I hate the look of my stock brake calipers - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

wizdom · 04-09-2002, 08:08 PM

Could I upgrade to bigger calipers w/out having to do the whole 300zx brake upgrade?

Right now I have gold cross-drilled Powerstop rotors, but the brake calipers will eventually uglify the look when I get rims. Understand?!?

I have a 95 LE, those of you may see that, the rotors look small, the calipers are puny, and make the car look and stop weak. Is there any cost affective thing I can do to fix this dilemma? I know the 300zx brake upgrade can run up to 300 dollars not including labour. Basically, I want more stopping power and better looks w/out sacrificing so much money. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':crazy:'>

*LanceS13* · 04-09-2002, 08:13 PM

I know of no other options...especially for  less than $300.  Cars are not a cheap hobby, and $300 is not alot when it comes to modifications.  And that's coming from a college student.  It's just something you have to deal with.   <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>

wizdom · 04-09-2002, 08:24 PM

yea, that's true.  But I guess the real concern is that the 300zx brake conversion only covers the front brakes(from what i've seen).  PLEASE DON'T FLAME ME if i'm wrong.

What would happen to the rear brakes, what would be done about that?
Could the rear brakes be swapped out w/SE brakes??

*DSC* · 04-09-2002, 08:58 PM

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (wizdom @ April 0 8 02,11 : 24)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">yea, that's true. But I guess the real concern is that the 300zx brake conversion only covers the front brakes(from what i've seen). PLEASE DON'T FLAME ME if i'm wrong.

What would happen to the rear brakes, what would be done about that?
Could the rear brakes be swapped out w/SE brakes??</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Hehe, we don't flame EVERYBODY man <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='

'>
You can get the rear 300zx brakes but I have only heard of someone geting the e-brake to work with them once. So if you don't need your e-brake, the swap shouldn't be TOO hard but it will still cost 400+, makeing a full upgrade over $800...not TOO bad considering some front brake upgrades are close to 2k <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':crazy:'>

Well maybe we flame a little bit...you shouldn't upgrade your brakes for looks, it should be so you stop faster.
<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='

'> there, wasn't too bad <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hehe.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':hehe:'>

Edit: damn, you do want to stop faster, I didn't read the whole post  <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sleeping.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':zzzz:'>

*Jeff240sx* · 04-10-2002, 12:53 AM

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (DSC @ April 09 2002,11:58)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Hehe, we don't flame EVERYBODY man <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='

'>

You can get the rear 300zx brakes but I have only heard of someone geting the e-brake to work with them once</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
I flame everybody <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sly.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':sly:'>

But really.. I don't see how people get their rear brakes to work. z32 brakes use a drum style ebrake, don't they? Ours dont. It seems like way too much work to swap ebrake pieces.
I would (and did) only the front brakes. You probably don't wanna stop too much faster than z32 fronts will stop you, unless you are a true racer. My best suggestion to help even out the brake bias is to get some slotted rear rotors, and some grippy brake pads.. hawk, ebc... ect.
I did my front swap for about $480. Just a little over the $300 mark. Might wanna think about that. And check the FAQ section for what you need and how much it is.
-Jeff

Edit:
OMF'nG!
I didn't realize that you said the upgrade runs UP TO $300!  LOL!!  PDM sells a kit for nearly $1k.  
And with gold slotted rotors, you can't get grippy pads, cuz they'll eat the cadmium plating and that will get clogged in the pad, and you wont stop worth crap!  Either shell out some $$$ and do it right, or drive slow cuz your never gonna stop well and be asthetically pleasing.  (This is why race car interiors are ugly... cuz they're made to work.)

04-09-2002, 08:08 PM	#1
wizdom Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 47 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Could I upgrade to bigger calipers w/out having to do the whole 300zx brake upgrade? Right now I have gold cross-drilled Powerstop rotors, but the brake calipers will eventually uglify the look when I get rims. Understand?!? I have a 95 LE, those of you may see that, the rotors look small, the calipers are puny, and make the car look and stop weak. Is there any cost affective thing I can do to fix this dilemma? I know the 300zx brake upgrade can run up to 300 dollars not including labour. Basically, I want more stopping power and better looks w/out sacrificing so much money. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':crazy:'> __________________ ::[ W \| i \| Z \| d \| O \| M ]::I eat civics for breakfast.

04-09-2002, 08:13 PM	#2
LanceS13 AutoX Junkie Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: MS Age: 43 Posts: 2,044 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I know of no other options...especially for  less than $300.  Cars are not a cheap hobby, and $300 is not alot when it comes to modifications.  And that's coming from a college student.  It's just something you have to deal with.   <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'> __________________ 1992 240SX Fastback #47 DSP MS SCCA RX-7 ITS Project FOR SALE

04-09-2002, 08:24 PM	#3
wizdom Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 47 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	yea, that's true.  But I guess the real concern is that the 300zx brake conversion only covers the front brakes(from what i've seen).  PLEASE DON'T FLAME ME if i'm wrong. What would happen to the rear brakes, what would be done about that? Could the rear brakes be swapped out w/SE brakes?? __________________ ::[ W \| i \| Z \| d \| O \| M ]::I eat civics for breakfast.

04-09-2002, 08:58 PM	#4
DSC New Title Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: VA Posts: 3,454 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (wizdom @ April 0 8 02,11 : 24)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">yea, that's true. But I guess the real concern is that the 300zx brake conversion only covers the front brakes(from what i've seen). PLEASE DON'T FLAME ME if i'm wrong. What would happen to the rear brakes, what would be done about that? Could the rear brakes be swapped out w/SE brakes??</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'> Hehe, we don't flame EVERYBODY man <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> You can get the rear 300zx brakes but I have only heard of someone geting the e-brake to work with them once. So if you don't need your e-brake, the swap shouldn't be TOO hard but it will still cost 400+, makeing a full upgrade over $800...not TOO bad considering some front brake upgrades are close to 2k <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':crazy:'> Well maybe we flame a little bit...you shouldn't upgrade your brakes for looks, it should be so you stop faster. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> there, wasn't too bad <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hehe.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':hehe:'> Edit: damn, you do want to stop faster, I didn't read the whole post  <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sleeping.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':zzzz:'> __________________

04-10-2002, 12:53 AM	#5
Jeff240sx I hate you too... Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Tampa, FL Age: 42 Posts: 5,828 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: Jeff240sx Feedback Score: 0 reviews	</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (DSC @ April 09 2002,11:58)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Hehe, we don't flame EVERYBODY man <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> You can get the rear 300zx brakes but I have only heard of someone geting the e-brake to work with them once</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'> I flame everybody <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sly.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':sly:'> But really.. I don't see how people get their rear brakes to work. z32 brakes use a drum style ebrake, don't they? Ours dont. It seems like way too much work to swap ebrake pieces. I would (and did) only the front brakes. You probably don't wanna stop too much faster than z32 fronts will stop you, unless you are a true racer. My best suggestion to help even out the brake bias is to get some slotted rear rotors, and some grippy brake pads.. hawk, ebc... ect. I did my front swap for about $480. Just a little over the $300 mark. Might wanna think about that. And check the FAQ section for what you need and how much it is. -Jeff Edit: OMF'nG! I didn't realize that you said the upgrade runs UP TO $300!  LOL!!  PDM sells a kit for nearly $1k.   And with gold slotted rotors, you can't get grippy pads, cuz they'll eat the cadmium plating and that will get clogged in the pad, and you wont stop worth crap!  Either shell out some $$$ and do it right, or drive slow cuz your never gonna stop well and be asthetically pleasing.  (This is why race car interiors are ugly... cuz they're made to work.) __________________ Whatup?