R33 Pads

[timtiminy]

I have a set of r33 brake calipers, pictured below, i am looking into different brake pads for them, i know that the z32 pads fit, also pictured below, but i have heard that sti/evo brake pads will also fit, and according to what it looks like, dimension wise i dont think they will, is there any other pad that will fit?
comapison of z32 pad and sti/evo pad from hawk's website.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e273/timtiminy/r33brakes.jpghttp://www.hawkperformance.com/parts/images/shape/HB178.gif
http://www.hawkperformance.com/parts/images/shape/HB453.gif

[timtiminy]

I'm thinking since i'm going to be running 13" rotors that i could possibly try to use the sti/evo pad and since the pin holes are the same just cut off the excess on the side of the pad with a chop saw...how hard would it be to cut a pair of brake pads down like that? it just needs to be able to fit in the caliper, either that or have that calipers machined to fit the wrx/evo pads. give me some ideas here guys...

[R33GTS-T]

<---running ECR33 brakes

i can tell you from previously owning z32 30mm calipers and rotors that the z32 pads while they may fit are not optimal, you should be running pads for the ECR33 calipers b/c they use 32mm pistons and the rotors are a .5" larger in diameter the r33 pads optimize the advantage of the larger rotor

btw Endless can get you whatever pads you may need

- Daniel

[cdlong]

I'm thinking since i'm going to be running 13" rotors that i could possibly try to use the sti/evo pad and since the pin holes are the same just cut off the excess on the side of the pad with a chop saw...how hard would it be to cut a pair of brake pads down like that? it just needs to be able to fit in the caliper, either that or have that calipers machined to fit the wrx/evo pads. give me some ideas here guys...

don't do either of those things. you're bound to mess something up or have poorer performance than if you used R33 or even Z32 pads. check rare trick or other or other JDM supply places for some other choices on pads.

[250sxdet]

<---running ECR33 brakes

i can tell you from previously owning z32 30mm calipers and rotors that the z32 pads while they may fit are not optimal, you should be running pads for the ECR33 calipers b/c they use 32mm pistons and the rotors are a .5" larger in diameter the r33 pads optimize the advantage of the larger rotor

btw Endless can get you whatever pads you may need

- Daniel

i assumed the extra diameter was only for cooling purposes
so i guess i should go look into some r33 pads?

[timtiminy]

yeah i realized that z32 pads werent optimal. I have been looking into getting axxis ultimates but no applications for ECR33. i guess i may have to pay alot more for some other jdm brand. I could either go with z32 pads or keep looking for options, is there any other brembo calipers or any other car calipers that uses the same brake pads as the ECR33?

[timtiminy]

just looked at the impreza pads from a 97+ non brembo caliper, but it is the 4 piston caliper that says subaru across the face, those are the pads I am looking for, hawk doesnt carry them otherwise i would have put the picture up for them. Does anyone know more about these?

[timtiminy]

well, after looking into the subaru 4 piston caliper's pad, they turn out to be the same as Z32 pads, i think i will inquire about having a machine shop trim down the STi/EVO pads... I'm running 13" rotors so i want as much pad as i can. with the Z32 pads there is alot of area that is not used toward the center of the rotor. Has anyone figured anything out yet??

[R33GTS-T]

i think i will inquire about having a machine shop trim down the STi/EVO pads
so you upgraded to the ECR33 330mm front rotors as well as the ECR33 32mm 4 piston calipers and now you're going to go cheap (and dangerous) and just trim some STi/Evo pads down to size :ugh: :loco: :down:

no offense but that it's not the best idea....that's like dropping in a stroked RB28 and running a used SR t25 turbo with the stock clutch and Pep Boys special tires :bash:

we've all heard it before but you gotta pay to play ;)

you could also call up Panda Garage or RB Motoring or even JSpec and see what they could bring in for you on their next shipment

another good company to email would be RHD Japan....I've gotten parts from them and they provide extensive customer service......my ARC bov arrived in 3 days from Japan and i didn't have to pay any additional shipping (standard shipping...very reasonable)

i hope this helps

- Daniel

[timtiminy]

yeah thanks for all that info R33GTS-T, it wasnt that i wanted to cheap out i just wanted to find a viable option without having to get a specialty part... it wouldnt be much cheaper to go the STi/EVO route, just more availablilty, as for the danger part i dont know if it would be any less structurally sound to trim the edges of brake pads down, the pad is still attached to the backing plate in the same manner it was before, just a little bit smaller. I just saw it as a possible option, wasn't saying it was the only answer to the issue. By the way how much different are the ECR33 pads than Z32, anyone have pictures?

[R33GTS-T]

i just wanted to be sure you weren't just trying to go the cheap route and do something dangerous ;)

as for pics, i don't have any....but the ECR33 pads should be larger to accomodate for the larger diameter pistons and larger diameter rotors (adding up to a larger swept area)

- Daniel

[alkemyst]

That picture looks just like my R33 GTS-T brakes.

The pads that they came with from Japan matched my Hawk HPS pads exactly.

These are the 296x30mm calipers. I had ordered R32 GTR's but I got the R33's and really needed my brakes done (rear caliper seized and was already covering the whole right side of the car with rust dust).

Needless to say it was a nightmare but ended up perfect...I first got two left fronts...and the rear rotors were not servicable...one rear caliper had a chunk missing (JB Weld fixed it perfect and invisibly)...missing about $40 in factory nuts/washers.

I couldn't source a rear seal kit, but my wife was in Japan at the same time so bought some there. Now Subaru has the Z32 brakes on the new 2006 STI :) Should open up some nice aftermarket stuff for us Nissan guys.

anyway the brakes are f'ing awesome. I don't know if going 296mmx32mm GTR would have made a big difference in what I have now. Even after my bedding when I could smell the brakes burning, I had no fade...none.

I went with the big 17/16 BMC, now it's alot harder than factory to 'brake' with a little foot, but to me that's just touchy brakes.

I can lock them up if I want to put my foot through the floor (you ain't stopping when you are locked though ;)), but it's so much easier to modulate...I can tell right when I am at about lock and keep it under that.

great upgrade. I paid around $650/shipped for the 4 calipers (loaded...could have kept the pads), 4 rotors, ebrake assemblies and two 5 lug rear hubs (i didn't need).

[timtiminy]

sweet! i am glad to hear that. my setup wil be these calipers, 13" cobra rotors, hawk hps or axxis ultimates, all stainless lines, 17/16 bmc, 300zx brake booster, and super blue brake fluid, I am excited... Hopefully everything feels and stops great. yeah i noticed subaru has the z32 calipers (not exactly but uses the same parts) not sure if its the 2006 sti or base but they used to be on the older imprezas i believe from 96 on as a step up from the sliding calipers and step below the brembos.