Hey guys,
I need to know who all has the brakes already installed.

I tried to install em a while back and my volk AV3's would fit. The rims are 18"x7.5" with 46 offset.

I ordered H&R adaptor spacers to make it work.
Fronts were suppose to be 20 mm.
Rears were 25 mm to bring the back wheels out flush with the front ones.
Well they sent me two sets of 25mm, stating that the don't make 20mm adaptors, only spacers (Which then I would have to search for longer studds).

I tried the 25mm on the front and my rims stuck way outside the fender. Yuk!
The back rims were perfect with the 25mm spacer on. The rear wheels are now flush with the fender.

I sent the 25 mm set back to H&R, and they're going the send me a 15mm set intead. Personally I don't think 15mm ones are gonna clear the calipers, but its my only hope other than buying new wheels.

First off, I didn't want to incurr new rim costs. Second, I can't really find a quality forged rim I like.

Now, the questions is, want rims are you guys using with the kit and what size and offset.

I know Chung has lowenharts with like a 30 something offset!
Brett, your Volks? 17x8 right? what offset? I kinda remembered you had to get spacers too. Did your wheels stick out? What size spacer did you use?

Dave, when ya gonna put yours on? Like to know if you'll have problems.

Please help, I'm super frustrated with this! Thanks.

Ming

 

Ming,

17 x 8 with a 44 offset. I've ordered H&R 5mm spacers (thats how close it was) but they have been back ordered for a while.

I am counting on the 5mm to clear. I believe if I had a thirty something mm offset it would have cleared. I'm not crazy about spacers but it's cheaper than new wheels. For now, the rotors make great coffee table conversation pieces

 

The H&R's were on backorder? I ordered my 5 mm spacers from carparts a few weeks ago and got them withing 12 days. I know I don't have the Wilwood's, but I have the 300ZX brakes and so have had a few problems too. My old 35 offset Borbets fit fine. But then I got 42 offset ADR wheels and the wheels didn't clear. I got 1/4" spacers to clear. Then I tried the 5mm spacers from H&R and the wheels wouldn't clear, so I had to go back to the 1/4" ones.

Ming, if the 15mm's don't work, your only real options are new wheels, or get the calipers cut down. I almost had to do this to my 300ZX calipers when I went to new wheels. And the 20mm spacers from H&R will include longer studs, so that really isn't an issue. Oh, be careful about your rear wheels being flush with the fender. My old wheels were flush with the fender, but when I slammed it on the ground controls, I was rubbing so bad I thought I was going to destroy the sidewalls.

 

I dunno man, whenever I get a chance to drive up to LA n borrow Cheston's time & dremel.

Yer startin to scare me man..

Guess i got some fonecalls to make about my offset.

 

Ming...

I'm running 35mm offset... I think that the 15mm should be plenty... that'll make your rims 'effectively' 21mm offset...

The 15mm spacers should give you more than 1/2 inch extra clearance! (I have over 1/2 inch clearance on my rims!)

You could use some large nuts to put over your wheel studs to 'space' your Volks out just to check if they would give you the extra clearance you need.... This might save you some time rather than order something and wait just to find out they don't fit (I personally think the 15mm will be more than adequate though...)

You didn't notice how much the calipers don't clear by the 1st time you tried fitting them?

I know SHADOW means well... but... you shouldn't grind off any part of the Aluminum Wilwood calipers... They are $200 each if you mess them up... your call...

I've updated my FASTBRAKE WILWOOD install page down in my SIGNATURE.. a few extra pictures and relocation to a better server...

 

I wasn't saying he should do them himself, it's just an option if he wants the brakes, but doesn't want to get rid of his wheels. The shop installing my brakes almost had to cut the calipers some, and some people with the 300Z brakes had to cut the calipers.

I saw Ming's car today and he showed me that it wasn't so much the spacing of the wheel that was the problem. It's more his spoke design. If he had a different spoke design, the calipers would probably clear w/ 10mm spacers, but due to his spokes and the shape of the Wilwood caliper, he's gonna need some big spacers.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Chunger
[B]Ming...


I know SHADOW means well... but... you shouldn't grind off any part of the Aluminum Wilwood calipers... They are $200 each if you mess them up... your call...

 

Personally I wouldn't even consider grinding... The 300Z ones are usually the cast iron calipers rather than the aluminum ones... plus it would screw up the anodized finish on the Wilwoods anyways...

If Brett is running a 42mm offset with only a 5mm spacer... I would figure the AV3s have a little more spoke clearance than Brett's spoke design..

let's hope the 15s do the job...

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Shadow
[B]I wasn't saying he should do them himself, it's just an option if he wants the brakes, but doesn't want to get rid of his wheels. The shop installing my brakes almost had to cut the calipers some, and some people with the 300Z brakes had to cut the calipers.

I saw Ming's car today and he showed me that it wasn't so much the spacing of the wheel that was the problem. It's more his spoke design. If he had a different spoke design, the calipers would probably clear w/ 10mm spacers, but due to his spokes and the shape of the Wilwood caliper, he's gonna need some big spacers.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Chunger
[B]

 

Actually, mine are the aluminum calipers. But you're right, the Wilwood is too pretty to grind. Just something that "could" be done if Ming was that desparate. From what Ming showed me today, his spokes curve in near where they meet the rim itself and that is where the calipers hit he says. If they didn't curve right there, he probably could have gotten away with a small spacer. If the calipers were closer to the hub, it wouldn't be a problem, or if he had bigger rims.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Chunger
[B]Personally I wouldn't even consider grinding... The 300Z ones are usually the cast iron calipers rather than the aluminum ones... plus it would screw up the anodized finish on the Wilwoods anyways...

If Brett is running a 42mm offset with only a 5mm spacer... I would figure the AV3s have a little more spoke clearance than Brett's spoke design..

let's hope the 15s do the job...

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Shadow
[B]I wasn't saying he should do them himself, it's just an option if he wants the brakes, but doesn't want to get rid of his wheels. The shop installing my brakes almost had to cut the calipers some, and some people with the 300Z brakes had to cut the calipers.

I saw Ming's car today and he showed me that it wasn't so much the spacing of the wheel that was the problem. It's more his spoke design. If he had a different spoke design, the calipers would probably clear w/ 10mm spacers, but due to his spokes and the shape of the Wilwood caliper, he's gonna need some big spacers.

 

I'm a little behind, but I just got the brakes on my 97 with 17X8 GS400 wheels. I was at a disadvantage because the GS wheels have an offset of 50mm. I was really disappointed when they didn't fit, so I ran to a nearby wheel shop and bought 15mm spacers at $9 a piece. Now there's plenty of room (enough to slide my finger in). I took out the ruler and measured 8mm from the wheel spoke to the caliper. I will go back and try to get 10mm spacers, the 15mm will go to the rear and hopefully even out the look. Strangely with the 15mm spacers and 50mm offset wheels, it didn't look half bad. I thought the wheels would flare out too much. I'm glad the GS400 spoke design flares out of the center; had they not there would have been no hope in fitting these.

Next week, we're going to try and get Dave's brakes on his 18" Axis Se7ens. Offset...neither of us know.

 

Hehe... congrats!

Now how many does that make of original 10-12 who were in the GD who actually have them on their cars? LOL!

BTW - did you get the speedbleeders on ok?

 

Yeah seriously, I think I'm the 6th person or so...we'll have Dave's on next week. I think we're going to test fit his wheel on my car to see if it clears before we start (he's got to have something to drive home in). The speedbleeders fit fine, but I thought I'm might have a little leak on the outer bleeder on the passanger's side. There is a little brake fluid around the bigger brass nut but not a lot. I'm going for a test spin.

BTW, is it normal for the brake pads to be in contact with the rotor. I tried to free spin the wheel when I had the car on jacks. It spun, pads rubbed, then the wheel stopped.

 

kev, how was yer test run?

ill bring either my tbar or a socket that fits the wheel next time

i think we can find the offset once the wheel is off.. *prays*

 

I have a little noise from the brake pads, but I think it's just cuz their new and need to be worn in a bit. Scared to go fast though, but I'm going to drive around the neighborhood when all the kiddies are at school tomorrow. Then on Wednesday I'll take the car out to visit the girlfriend...a good 50 mile drive should help recharge my battery I'm looking into a battery terminal cleaner and charger. I think that's one thing the Nissan dealer service is good for. I'm also looking into an Optima battery like yours or possibly the yellow one. They're like dirt cheap on eBay...well not dirt, but under $80.