180SX Brakes from USDM Parts

[Joe_M]

From what I have read, the 180SX brakes are essentially....


Early 90's Maxima Calipers
Early 90's Maxima Pads
91-94 Altima Rotors

BUT..... While shopping for Brembo rotors tonight, I came across something. The part numbers for the Maxima Pads are the same part numbers for the Altima pads for the same years. My question is this, if there aren't any Maxima's in the junkyard, can I just yank the calipers from an Altima and use those if neccessary?

Thanks

Joe

[AKADriver]

The Altima years are actually '93-'97 (1st gen), and the Maxima years are '89-'99 (3rd and 4th gen).

I've seen plenty of Maximas in junkyards, you shouldn't have a problem.

IIRC the Altima calipers are offset differently, they're not exactly the same. The Altima calipers aren't listed as an interchange for the Maxima.

[Joe_M]

Rats! I guess its back to the junkyard then for Maxima's. Not too many of them in Cincinnati here. Thanks for the confirmation though.

Joe

[Warwick5s]

what's the difference?

[AKADriver]

I'm not entirely sure, but on some of the FWD Nissans the calipers are designed to mount slightly differently... the Altima is probably one of them.

like, you can bolt Z32 brakes onto an Infiniti G20 only after shaving ~5mm off the diameter of the rotor. So the Altima caliper would mount a few mm further out than the Maxima caliper...

[Warwick5s]

LOL, i meant what was the difference between the proposed 'upgraded 180sx' brakes and the stock 240sx brakes.

[Dousan_PG]

what about the brake pad holders (shims?) i dont know the term
there are 2 on each caliper that hold the brake pads in

are those replaceable w/ USDM parts?

part numbers anyone?

thanks

[Joe_M]

Originally posted by Warwick5s
LOL, i meant what was the difference between the proposed 'upgraded 180sx' brakes and the stock 240sx brakes.

The rotor is about an inch bigger and also the caliper is slightly larger. Big brakes for a budget racer.

Joe

[AKADriver]

Yep.

Exact specs... 240SX rotors are 252x20mm (non ABS) or 257x22mm (with ABS).

The 180SX/Altima rotors are 280x22mm.

For comparison Z32 rotors are 280x26 or 30mm.

These 180SX/Maxima calipers are much cheaper than Z calipers because they're more common and only single piston. The rotors end up much cheaper because they don't need to be redrilled for four lug cars. They also will fit behind ANY 15" wheel... no worries about wheel spoke clearance for a fat caliper.

They're a cheap upgrade, good for people that want to run "old school" type wheels, and good for people that replace rotors often (track use) since drilling isnt necessary. Should be enough braking power and heat capacity for any N/A 240SX.

All caliper parts are identical to the 3/4 gen Maxima parts. Caliper, bracket, pads, shims, caliper rebuild/seal kit, all of it. Part number for the shim kit (pad hardware kit) according to carfiche.com is 41080-73L26.

[Dousan_PG]

THANKS aka!

[AKADriver]

no problem.

been thinking about going this route before my next track day... I need new front pads and rotors anyway.

I wonder if a parts store would take the grungy 240SX calipers I have lying around as a core for reman'd Maxima calipers... heh... one of them has a busted pin bolt.

[weitau]

Ah, great Thread! Should be put into a FAQ somewhere!

[thx247]

they probably would, they look very similar.

[KingKong8247]

Yeah probably will becuase I keep reading about the Q45 calipers that people buy them and bring back their 240 ones for the core and it works.

Id say buy them and just go back the next day or something and get your money back so they dont compare side by side ya know

[tastyratz]

back from the dead for damn good reason! what about combination for rears? just for that little bit extra... i dont wanna go through the complications of a redrill q45 or z calipers but for a little bit better bias and more bite in the rear what would be a similar slight step up? my goal is increased braking with good bias.

also just to make sure these brakes are vented right?

37$ caliper and "valuecraft" 21$ (if im really cheap) or 31$ rotor for a better one autozone shows altima 93+ rotors that price. 37 for metal master pads and a decent front brake upgrade with new/reman parts for around 150$? sounds good to me so far

[AKADriver]

rear options for S-chassis

S13 - 10" non-vented rotor, smaller single piston caliper, integral handbrake
S14/S15 - 10" non-vented rotor, larger single piston caliper, integral handbrake
A31 Cefiro - 10.5" non-vented rotor, smaller single piston caliper, drum handbrake
J30/Q45 - 11" vented rotor, larger single piston caliper, drum handbrake
Z32/R32 - 11.75" vented rotor, 2-piston caliper, drum handbrake

The Maxima/180SX fronts match S13 rears with the S13 master cylinder bias. No bias problems. Ideally you'd want a 15/16" master like the (R)PS13, but the 7/8" 240SX master is fine. This isn't a big step up in braking power up front, just a bigger, heavier rotor for more fade resistance.

[CHARLIE2020]

Originally Posted by AKADriver

rear options for S-chassis

S13 - 10" non-vented rotor, smaller single piston caliper, integral handbrake
S14/S15 - 10" non-vented rotor, larger single piston caliper, integral handbrake
A31 Cefiro - 10.5" non-vented rotor, smaller single piston caliper, drum handbrake
J30/Q45 - 11" vented rotor, larger single piston caliper, drum handbrake
Z32/R32 - 11.75" vented rotor, 2-piston caliper, drum handbrake

The Maxima/180SX fronts match S13 rears with the S13 master cylinder bias. No bias problems. Ideally you'd want a 15/16" master like the (R)PS13, but the 7/8" 240SX master is fine. This isn't a big step up in braking power up front, just a bigger, heavier rotor for more fade resistance.

The J30/Q45 rear is 11.6" vented rotor, I have them on my S13 and I measured them.

Also the Z32 rear rotors are 11.6" vented.

[tastyratz]

there isnt many threads regarding using s14 rears on s13s and that was a useful post collecting the information in your thread. what ive been searching to find all day is information on exactly how much bigger the s14 rears are, and information bolting them up to an s13 (bracket? any issues? cable length? etc.) im looking for a little bit of an increase without significant investment or modifications. I like the idea of not redrilling rotors (especially due to balancing issues) and the ease of the maxima/altima install. would someone who might have attempted installing s14 brakes chime in? rear pad applications are all the same for all s13s and s14s making me believe its possible they may be accomodating the same mounting bracket? can anyone confirm any of my speculations? (this is a brake thread and i have a feeling sykik chimp will kick in any moment)

[AKADriver]

No issues bolting up the S14 rear caliper to S13, just the piston is larger. It dials in a surprising amount of extra rear bias. There are other threads where the differences were discussed with respect to Z32 front calipers (since S14 rears plus Z32 fronts is the stock S14/S15 Silvia system).

[black s13]

i apologize for bringing this back from the dead, but its for a good reason.

i just did the swap today, used 90 maxima calipers and 94 altiima rotors. the rotor seems a little small, the pad sits off the edge about 5mm. are they supposed to be like this? or did the advance auto guy give me the wrong rotors?

[tastyratz]

alright i have to update this because this seems to be a reference thread for people. i did the swap and ran into a few issues. i have the pads hanging off the rotor as well like black s13 so thats confirmed. I will post pictures for everyone when I am ready to. also, these brakes DO NOT I repeat DO NOT clear steel wheels. I have stock steelies and they drag all the way around. I ground down the inside part of the wheel where it drags (very slightly its a beefy spot) and then I ground down the caliper over 1/16th and it still drags for me. DO NOT do this swap unless you have alloys. They drag from the flat all the way to the front on me and it sucks. Im going to deal with the thumping dragging until my rims come in this week and I pray i have no more problems with this. I used brackets and calipers from a 94 maxima and altima rotors. Another thing to consider is I purchased everything new/rebuilt from autozone. The brake pad retaining clips from the stock brakes appeared to function when I bent them but I believe they were a real bitch to get in and i think they are dragging on the rotors because the new ones are alot thicker and I will be getting new ones tonight to replace them from autozone. I will update with pics from the digicam and more later so people can see a real idea of what this swap is truly like.

[Silverbullet]

arn't the S13 Silvia/180SX brakes same as the early NA Z32 brakes?

[tastyratz]

no they arent. if you scroll up they talk about the design differences from z32. the rotors are the same diameter but the calipers are totally different designs

[black s13]

ill post some pics up too. the clearance is defenitly changed, not only does the caliper move toward the tire, it also extends about 10mm further toward the wheel. my 16" Enkei meshies clear by about 3mm. i used the shims that came in my junkyard calipers, theyre working fine for me.

[CRZY_AZN]

Are there any 4 lug rotors that fit z32 brakes so you wouldnt have to drill??

[theicecreamdan]

1st gen altima calipers DO bolt onto S-chassis spindles, I pulled my calipers off of a 94 Altima, and have maxima brembo rotors

and they clear my steel wheels just fine.

[sleedawg]

I'm gonna ask the same question as crazyazn... Does anyone sell 280mm x 26mm 4 lug rotors at a reasonable price? I checked out Heavy Throttle and PDM. They seem to have what I want but are just too pricey. (no offense to those guys) I prefer to find brembo blanks, not cross drilled or slotted, that were specifically made for the 4 lug and not 5 lugs machined to fit 4 lugs. I know I'm being picky. Hopefully someone sells them. Don't wanna have to special order 40 rotors from Brembo and have to hock the 34-36 rotors that I don't need. uggh.

[Phlip]

^^^ I believe NOPI sells the undrilled blanks for a decent price... And please refrain from reviving 2.5 year old threads

[tastyratz]

dont revive an old thread... without a good reason. asking about buying rotors for a completely unrelated brake setup is a noobish question best reserved for a new thread to fill with flames. I was coming back here today anyways to put some pics in this thread for people to reference in the future comparisons of my stock s13 non abs brakes and the 180, as well as pictures showing the pad overhang. Enjoy:

In with the new

and out with the old

[NismoSilvia270R]

i was owned by not searching.

got the calipers, pads, brembo rotors, stainless braided lines, and tools.

turns out you have to trim the dust shield. i ended up bending the hell out of the dust shield until it cleared. clean it up later cause i had to get it out of my friend's garage.

also, old ass rotors can rust in one with the hub. took me 2 hours, quarter can of liquid wrench, and a tiny wire brush to break em free.

i just finished the conversion like 20 minutes ago. wish i had a camera. they look great and feel even better. fronts like to lock up first, but i can brake much harder and quicker without problems.

not too keen on the pad overhang, but it was cheap enough.

thread jack because i dont want to make a whole new thread for it:
rear brake line-->hose connection. the fitting is stripped. is there another way of getting it undone without cutting and reflaring?
PM answers are probably best...