all the info. you need for the 6th gen front brake upgrade
Seems like a no brainer.
Brackets
Ive seen this being disputed all over the forum and Id really like to hear from someone that has done it and may have even bought the 6th gen brackets and either compared em or seen that they didnt need them bc the 5.5 gen brackets work on the 6 gen calipers....DO I NEED THE BRACKETS????
Ok, so since this is something that's becoming ever more popular here on the .org, i decided to compile all of the information you need to upgrade the front brakes on your 5th gen to the 6th gen brakes with 12.6" rotors...
First check your wheel clearance to make sure you have enough room for the brakes to fit. Measure from the center of your wheel to the inside of it, and if you don't have at LEAST 7 5/8" these brakes will not fit on your car...they do fit the 5.5 gen 17" SE wheels like a glove, but they don't fit with the 5.0 gen SE 17s...
If you do have enough clearance, the next step is to purchase what you need for the upgrade. Here are the things you need to get your hands on:
-6th gen calipers (I bought mine from Dave B. for ~$60 each)
-6th gen 12.6" rotors (I bought mine from automax's GD; brembo blanks for ~$100 shipped)
-6th gen front brake pads (Also bought from automax's GD; PBR metal masters for ~$50 shipped)
-6th gen front brake shim kit (got mine from Dave B. i think for under $20)
-Brake fluid of your choice
These are DIRECT BOLT ON for ALL 5th gens (5.0 and 5.5 alike) but you can also opt to get Matt Blehm's re-location bracket on the 5.0 gen (but not the 5.5 gen) and use your stock calipers.
Installation for me would have gone smooth if i had a right and a left caliper, but i accidentally got 2 left ones! DOH! Make sure when installing the calipers that the bleed screw is on TOP. (shown in the picture below.)
For me, the pedal feel was GREATLY improved (although this may be becuse i was running on my stock brakes at 50k). The pedal feels firm, and even after beating the **** out of my car at MSR during maxus, i didn't get an ounce of brake fade with my ATE Super Blue Dot 4 fluid.
I bed the brakes in just after installation and so far no abnormal noises or vibrations. There is great feedback from the brakes and they don't seem to lock up under extreme braking like they did before.
On a performance point of view, I could not tell any difference in acceleration. These rotors did feel really heavy, but IIRC they are only 5 or 6 lbs. heavier than stock, which also felt really heavy, so it would be pretty hard to feel any adverse affects on acceleration.
As for the paint on my calipers, i used the G2 silver paint kit. I applied the paint only where you could see the caliper from the outside, and I applied 3 coats with much more paint to spare. The decals are just stick on (I put a couple coats of clear over it just to make sure they would stay) and i got them from www.xenonmods.com
Any other useful information is welcome, as i believe this is all i have. Good luck to anyone that attempts it, and in my eyes, it was a very worth while mod.
First check your wheel clearance to make sure you have enough room for the brakes to fit. Measure from the center of your wheel to the inside of it, and if you don't have at LEAST 7 5/8" these brakes will not fit on your car...they do fit the 5.5 gen 17" SE wheels like a glove, but they don't fit with the 5.0 gen SE 17s...
If you do have enough clearance, the next step is to purchase what you need for the upgrade. Here are the things you need to get your hands on:
-6th gen calipers (I bought mine from Dave B. for ~$60 each)
-6th gen 12.6" rotors (I bought mine from automax's GD; brembo blanks for ~$100 shipped)
-6th gen front brake pads (Also bought from automax's GD; PBR metal masters for ~$50 shipped)
-6th gen front brake shim kit (got mine from Dave B. i think for under $20)
-Brake fluid of your choice
These are DIRECT BOLT ON for ALL 5th gens (5.0 and 5.5 alike) but you can also opt to get Matt Blehm's re-location bracket on the 5.0 gen (but not the 5.5 gen) and use your stock calipers.
Installation for me would have gone smooth if i had a right and a left caliper, but i accidentally got 2 left ones! DOH! Make sure when installing the calipers that the bleed screw is on TOP. (shown in the picture below.)
For me, the pedal feel was GREATLY improved (although this may be becuse i was running on my stock brakes at 50k). The pedal feels firm, and even after beating the **** out of my car at MSR during maxus, i didn't get an ounce of brake fade with my ATE Super Blue Dot 4 fluid.
I bed the brakes in just after installation and so far no abnormal noises or vibrations. There is great feedback from the brakes and they don't seem to lock up under extreme braking like they did before.
On a performance point of view, I could not tell any difference in acceleration. These rotors did feel really heavy, but IIRC they are only 5 or 6 lbs. heavier than stock, which also felt really heavy, so it would be pretty hard to feel any adverse affects on acceleration.
As for the paint on my calipers, i used the G2 silver paint kit. I applied the paint only where you could see the caliper from the outside, and I applied 3 coats with much more paint to spare. The decals are just stick on (I put a couple coats of clear over it just to make sure they would stay) and i got them from www.xenonmods.com
Any other useful information is welcome, as i believe this is all i have. Good luck to anyone that attempts it, and in my eyes, it was a very worth while mod.
Are you trying to run the 5.5 torque member with 6th gen calipers and rotors? Im gonna take a guess and say no. The caliper might bolt up but the 6th gen rotor probably wont fit under the torque member. It is fatter and has a bigger diameter.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,432
From: Baton Rouge, LA
Ive seen this being disputed all over the forum and Id really like to hear from someone that has done it and may have even bought the 6th gen brackets and either compared em or seen that they didnt need them bc the 5.5 gen brackets work on the 6 gen calipers....DO I NEED THE BRACKETS????
Originally Posted by LA02MAX
These are DIRECT BOLT ON for ALL 5th gens (5.0 and 5.5 alike) but you can also opt to get Matt Blehm's re-location bracket on the 5.0 gen (but not the 5.5 gen) and use your stock calipers.
As a 5.5 gen, you cannot use your stock calipers. You must buy the 6th gen calipers. The only re-location bracket made is for the 5.0 gen calipers to adapt to the 6th gen rotors...there is no bracket made for 5.5 gens.
In summation: If you get 6th gen rotors, calipers, and pads/hardware everything is plug and play. No bracket needed.
Brackets
And these are what you mean when you say brackets correct?
When I already went and got some off a 6th gen any how...figured rather safe than sorry...But when I get on it this weekend ill make sure to take pics comparing the two side by side and post em. So this would be put to rest.
When I already went and got some off a 6th gen any how...figured rather safe than sorry...But when I get on it this weekend ill make sure to take pics comparing the two side by side and post em. So this would be put to rest.
No, thats called a "torque member". The brackets are made by Matt Blehm to relocate the torque member to accommodate bigger rotors with various calipers. You wont need his bracket if you have the 6th gen calipers.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 155
From: Seattle, WA
Been looking through the entire brake thread and still haven't found a solution to the rear. If your going to run the 6th gen brakes on the front, what is a good solution for an 01 rear setup? I'm assuming since the 5.5 have a larger front brake the rear rotors should be larger as well too. So has anyone completed a larger rear rotor on an 00-01? If so what did you use and does it require a different caliper..?
Newbie - Just Registered
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1
Need new bolts?
Hi, Gang. I've been enlisted to help my buddy do this fix. First of all, thanks for the great info. Here's one question that I haven't seen a specific answer to so it's probably not an issue. But I thought I'd ask. I've got a 2002 Maxima SE. Can I reuse the caliper mounting bolts from the 5.5 to the 6 gen calipers? I'm ordering remanufactured calipers from Autozone. Should I order any bolts, too?
Thanks
Dan
Thanks
Dan
Beating a dead horse are we?
No upgrade for the rears in this wirte up. Most of the bigger brake options for the maxima are centered around just upgrading the front brakes. This helps increase resistence to brake fade but can actually throw off brake bias and increase stopping distances.. Not really ideal for a street car.
I did this setup on my car with stock rear brakes with hawk hps pads and it works great. The pads really make the biggest difference. They dont fade, or at least I never faded them coming down from pretty much any speed my stock car could hit. Only downside is they do dust and are noisy compared to the silent oem pads most people are used to.
But you'll find this with any high performance pad. I even found this on the stock pads that come on high performance cars. I drove an EVO MR on a cold day and moving the car around the parking lot the brakes sounded like a city bus
No upgrade for the rears in this wirte up. Most of the bigger brake options for the maxima are centered around just upgrading the front brakes. This helps increase resistence to brake fade but can actually throw off brake bias and increase stopping distances.. Not really ideal for a street car.
I did this setup on my car with stock rear brakes with hawk hps pads and it works great. The pads really make the biggest difference. They dont fade, or at least I never faded them coming down from pretty much any speed my stock car could hit. Only downside is they do dust and are noisy compared to the silent oem pads most people are used to.
But you'll find this with any high performance pad. I even found this on the stock pads that come on high performance cars. I drove an EVO MR on a cold day and moving the car around the parking lot the brakes sounded like a city bus
Wheels to fit over brakes
I did this front brake upgrade about 6 months ago and have been very happy with them compared to multiple full replacements of the OEM gear on my 2000 max.
I bought new 18" wheels to fit over the brakes and put summer rubber on them. Now winter is coming and the 16's that came with the car wont fit over the bigger brakes.
So I need some new winter wheels... I heard some 17s fit and some don't. Is there a good way to tell? Like the 02-03 17's fit but not the 00-01 17s... What about aftermarket? I would prefer to buy 17s for winter rather than 18s again, but don't want to buy 17s and find out they don't fit.
Thanks,
I bought new 18" wheels to fit over the brakes and put summer rubber on them. Now winter is coming and the 16's that came with the car wont fit over the bigger brakes.
So I need some new winter wheels... I heard some 17s fit and some don't. Is there a good way to tell? Like the 02-03 17's fit but not the 00-01 17s... What about aftermarket? I would prefer to buy 17s for winter rather than 18s again, but don't want to buy 17s and find out they don't fit.
Thanks,
I did this front brake upgrade about 6 months ago and have been very happy with them compared to multiple full replacements of the OEM gear on my 2000 max.
I bought new 18" wheels to fit over the brakes and put summer rubber on them. Now winter is coming and the 16's that came with the car wont fit over the bigger brakes.
So I need some new winter wheels... I heard some 17s fit and some don't. Is there a good way to tell? Like the 02-03 17's fit but not the 00-01 17s... What about aftermarket? I would prefer to buy 17s for winter rather than 18s again, but don't want to buy 17s and find out they don't fit.
Thanks,
I bought new 18" wheels to fit over the brakes and put summer rubber on them. Now winter is coming and the 16's that came with the car wont fit over the bigger brakes.
So I need some new winter wheels... I heard some 17s fit and some don't. Is there a good way to tell? Like the 02-03 17's fit but not the 00-01 17s... What about aftermarket? I would prefer to buy 17s for winter rather than 18s again, but don't want to buy 17s and find out they don't fit.
Thanks,
Just get the 17s from the SE 02-03s. They should be pretty cheap
www.car-part.com and craigslist and ebay would be where I'de be going for winter wheels. The smaller the wheel that fits over your brakes the better for winter wheels/tires just because it will reduce the cost for the tires.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 79
From: Ont Canada
I hate to bump an old thread, but I dont see any reason to start a new one. This is pretty crucial info for anyone doing the 6th gen BBK.
I have a 01 I30t (17x7 +45 offset rims) and the BBK WILL fit under the stock 17s. I repeat it WILL fit. So anyone looking to do this on their I30 is in luck. I have pictures I will update later with my test fittiment.
anyways, presumably the spoke design on the i30t rims is much wider than the maxima 5.0 SE rims. I have approx 1.3cm of clearance from the caliper to spoke.
pictures for proof to come.....
I have a 01 I30t (17x7 +45 offset rims) and the BBK WILL fit under the stock 17s. I repeat it WILL fit. So anyone looking to do this on their I30 is in luck. I have pictures I will update later with my test fittiment.
anyways, presumably the spoke design on the i30t rims is much wider than the maxima 5.0 SE rims. I have approx 1.3cm of clearance from the caliper to spoke.
pictures for proof to come.....
I hate to bump an old thread, but I dont see any reason to start a new one. This is pretty crucial info for anyone doing the 6th gen BBK.
I have a 01 I30t (17x7 +45 offset rims) and the BBK WILL fit under the stock 17s. I repeat it WILL fit. So anyone looking to do this on their I30 is in luck. I have pictures I will update later with my test fittiment.
anyways, presumably the spoke design on the i30t rims is much wider than the maxima 5.0 SE rims. I have approx 1.3cm of clearance from the caliper to spoke.
pictures for proof to come.....
I have a 01 I30t (17x7 +45 offset rims) and the BBK WILL fit under the stock 17s. I repeat it WILL fit. So anyone looking to do this on their I30 is in luck. I have pictures I will update later with my test fittiment.
anyways, presumably the spoke design on the i30t rims is much wider than the maxima 5.0 SE rims. I have approx 1.3cm of clearance from the caliper to spoke.
pictures for proof to come.....
I've always said that was B.S. since I have a 5.5gen and a neighbor of mine had a 2000 and the wheels spacing, spoke distance from the rotor face was identical to mine as well as the I.D. of the wheel rim itself....but that may have been the case only when using the 2004 6th Gen setup.....I used the 2005 6th Gen setup which was cheaper for some unknown reason, but looked to be identical....I hate believing anything that you hear especially when there's no proof....
Are you saying your neighbor has 00-01 Maxima and those wheels clear the A34 brakes?
i can verify that with the 00-01 17s, they do fit...i didnt bolt it on without my spacer...but i put it on, made sure it was 'as mounted' rolled the wheel and tire, and i heard one scrape...its not like it will absolutely not fit, but i do have a 5mm spacer to ensure absolute clearance, as the 02-03 wheels are just a +5 offset difference than the 00-01 wheels
Alright, so I have been considering upgrading my 5.5G SE with the 6G BBK, but I am concerned about the bias. It is strickly a daily driver with 115K on the clock but I'm tired of the stock rotors warping and I do love the look of the BBK.
What do you guys think of a 6G BBK and an aggressive (stock size) rear rotor and/or pad? Stock 6G fronts with something along the lines of slotted rotor and hawk pads in back.
Would it be enough to offset the "dangerous" bias? What are your thoughts?
What do you guys think of a 6G BBK and an aggressive (stock size) rear rotor and/or pad? Stock 6G fronts with something along the lines of slotted rotor and hawk pads in back.
Would it be enough to offset the "dangerous" bias? What are your thoughts?
I was also going to ask about bbk kits. There is a group buy going on for wilwood kits and I'm curious to see if my gle 5.5 wheels will work they are 17s or if i am going to have to run my 18s year round the 18s are 04 max wheels with et of 40
Alright, so I have been considering upgrading my 5.5G SE with the 6G BBK, but I am concerned about the bias. It is strickly a daily driver with 115K on the clock but I'm tired of the stock rotors warping and I do love the look of the BBK.
What do you guys think of a 6G BBK and an aggressive (stock size) rear rotor and/or pad? Stock 6G fronts with something along the lines of slotted rotor and hawk pads in back.
Would it be enough to offset the "dangerous" bias? What are your thoughts?
What do you guys think of a 6G BBK and an aggressive (stock size) rear rotor and/or pad? Stock 6G fronts with something along the lines of slotted rotor and hawk pads in back.
Would it be enough to offset the "dangerous" bias? What are your thoughts?
ABS kinda hides the bias issues.
You're overthinking things.. These are passenger sedans.. not sports cars. I would upgrade the brakes just to stop the stupid rotor warping issues. My rotors were constantly warped with the stock brakes.
Never had an issue since I upgraded
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 79
From: Ont Canada
sorry for the delay on the pics...as promised here they are. Just a few notes:
I never did say people said they wouldnt fit, but no one out there said they would so im just letting everyone know they do fit for future reference.
Just a note on the pictures, I did have the 5.0 gen rotors still on, I just bolted up the 2008 6th gen torque member and caliper to test fit. As you can see a finger and a micrometer easily fits in between the caliper/torque member. Clearance was 1.34cm (13.4mm ....way more than I ever expected).
Last pic is my car with 17" g37 sedan wheels bolted up (my fathers), they also have 12.6" rotors, but a 2 piston caliper. Which BTW the 17" I30t rotors also clear that setup. (we were swapping rims all around between cars). Just an idea for anyone lol.
Anyone have any recomendations on paint colours for the calipers? Initially i wanted the Brembo style gold, but now I dont know whether or not just to go black. Thoughts?
17" g37x sedan rims +45 offset.
I never did say people said they wouldnt fit, but no one out there said they would so im just letting everyone know they do fit for future reference.
Just a note on the pictures, I did have the 5.0 gen rotors still on, I just bolted up the 2008 6th gen torque member and caliper to test fit. As you can see a finger and a micrometer easily fits in between the caliper/torque member. Clearance was 1.34cm (13.4mm ....way more than I ever expected).
Last pic is my car with 17" g37 sedan wheels bolted up (my fathers), they also have 12.6" rotors, but a 2 piston caliper. Which BTW the 17" I30t rotors also clear that setup. (we were swapping rims all around between cars). Just an idea for anyone lol.
Anyone have any recomendations on paint colours for the calipers? Initially i wanted the Brembo style gold, but now I dont know whether or not just to go black. Thoughts?
17" g37x sedan rims +45 offset.
Last edited by pattyt; Mar 17, 2011 at 06:33 PM.
DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THIS MEMBER - OWES PEOPLE MONEY
iTrader: (7)
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,468
From: Greensboro, NC
Just to note- I've been using some of the RPT rotors from automax and hawk HPS pads and have had zero problems in over 30k miles with any warping. This is with stock calipers.
There's no way I could do this 6th gen BBK since that would keep me from using 15" wheels for the track (F*CK that), and I'm sure there are others who like to do the same.
There's no way I could do this 6th gen BBK since that would keep me from using 15" wheels for the track (F*CK that), and I'm sure there are others who like to do the same.
yes! 2005 calipers, where was the contact @? the spoke distance from the rotor face are Identical, the I.D. of the rim are identical!
Theres no dangerous bias... 5.5 gen or 6th gen brakes up front the braking bias still blows. If you want to know how terrible it is disable ABS and do an emergency stop.. The front tires regardless will lockup and slide weeks before the rear tires have a chance.
ABS kinda hides the bias issues.
You're overthinking things.. These are passenger sedans.. not sports cars. I would upgrade the brakes just to stop the stupid rotor warping issues. My rotors were constantly warped with the stock brakes.
Never had an issue since I upgraded
ABS kinda hides the bias issues.
You're overthinking things.. These are passenger sedans.. not sports cars. I would upgrade the brakes just to stop the stupid rotor warping issues. My rotors were constantly warped with the stock brakes.
Never had an issue since I upgraded
Just to note- I've been using some of the RPT rotors from automax and hawk HPS pads and have had zero problems in over 30k miles with any warping. This is with stock calipers.
There's no way I could do this 6th gen BBK since that would keep me from using 15" wheels for the track (F*CK that), and I'm sure there are others who like to do the same.
There's no way I could do this 6th gen BBK since that would keep me from using 15" wheels for the track (F*CK that), and I'm sure there are others who like to do the same.
DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THIS MEMBER - OWES PEOPLE MONEY
iTrader: (7)
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,468
From: Greensboro, NC
Those are 16s. Just less sidewall and less tire options, but still a viable option. Jaypee runs on 16" DRs.
for researchers wondering if the 5th gen wheels will fit behind the 6th gen bbk...yes they will, im speaking as i'm riding w/o a spacer, strictly 5th gen 17" wheels...whoever said it wont fit....was wrong. because its working
Hey all. Just wondering which pads would with these? 6th Gen or 5.5 gen? Because the torque member is not being changed I would think the 6th gen pads might not fit? Just wanna be 100% before going ahead.
Nevermind....figured it out. Wasn't awake when posting the question....
Originally Posted by knight_yyz
what about 16" steelies for the winter?
Last edited by NmexMAX; May 11, 2011 at 06:21 AM.