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.

[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.

[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.

[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

[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.

[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

[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.

[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

[Ninjabread]

Yea i bought q45's.

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

- ugly

[OptionZero]

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

[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?

[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

[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.

[AznDrftr.]

J30 FTW.

I'd go Q45 though.

[smelly240]

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

[FaLKoN240]

I'm gonna have a set of front Q45 brakes for sale soon! PM ME!

[!Zar!]

q45 brakes stop your car better, clear wheels easier and aren't as expensive nor require all that bs to put on.

But as said before, z32's look sick.

You choose.

[CrimsonRockett]

I think i'm good.

[Skullavera]

Haha! Slap those mofos on so you dont hump my car! good to see you got everything in.

[CrimsonRockett]

I need rotors!



You know you loved it from the back.

[jrocslider]

Dousan is right... people get Z's cause they look better. not everybody but the majority.

i have sum 30mm with ss lines sittin in my garage and havent put them on because i want better wheels and dont know if in the end they will clear so i've been contemplating on selling them and just gettin Q45's

[projectRDM]

Originally Posted by smelly240

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

Bingo. Same size, same parts.