6gen Brakes swap into 4gen that fits 16s
 

Another Project from 2014

6gen brakes swap into 4th gen Maxima that clear 16in rims


I've seen plenty of 6th gen brake swaps into 4th/5th gens but I've never seen them modified to clear 16in rims.

I have 16s, spring and stuts, I plow through potholes in NYC, I'm never going to drive low and SLOW :thumbsdow and avoid all potholes like some others with huge rims and lowered cars.
With that being said, I needed bigger brakes to help me SLOW down better.

I already had 11" 2000 Max rotors and 4 piston wilwood dynalite calipers.
good for 60-0mph stops, but doesn't fare too well with repeated high speed braking (100mph+)

so back to the drawing board I went - The result is this thread

old brake setup: 2000 Maxima(thicker than 95-99) 11" rotor with dynalite 4-piston wilwoods
Attachment 19272

they clear 15s with no problem!
Attachment 19273


OLD setup vs New (11" rotor vs 12.6" rotor)
Attachment 19274


here's where the fun begins:

To put 6th gen brakes into a 4th gen you need to enlarge the caliper mounting holes on the spindles.

stock is 12mm
need to enlarge holes to 14mm

So I got spare spindles, drilled them out, replaced wheel bearings, and cut off the heat/splash shields to clear bigger rotor.

I mounted the 6gen rotor and caliper to spindle with a wheel spacer to hold it in and test the fitment on 16s.
Attachment 19275

It didn't fit so time to bring out the grinder!
I grinded off the following parts of the caliper:
Attachment 19276

and then grinded some more and some more..
Attachment 19277

and then test fit it
Attachment 19278

and got it down to this
Attachment 19279

once it cleared without issues I painted them
Attachment 19280

old SS brake lines were all nasty and weathered so: New Goodridge SS brake lines
Attachment 19281

I did not need to use wheel spacers - they fit under the rims

SO TIIIIIIIIIGHT!!! I love it!!!
Attachment 19282


Braking is greatly improved. Had this setup since the end of summer and no rubbing, no issues just good brakes.

How do they compare to the wilwoods?
The wilwoods did have a better initial bite (4 piston clamp vs 1 piston) but when you step on the 6gens they just hold and hold like no tomorrow.
Wilwoods would hold until a certain point and then start slipping (rotors gets hot)

for a typical drive around there's no difference in braking 50-0, but when you push the car hard repeatedly, or braking from high speeds - they perform very well.

Project complete. Special thanks to IslandMax for the help and spare spindles :)

Great work!
Good to see this can be done and we aren't stuck with 17" and up.
:D

I went 5.5 gen so I could still fit 16s with DRs.. Cool to see a 1" larger rotor setup tucking under 16s.

Vadim! Good to see you still posting up even past the end of NYCMaximas. 6gen brakes FTW. I need to give you a call one of these days.

You can grind down the 5.5gen calipers to fit 15" DRs ;)


Yeah nycmaximas.org is gone, just as the maxima scene in nyc is pretty much dead. there's a few serious maxes still around

you have the number - my work/career still takes up most of my time as you know.

This is definitely an amazing bbk setup, very cost effective and simple enough for anyone to install, I have done this in several 4th and 5th gens,

Wats up mitesh and Vadim?

How tall were those two high spots you knocked down? I will be doing the 6th gen swap as soon as my wife’s check comes in, but I am running 17" Mustang GTs. I'm just not sure how the 'Stang ID compares to Max ID, and I worry I might have to grind.

You should have no problem fitting 17s over a 6gen BBK

otherwise grind those nubs down all the way and some on the sides.

Look at the before/after picture I posted where it shows the grinding up top

Holy moly thats a tight fit.. How are those Wilwoods gonna clear when you reinstall those? You have to grind those down as well.

I ordered Brakemotive powdercoated calipers with ceramic pads from ebay, and cheap rotors from Rockauto tonight for $193.80 total. Sourced 14mm bolts from a Mazda truck and just need fluid. now its a waiting game.

A bit off topic, did those Wilwoods need an adapter bracket to bolt up to the 4th gen spindle?

YupP they do. But I think it really depends on the type of caliper you use. There are a bunch of different ones. Contact Fastbrakes, they can make a bracket for you. I'm going with a 6 piston Wilwood caliper and Brian at Fastbrakes is making the setup for my 97

Even on the stock rotor? I'll look into fastbrakes.

Not sure about using stock rotors. I'm gonna be using Wilwood 2 peice rotors. 13 inch

Maybe Vadim can chime in.

^^^ I really hope the bolts you picked up are right thread (I think M14x1.50), and are right length (just in case you might want to look into CL/ebay/junkyard - local parting out a 00-01 max or 02-08 maxima/altima to get the correct front caliper bolts, M35/g35/350z are different bolts - much longer) or can always order them from the nissan dealership in case it doesn't work out.

14mm = size of enlarged hole on stock 4gen spindle (12mm = size of original hole on spindle = you must drill out holes to fit new calipers on)

You will be drilling through cast steel and have to use a GOOD METAL drill bit to drill out the spindles.
If you cannot find a 14mm metric bit(order online), you can use a SAE 9/16 in (=14.2mm) bit to get it done. I still prefer the 14mm bit with a drill press as the clearances for brakes should be closer to prevent vibration/movement.

Good luck!

yes they require an adapter bracket for stock 11" maxima rotors 95-01

Fastbrakes.com sells the wilwood dynalite kit for about $700, you would have to mention your application as they do not list it on the website.

They use a 2000-01 11" maxima rotor 24mm thick vs 21mm on 11" 4gen rotor.

Thank you for your concern, i have been familiar with this swap for five years and just waiting until i needed brakes to do it.

Yes, they are M14x1.50. If they are too long I will grind them flush, but I don't think I'll need to. There are not many Nissan/Infinities in the yard here so I gotta be more inventive.
I do have a 9/16 bit and 1/2" drill.

Sent from my XT1060 using Maxima

Appreciate the info.

well guess I'll been grinding my calipers this week to fit my z32 wheels

I was gonna go j30 cuz i don't have doh to spend on 17" but a grinder is readily available....:ben:

That's just insane. Great work:thumbsup:

LENNY!!!!!! send me pics of what you doin, its Navfe

:007:

dont hate gurl lol :007:

Brakes arrived today. Can't wait to get home and check them out. Will be raining for a week, though my next days off should be dry. :-)

Sent from my XT1060 using Maxima

The bolts i picked up were not M14x1.5. I went back to the wrecking yard and got the correct bolts.

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just installed my brakes and noticed you have to grinder more on the non bleeder side to clear 16inch wheels

Do these fit under STOCK 16s? I just installed mine with the mustang wheels, and they clear by a finger all the way around. Look super sexy too with the powder coat

Attachment 18864

:sprint:
I'm attempting this as well will they clear my stock 16" rims?

IDK, op is running aftermarket 16s and had to grind the crap out of them. I imagine stock wheels might be thicker castings and require even more grinding.

It would be an expensive experiment unless you have a good wrecking yard with all the parts.

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Shoot! I wonder how much the structural integrity is jeapordized by grinding, I don't want to hit the brakes and suddenly be without said brakes :eek:
But I just bought some oem calipers and getting them blasted and picked up a new rebuild kit, some brembo rotors, already have the ss lines in the car, my currebt 4th gen brakes are shot anyways (I do engine braking mostly and it pizzes people off:laugh:) so I'm going to try this with stock 16s but only if I don't have to grind too much off, if not then I'll have a nice brake package for sale I guess.
Another thing is the FSM states that the cylinder bores are the same for 4th gen and 6th gen, around 57mm.

Put em on a shelf and keep your eyes out for 17s. You eventually need tires anyway, right?

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yea I want to keep my 16s there are potholes-a-plenty in Nebraska...I was gonna buy some 16x8 nissan gt-r but someone bought them before me. Are those Cobra rims legit? They look great but hows the weight?

They're just gt rims I believe. Bought them at Les Schwab tires. OEM takeoffs. I believe the are 19lbs. $150 for all 4, brand new I think.

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Yea well I gottta fugure out my scenario when the calipers get back to me, Those red ones are nice do they still sell them? Might look up a local powdercoater..

Probably do. Brakemotive on eBay, and some on rockauto too. $246 I think for calipers, pads and slotted/dimpled rotors on eBay.

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Got mine ready screaming for paint:woot2:




http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/...psbpekmdbd.jpg

[QUOTE=nestorlugo;9036844]Got mine ready screaming for paint:woot2QUOTE]
Nice!

And what rims are you using?

Stock 5spoke 16"s

Really? How much did you shave off and do they still seem structuarlly sound? Post some pics when youre finished ! :D