MaxDoogie

Alrighty, I just finished my 300zx brake upgrade, however, I have run into some problems. Has anyone that has done this upgrade had any problems with the rotor hitting the lower control arm of the suspension? My rotors would not clear that part, so we had to pound down and file off some of the surround on the control arm. Now, it will still hit if I have the wheels cranked all the way to the left on the drivers side wheel. Anyone have any suggestions on how to fix this?

BTW, I will have pics up tommorrow of the finished product...IMO, the brakes look amazing on the car. Here's what all the parts looked like shortly before installing them all:

Y2KevSE

iTrader: (13)

Looks good!

You will need to shave/file the control arm a little more or it will leave a permanent ring around your purdy rotors. Loving the brakes yet? Make sure you break them in before doing hard stops.

MaxDoogie

Thanks Kev!

I'm glad I am not the only one that has had to file the control arm down...Every install I have read hasn't mentioned having to file the arm down...Maybe you don't need to on 4th gens.

Did you have any problems with your brake pads rubbing when you first did the install? Mine are rubbing, and I am just hoping after a few hundred miles, after the pads have seated themselves, the rubbing will stop.

So far I am loving the stopping power...A lot better than my stock brakes, which were pretty much shot. I am taking it easy, and I plan to for another 300 or so miles.

Y2KevSE

iTrader: (13)

No problem. The control arm needs to be shaved/filed no matter what gen. I don't know why it wouldn't be mentioned because it is a big problem if not fixed.

When the pads heated up, I would hear clicking noises as the slots rotated by the pads. I think you are hearing the same problem too, correct? The pads will eventually wear down to a point where you won't hear the noise anymore.

Have fun with the new setup!

MaxDoogie

I guess I need to write to Cheston and get him to add this filing info to his write-up

I am actually hearing more than just clicking, the pads are contacting more and are actually rubbing...I am hoping it will go away just like your clicking noise will...If its not gone in another 200 or so miles, I am taking it to the brake shop

Any other 5th gens out there done this upgrade? I have seen a few 4th gens, but Kev is the only other person besides me that I know of that has done this

Y2KevSE

iTrader: (13)

I forgot his username, but someone has the 3000GT conversion. 12.4" rotors!

Galo

trigger (meaning, send in the moolah) for my brake kit, prithee tell me how much you paid for this kit?

Thks

MaxDoogie

Well, I sure didn't get it for as cheap as everyone else on this board. This is what I paid for everything:

Calipers = 200
Paint for calipers = 6
rotors = 170
brake lines = 75
Wheel spacers = 100
Brake fluid = 7
bolts, washers, and other needed hardware = 10

and about 10 hours for install time = priceless

Galo

kit...now u have me thinking.....
Thanks!

LatinMax

iTrader: (1)

I had the same problem on my 5th gen and did a write up on it that I put on my home page. Exactly for the same reason that nobody said anything about it. I had to do more on the passanger side than on the driver side. But I love the difference it makes.

Did you test before and after?
I did and cut my 60-0 mph time to what it was 40-0 mph time with the factory setup. (I was getting ready for the super charger)

LatinMax

iTrader: (1)

I had the same problem on my 5th gen and did a write up on it that I put on my home page. Exactly for the same reason that nobody said anything about it. I had to do more on the passanger side than on the driver side. But I love the difference it makes.

Did you test before and after?
I did and cut my 60-0 mph time to what it was 40-0 mph time with the factory setup. (I was getting ready for the super charger)

SLC98Max

Hi Doug,

Where did you get the calipers and were they the aluminum ones? Also where did you find SS lines for only $75. Were they for your rears also? I look forward to seeing the new brakes on your max at the next meet, we missed you at the last one.

Dan

mingo

iTrader: (4)

that would be turbo95max

Y2KevSE

iTrader: (13)

I know he has it because I installed it with him. A 5th gener has this upgrade.

mingo

iTrader: (4)

that would be you.. cept u wrote brembo on your calipers.

MaxDoogie

Hey Dan,

They are the 30mm Aluminum ones from a 93 300zx...I got the calipers and lines both off of eBay. They are only the front lines, as the 300zx rear lines have issues with our emergency brakes. If you are thinking of doing this upgrade, I would love to help out with it!

I was bummed I had to miss the last meet, but I won't miss the next one, fo' sho'

SLC98Max

Thanks for the info. I'll probably do the mod early this summer. I have to buy rims first . I'll tell you when I buy the brakes. C'ya you next meet.

00MAXIST

iTrader: (2)

Irvine78, his brakes are awesome.

irvine78

iTrader: (2)

are you sure you forgot my name already?

Y2KevSE

iTrader: (13)

Blah... not you....... someone else before you.

MaxDoogie

Lookin' good, Irvine!!

How much did you have to get milled off the diameter of those rotors? Looks like quite a lot, judging by how close the slot is to the edge of the rotor

irvine78

iTrader: (2)

not that much...only 3mm...

SLC98Max

What did you use to paint your calipers? I know most people use engine enamel but I found a place that will powdercoat calipers and I am trying to decide which will be best.

MaxDoogie

Hey Dan,

who did you find that would do the powdercoating around here? I went and talked to a few shops, they all told me that they would not powdercoat my calipers, because the aluminum will bubble in the oven when they cook the powdercoating on there. The shops were the actual places that suggested I just use the enging enamel...

Lemme know!

irvine78

iTrader: (2)

i just used a can of high temp. paint...you can get this paint from almost any car part stores...

Y2KevSE

iTrader: (13)

Should've kept them silver.

philpoe

iTrader: (4)

Irvine (or anyone),
Is there a kit and/or a writeup of this brake combo?

Larrio

iTrader: (10)

philpoe: here is one for a 300zx one on a 5th gen

http://maxima.cardomain.com/member_p...=286919&page=2

courtesy of latinmax

irvine78

iTrader: (2)

i would have if you'd have painted them nicer.

Philpoe: as far as a kit for this conversion, you'll need a set of brackets to mount the calipers. due to the large size of the 3000GT VR-4 rotors, you cannot bolt on the calipers without these brackets. i got these brackets from Y2KevSE, maybe he can get you another set.

Y2KevSE

iTrader: (13)

So you're blaming Jane?

MaxDoogie

The brackets don't come cheap either...if you get them off the internet, they will probably end up costing you more than your actual calipers do

If you know a good machine shop, you may want to ask them how much the brackets will be to manufacture

SLC98Max

Doug,

Durable Powder Coating said they would powder coat them with a two stage candy apple red for $60. They said a one stage paint would be cheaper. I don't think I mentioned that they were aluminum calipers so they may not be able to do those. However since then I have found a better solution. A place called High Performance Coatings in Bluffdale near point of the mountain said they had developed a caliper coating for Ford motor Company and could paint my calipers with it for $60. I made sure to ask if it would work on aluminum calipers and he said it would work fine because of the process used to apply his product.
Y2KevSE,
Did you make the brackets yourself or did you purchase them? If you made them what material did you use and where did you get specs? I am curious because I know several machinists who could probably make some for my car. Thanks for the info.

Dan

philpoe

iTrader: (4)

Y2KevSE

iTrader: (13)

After looking at what the kit includes, I couldn't believe what the vendor charged.

http://store.yahoo.com/ginnmotorsports/brakes.html

Turbo95Max bought only the brackets, nuts, and bolts.

MaxDoogie

Yeah, pretty silly, huh? I can't justify spending that much money on some flat pieces of metal like that

philpoe

iTrader: (4)

With the VR4 compatible brackets, you still needed to mill down the rotors 3mm? how about shaving the control arm?

LatinMax

iTrader: (1)

I used a two part epoxy paint that can handle something like 1200-1400 degrees from this site. Theay have like 4-5 colors and it works great. One paint set was plenty for both front and back calipers and the center of the hubs and I had some left over to throw away.

irvine78

iTrader: (2)

because the 300ZX TT calipers run on smaller rotor size, if you want to use larger rotors, you have to shave it down just a bit. in my set-up, that'd be around 3mm.

and yes, you still need to shave the control arm too.

Kevin.....stop blaming Jane for your poor painting skills.

SLC98Max

Well I just won a pair of aluminum calipers off ebay that came from a jdm R32 skyline which is the same exact caliper as the 300zx. Now I just need SS lines, rotors, porterfeild pads, and oh yeah, some new rims that will clear them . When I am ready to install them I'll probably get in contact with you Doug if thats cool.

Now what color should I paint them? I am debating over red with black lettering or gold with red lettering. What do you think would be better or do you have any other suggestions?

Irvine I really like your setup!

MaxDoogie

Dan, That is awesome!! I'll be ready to help when you need me...Honestly, on your black car, I would suggest a very metallic silver with candy apple red lettering...IMO, that would look hot!

One other thing, you should ask the seller if he is including the mounting bolts for the control arm...I didn't get them with mine and I had to run to 3 different parts stores before they had the right bolts...My bolts I pulled out of the caliper did not fit, they were too long and were in contact with the rotor when they were cranked down...Also try to get some organic brake pads, mine squeel when they are cold, and those are supposed to make it better