Z32 Calipers Or Q45 Calipers

[racerx1222]

I know this has probably been discussed forever and a day but I wanted to know opinions on the price and the difference. Well my local parts store is cutting me a deal on calipers and rotors for both options. The Z32's with stock front rotors he's selling to me for $325.00 thats already including tax and I can still turn in cores worth $100. So if I turned in cores I'm looking at roughly $225 for everything. He said he couldn't guarantee if they would be aluminum or not but for me personally it wouldn't matter too much either way. The Q45 are the calipers with mounting brackets and the front rotors as well. For those he said $260.00 including tax also can turn in cores worth $100. That would be roughly $125 after cores turned in. I've searched and this price is a lot lower than most places offer by alot. The prices are a lot closer to what a used set goes for. Both sound like great deals to me just the choices. With the Q45 I wouldn't have to buy wheels to put them on. Opinions please. Also if anybody else were interested he said he would cut them the same deal.

[azndoc]

You don't have to change to a Z32 BMC but you should if you get the Z32 brakes.

My friend had the Q45 brakes and they worked really well.

It just depends on what you plan to do with the car. Autox, drifting, drag, or whatever.

I drift and I still have my stock brakes. If I did time attack or autox then I would really upgrade to the Z32 brakes.

The price he's giving you sounds fair. Not too bad.

[2iv0 sx]

Yeah pretty good deals for both imo. I would personally go with the Q45, lesser upgrades than the z32.

With the Q45 you can still use stock lines, keep rear stock brakes, more wheel space clearance etc..

With z32, upgrade BMC, might have to upgrade rear ebrakes to have the balance etc..

Q45 is just less expensive, cause I'm cheap!

[UNISA JECS]

Q45 are better than Z32 for one big reason, better brake bias, sure they weigh a lil bit more but I dont personally care to each his own. JFYI a brake master cylinder swap isn't gonna cure your brake bias problem if you use Z32 brakes, you need larger than 11" rotors up front if you want better brake performance from the Z32 brakes.

[OptionZero]

blah blah blah brake bias blah blah blah search if u really wanna know about it

For most people it'll come down to this:

q45's will clear every wheel
3z's won't

/thread

[racerx1222]

Thanks guys so I guess I'll be ordering up a set of the q45's and by the way anybody know if they make porterfields pads for these calipers? Thanks again in advance.

[OptionZero]

Originally Posted by racerx1222

Thanks guys so I guess I'll be ordering up a set of the q45's and by the way anybody know if they make porterfields pads for these calipers? Thanks again in advance.

i don't think so, but instead of asking us how bout askin' porterfield

[Skullavera]

I beg to differ on the brake bias point. Sure it's different but z32s would'nt be such a popular upgrade if they didn't perform. Brake bias according to another post on stock brakes is about 70/30, Q45 is about 68/32, and Z32 is about 66/34. Yes the bias is different but you have to remember that stock brakes are pushing two pistons in the front, and two in the rear, while Q45s use four front, two rear, and Z32s push eight front, four rear. I'm no expert but I cant help but think that the reason for less bias up in front is due to the fact that since there are more pistons to do the job, less bias is needed to see equal or better results than a Q45 set-up, giving you an overall stronger braking system. I run R33 GTS-T brakes with a Z32 BMC and I love them! No problems whatsoever.
As far as what brakes are right for you, there are many factors that determine the perfect choice for YOU. Both will caliper upgrades will provide you with good results. It depends on how far you will be going with your driving of course that may determine the better choice. You may need to get larger wheels for the Z32s if you're running a 15" wheel but if you plan on getting wheels later, the Q45s stock and wimpy appearance may not compliment your wheels like Z32s will. I'd just go Z32 but only you can decide what is most important.

[UNISA JECS]

Originally Posted by silver240esex

I beg to differ on the brake bias point. Sure it's different but z32s would'nt be such a popular upgrade if they didn't perform. Brake bias according to another post on stock brakes is about 70/30, Q45 is about 68/32, and Z32 is about 66/34. Yes the bias is different but you have to remember that stock brakes are pushing two pistons in the front, and two in the rear, while Q45s use four front, two rear, and Z32s push eight front, four rear. I'm no expert but I cant help but think that the reason for less bias up in front is due to the fact that since there are more pistons to do the job, less bias is needed to see equal or better results than a Q45 set-up, giving you an overall stronger braking system. I run R33 GTS-T brakes with a Z32 BMC and I love them! No problems whatsoever.
As far as what brakes are right for you, there are many factors that determine the perfect choice for YOU. Both will caliper upgrades will provide you with good results. It depends on how far you will be going with your driving of course that may determine the better choice. You may need to get larger wheels for the Z32s if you're running a 15" wheel but if you plan on getting wheels later, the Q45s stock and wimpy appearance may not compliment your wheels like Z32s will. I'd just go Z32 but only you can decide what is most important.

Maybe you dont know this but sliding calipers are equal to 2 times the amount of pistons you see (the slider is equal to two pistons in the case of the Q45) and the amount of pistons means nothing, the reason for more pistons is to allow for a larger pad surface, the more pistons, helps put the pressure uniformly accross a larger pad.

Q45 front = 2 pistons + 2 (dual slide) = 4 piston
Z32 front = 4 pistons (quad fixed) = 4 piston
stock front = 1 piston + (single slide) = 2 piston

Q45 rear = 1 pistons + 1 (single slide) = 2 piston
Z32 rear = 2 pistons (dual fixed) =2 piston
stock rear = 1 piston + 1 (single slide) = 2 piston

*sliding calipers are times two the amount of pistons that you actually see

Q45 front brakes (CL26VF):
- Two piston sliding caliper
- 42.8 piston diameter
- 280mm diameter rotor
- 56mm wide pad
- effective rotor diameter: 280-56 = 224
- effective piston area: 42.8^2 x 2 x 2 (sliding caliper) = 7327.36
- brake torque = 1641328.64 (winner)

vs

300ZX front brakes (OPF25VA):
- Four piston fixed caliper
- 40.45 piston diameter
- 280mm diameter rotor
- 50mm wide pad
- effective rotor diameter: 280-50 = 230
- effective piston area: 40.45^2 x 4 (fixed caliper) = 6545
- brake torque = 1505350.00 (losser)

For the record I run Z32 30mm calipers on my S13 only for the better looks + I run Z33 12.76" rotors with SPL adpater bracker so my front brake torque is actually greater than the Q45 somewhere around 1793330 if you do the math.

Credit goes to ASAD from FA for putting the above info together

[95KA-Turbo]

I ran Q45 brakes on my old S14, and loved them. I plan on upgrading when I actually need to, I am not even coming close to out performing my stock brake set up. I'd offer more, but honestly I can't compete with UNISA JECS' post, haha.

I did have a question though, do Q45 rears bolt up as easy as fronts or do you have to get an e-brake assembly with them like the Z brakes. Also, are J30s the same as Q45 brakes?

[Skullavera]

Originally Posted by UNISA JECS

.......Credit goes to ASAD from FA for putting the above info together

Sweet info, I did not know that! Thanks, I learned something new. I guess all in all, the technicalities of it all really don't matter unless you are able to reach said limits with driving ability, I know I'm nowhere near there lol. It just comes down you preference in the end, and what one is comfortable with. But I love my brakes hahaha!!!

[drift freaq]

Originally Posted by UNISA JECS

Maybe you dont know this but sliding calipers are equal to 2 times the amount of pistons you see (the slider is equal to two pistons in the case of the Q45) and the amount of pistons means nothing, the reason for more pistons is to allow for a larger pad surface, the more pistons, helps put the pressure uniformly accross a larger pad.

Q45 front = 2 pistons + 2 (dual slide) = 4 piston
Z32 front = 4 pistons (quad fixed) = 4 piston
stock front = 1 piston + (single slide) = 2 piston

Q45 rear = 1 pistons + 1 (single slide) = 2 piston
Z32 rear = 2 pistons (dual fixed) =2 piston
stock rear = 1 piston + 1 (single slide) = 2 piston

*sliding calipers are times two the amount of pistons that you actually see

Q45 front brakes (CL26VF):
- Two piston sliding caliper
- 42.8 piston diameter
- 280mm diameter rotor
- 56mm wide pad
- effective rotor diameter: 280-56 = 224
- effective piston area: 42.8^2 x 2 x 2 (sliding caliper) = 7327.36
- brake torque = 1641328.64 (winner)

vs

300ZX front brakes (OPF25VA):
- Four piston fixed caliper
- 40.45 piston diameter
- 280mm diameter rotor
- 50mm wide pad
- effective rotor diameter: 280-50 = 230
- effective piston area: 40.45^2 x 4 (fixed caliper) = 6545
- brake torque = 1505350.00 (losser)

For the record I run Z32 30mm calipers on my S13 only for the better looks + I run Z33 12.76" rotors with SPL adpater bracker so my front brake torque is actually greater than the Q45 somewhere around 1793330 if you do the math.

Credit goes to ASAD from FA for putting the above info together

AH the ghost of ASAD gets resurrected. LOL . Regardless of Asads decidely over technical research which he was famous for in the end Z32 brakes are fine for our cars. Used with the correct master and Z32 rears they work great.

So though the Q45 brake might be slightly better in shear stopping torque terms for the sake of our cars its not a big enough difference. Most of these guys are not going road racing.

[racerx1222]

I plan to autox with the car and 16's will probably be the largest wheel size I'd go up to the bigger wheels are for my Z32.

[smelly240]

yeah they do - they make em... i have them.

[5t341tH]

u could just use z32 wheels up front if u decide to go with z32 brakes

[Dousan_PG]

i think a big reason people go w/ the z32 over the q45s is they look cooler
hahaha
serious.

[cdlong]

Originally Posted by Dousan_PG

i think a big reason people go w/ the z32 over the q45s is they look cooler
hahaha
serious.

he's not kidding, i'll be the first to admit it.

and if you're just autoXing, don't upgrade the brakes (aside from pads and lines). it might change your class and they don't help at all. jason rhodes, the guy who built the amazing SM car, had 285 or something R-comps and stock calipers and rotors.

[georgesal]

^ i agree, iv'e had both and the z32 offer a bit of a baller factor, not as baller as rotora or endless but just a bit

[Ninjabread]

Yea i bought q45's.

+cheap
+fits most/all wheels
+all i'll ever need

- ugly

[jeeper_x]

Originally Posted by Ninjabread

Yea i bought q45's.

- ugly

z32 for me then.......

[OptionZero]

are you running SPL adapter and 3z fronts with no 3z rears? cuz thats pretty stupid

[UNISA JECS]

Originally Posted by OptionZero

are you running SPL adapter and 3z fronts with no 3z rears? cuz thats pretty stupid

Hell no, I run Z32 30mm fronts with SPL adapter brackets with Z33 12.76" rotors and Z32 rears with the stock 11.5" rotors

[AznDrftr.]

J30 FTW.

I'd go Q45 though.

[smelly240]

j30 and q45 are the same size IIRC - same rotors i think.

[projectRDM]

Originally Posted by smelly240

j30 and q45 are the same size IIRC - same rotors i think.

Bingo. Same size, same parts.

[dan240]

The Q45 front brakes generate more torque than the 300zx fronts but to me that just says its making an already overly front biased set up even worse. Just throwing the biggest brakes you can find on the front of your car is not going to make it stop any better.

If your only going autocrossing I think you're better off with stock brakes, good pads and good fluid. You are not going to overheat your brakes on an autocross course. Remove the stock proportioning valve and get an adjustable one to dial in the brake bias how you want it (I don't know if that would be legal for your class).

An adjustable proportioning valve is probably ~$40.

[UNISA JECS]

Originally Posted by dan240

The Q45 front brakes generate more torque than the 300zx fronts but to me that just says its making an already overly front biased set up even worse. Just throwing the biggest brakes you can find on the front of your car is not going to make it stop any better.

If your only going autocrossing I think you're better off with stock brakes, good pads and good fluid. You are not going to overheat your brakes on an autocross course. Remove the stock proportioning valve and get an adjustable one to dial in the brake bias how you want it (I don't know if that would be legal for your class).

An adjustable proportioning valve is probably ~$40.

What you just wrote is only true if you run only upgraded front brakes, now if you were to run Z32 brake all around then your lacking front brake torque, in this case Q45 have a better brake torque split than the Z32 does.

p.s. who does that anyways (runs huge ass front brake and keeps the rears stock)..lol thats retarded

If it were up to me I like to run 12" rotors in the front with Z32 30mm calipers and the stock 11.5" z32 rears but im stuck with teh 12.76" fronts for now

[dan240]

Originally Posted by UNISA JECS

What you just wrote is only true if you run only upgraded front brakes, now if you were to run Z32 brake all around then your lacking front brake torque, in this case Q45 have a better brake torque split than the Z32 does.

p.s. who does that anyways (runs huge ass front brake and keeps the rears stock)..lol thats retarded

If it were up to me I like to run 12" rotors in the front with Z32 30mm calipers and the stock 11.5" z32 rears but im stuck with teh 12.76" fronts for now

I was just looking at your post above and you didn't mention the rear brake torque for any of the set-ups. Then your running an adapter bracket to get even more front brake bias. It sounded like thats exactly what you did.

Sorry if I missunderstood.

[Koopa Troopa]

Originally Posted by UNISA JECS

p.s. who does that anyways (runs huge ass front brake and keeps the rears stock)..lol thats retarded

I do and it works fine (R33 GT-R Brembo's). OMG how do I survive with all my front brake bias...

Not to mention S14 K's came from the factory with 4 pots in the front. Uh oh! Nissan RnD must be full of morons!

[alkemyst]

I don't know if that math is right for the Q45 scenario...there is probably a huge reason why nissan did not elect to use these on their high line sports/gt cars though.

Personally if it's coming down to Q45 vx 300ZX is make or break a setup, then one should be looking at Brembo class calipers anyway.

I am running R33 GTS-T (296x30mm/297x18mm).