retain 4-lug if you want. The hub is completely separate from the e-brake backing plate setup.

240shorty, you're 100% correct on re-drilling the rotors yourself. The trick is to drill out only three of the 4 holes (use one of the existing holes). The rotor will center itself using the bore and the one OE hole.

shortandsour, no the adapter kit will not work with your calipers. Since your setup already uses a larger rotor than the Z32 rotor, the adapters would cause the caliper to hang off the rotor too much.

-Cosmo