Hi Guys,

 

I currently have stock 16" wheels, discs and brakes on my TT LWB and want to upgrade to a good fast road set up (though be aware I am pretty hard on my brakes). I want a set up with decent "cold" performance rather than feeling like I am braking with two blocks of butter when cold and also that doesn't wear like a bitch!!!

 

Jamie at Zedworld had recommended new EBC rotors and Mintex Extreme pads to fit my standard rims but I was also looking at going up to 18"'s - would that open up the opportunity of using bigger discs? If so what would be the best/biggest I could fit with 18" rims and is there a way of still using my stock callipers (don't have the money to do wheels, discs, pads and callipers at the same time - though not to say I couldn't do callipers at a later date!!) I have read some good things about 3G and DBA discs from Smithy's place - What size should I be looking for with 18" rims? Does anyone here use them and what pads would you pair up for best all round stopping performance? - I am NOT looking for a track set up - just a good fast road set up because at the moment it feels like I am stopping a barge!

 

Please help - there seems to be so much information out there I have no idea what to go for.

 

Thank for all your help as ever!!

 

Confused (as always) - Cyrus

Edited October 31, 200916 yr by CyrusJH

No point going for a bigger disk on stock calipers as the contact patch will still be the same as your smaller disk. I would do what Jamie says unless you go for bigger calipers to match the bigger disks

No point going for a bigger disk on stock calipers as the contact patch will still be the same as your smaller disk. I would do what Jamie says unless you go for bigger calipers to match the bigger disks

 

Thanks for the comment and I agree - and I do want to do the callipers soon - just can't do it all at the same time (money money money.... plus the wife will kill me if I spend it all in one go) so I am looking for an upgrade path that I can do in a couple of stages... wheels, tyres and discs first then callipers - does that make things clearer? (yeah .. like mud)

 

To extend this even further - what callipers should I be looking to end up with 4 pots - 6's 8's!! and any particular make/model?

Edited October 31, 200916 yr by CyrusJH

No point going for a bigger disk on stock calipers as the contact patch will still be the same as your smaller disk. I would do what Jamie says unless you go for bigger calipers to match the bigger disks

So what your saying then is the thousands of people worldwide who fitted r33 and 350 discs with relocated stock calipers are mistaken then that their brake performance has improved dramatically ?

So what your saying then is the thousands of people worldwide who fitted r33 and 350 discs with relocated stock calipers are mistaken then that their brake performance has improved dramatically ?

 

yes

get yourself down to hi-spec in dartford mate. they will custom make a set of brakes to fit your wheels, car and needs. heres mine when i got them fitted :P

Thanks for the comment and I agree - and I do want to do the callipers soon - just can't do it all at the same time (money money money.... plus the wife will kill me if I spend it all in one go) so I am looking for an upgrade path that I can do in a couple of stages... wheels, tyres and discs first then callipers - does that make things clearer? (yeah .. like mud)

 

To extend this even further - what callipers should I be looking to end up with 4 pots - 6's 8's!! and any particular make/model?

 

Standard good condition zed calipers and disks do the job real well. Jeff had a zed the other day and stated the brakes were incredible. I think if you going to change your wheels to 18s i would have bigger disks and calipers. Also different brakes work better at certain temps, the size of a disk could also have a cooling effect and make operation poorer than say a smaller disk. More pistons aren't always better either. I will try and find a link to an Australian site where they compared various set ups. The r33 set up is there too and comes out worse than the zed stand brakes. Bare with me though as this is a new computer and i have lost loads of my short cuts.

get yourself down to hi-spec in dartford mate. they will custom make a set of brakes to fit your wheels, car and needs. heres mine when i got them fitted :P

 

Look ace mate, were they dear?

yes

 

 

So the fact that a larger disc will absorb heat better and reduce fade and the other factor that the pads are gripping the disc further from its axis giving more effort also wont sway you then :rolleyes:.

So the fact that a larger disc will absorb heat better and reduce fade and the other factor that the pads are gripping the disc further from its axis giving more effort also wont sway you then :rolleyes:.

 

Fair point, but im sure you know bigger isnt always better, also more piston not always better. So many factors when it comes to braking.

Look ace mate, were they dear?

 

about 2k for everything including fitting. that was drive in drive out :). they are unbelievably good and i cant fault them

I was the same as you Cyrus. I has just spent a bit on an engine build but needed to do something with my brakes in the meantime.

So i opted for the DBA Wiperslot discs and relocation brackets that Dan @ DTA sells. I found a big difference in the braking effects since the contact patch was further away from the centre of the hub. Meaning you'd get more leverage for the same amount of pressure on the pedal.

I was the same as you Cyrus. I has just spent a bit on an engine build but needed to do something with my brakes in the meantime.

So i opted for the DBA Wiperslot discs and relocation brackets that Dan @ DTA sells. I found a big difference in the braking effects since the contact patch was further away from the centre of the hub. Meaning you'd get more leverage for the same amount of pressure on the pedal.

 

That sounds like a really good compromise Shrek and could well take me in the direction I want to end up. Do you mind me asking what disc size DBA's you went for and if you are intending to replace the calipers at some point? if so for what? and what pads do you find work well with these new discs?

get yourself down to hi-spec in dartford mate. they will custom make a set of brakes to fit your wheels, car and needs. heres mine when i got them fitted :P

 

:bow: I must say Yassa they look the muts nuts mate!!! do you mind me asking what size rims those have been fitted to? and what pads you are running? - might be out of my price range for now but definitely worth keeping the info for as they seem to have done a stunning job!

18" wheels. 355mm disks. 6 pot calipers (front)... 335mm disks and 2 pot ultralite calipers on the rear. iirc its redstuff pads all round. i was gonna have 360mm discs but they would not fit in the wheels :rofl:

That sounds like a really good compromise Shrek and could well take me in the direction I want to end up. Do you mind me asking what disc size DBA's you went for and if you are intending to replace the calipers at some point? if so for what? and what pads do you find work well with these new discs?

 

I'm intending on putting on a set of r33 GTR calipers, eventually. I was running the Wiperslot 4000 discs (r33-GTR size) with porterfield RS-4 pads on my shorty. but when i swapped the set-up onto my LWB, i just used the red stuff pads that were already on it. Will be putting a new set of porterfields onto in before i put my zed back on the road though.

http://importnut.net/300zxbrakeswap.htm

 

See if this helps, there are so many ways to go about this.

http://importnut.net/300zxbrakeswap.htm

 

See if this helps, there are so many ways to go about this.

 

That's very good if you own a 200sx, the site is about using the 300zx parts to upgrade to, not what brake upgrades the 300zx can have or do...

 

All in all, for the cost, upgrading to the skyline GTR33/34 sized discs on stock decent working calipers is a good investment.

Should GTR Brembo calipers later on become available, simply remove the relocating brackets and stock calipers, sell em and fit the Brembo's, job done ;)

smithy

Increasing brake performance is not always down to increasing disc size - if you use a decent quality disc with the right brake pad (compound) then you could easily increase performance without going to too much expense.

 

Following on from the above premise, I can offer stock size (ie 296mm) DBA wiper-slot discs and Porterfield R4-S (Carbon-Kevlar) pads. This combination will set you back approximately £296.00 for 4000-series DBA discs (or £210.00 for "normal" discs) and £75.00 for the Porterfield pads. This, incidentally, is for the front axle only.

 

More info: http://www.smithys-place.co.uk/brakes.php

 

If you want to discuss this further please feel free to contact me.

 

Regards,

I have the DBA big brake kit Smithy used to sell but is no longer on there web site :confused: I also run the Portfield pads :D.

That's very good if you own a 200sx, the site is about using the 300zx parts to upgrade to, not what brake upgrades the 300zx can have or do...

 

All in all, for the cost, upgrading to the skyline GTR33/34 sized discs on stock decent working calipers is a good investment.

Should GTR Brembo calipers later on become available, simply remove the relocating brackets and stock calipers, sell em and fit the Brembo's, job done ;)

smithy

 

Ha Ha there is a 300zx part to that site.:rofl:

Ha Ha there is a 300zx part to that site.:rofl:

 

Then please show the link relevant to this discussion :rofl:

Seroiusly mate, i've had a reasonable good look through and it's all about fitting Zed brakes to other cars, it has some part numbers of certain parts, buts that's it.

 

In cases where some peeps actually use the search function, if they arn't that clever about what's what on these cars, they could read that, see the big wording for 300zx and start stripping their brakes down to find they already have what it says!

 

In the Nissan section menu it doesn't list any upgrades for the Zed....

smithy

Edited November 2, 200916 yr by Smithy

http://www.automotiveforums.com/t419768.html

 

Very long thread on all parts and options on tuning a Zed including brakes. Hope you find this helps. Smithy your right, sh1t first link, my mistake.