Hmm, I haven't heard brakes being mentioned on the forum much. I probably need new brake pads soon (about 48k on stock right now). But I'm curious as to what brake systems and stuff you guys have and how much it would be (price + installation). I've been hearing good things about Brembo and I do like the cross-drilled look. I have 18s on right now, so I think I could fit some bigger ones now. thanks

 

The only big brake kits available right now are from stillen. They are like $2400 for the two piece rotors and $1800 or so for the 1 piece rotors...i think. I know I'm pretty close on those numbers. There have been a few attempts at making other big brakes, I know there is a willwood conversion somewhere, and one of these years maximadriver.com will have their big brake kit available.

 

I've had them for about 6 months, but they've been sitting in the box waiting to be put on.

 

Avalonracing.net has a 6 Piston Big Brake set, I believe stillen only has a four piston not sure on the pricing you can go check it out if you are interested. (the 6 piston set should theoreticly give you smoother firmer stopping power)

 

Some pics of the FASTBRAKES WILWOOD kit... click on the part in my sig below...

 

Brembo makes a 2 piece rotor and 4 pot piston for the Maxima. I actually seen it once on Carparts.com for $1800ish with their 25% off coupon. That was a killer deal, but I already have my Stillen big brake kit on. If you decided to go with Stillen, get the 2 piece rotor version. You will save aleast 10-15lbs.

 

Pictures are worth a thousand words, especially when installing these suckers. I'm going to be doing the install with Orgedave so it'll be two people working, but of course we'll be doing his kit too. I think mine is going first, if we have any problems I have 2 other cars to drive. I just have a few quick questions:

1) We'll be installing stainless steel brakelines and I was wondering how much brake fluid is needed to bleed each car?

2) Do the brake pads just sit in the caliper with the bridge pin and bridge bolts separating them? I'd imagine the pads would rub against the rotors when the brake pedal is not applied.

3) Any negative effects from the kit? I've been so optimistic about the kit that I'm blinded from any cons other than never going back to 16" wheels.

thanks so much again.

 

 

Chunger,

in your opinion, what are the 3 best benefits for upgrading stock brakes to the wilwood kit??

thanks

 

mmmmmmmm brembo yummy
do they clear the factory 17's

 

no

 

1) stops in shorter distance...
2) stops in shorter distance...
3) stops in shorter distance...

Seriously... 1) As stated above 2) shaved off about 12lbs (IIRC) off each corner 3) looks bad a$$.

 

I know the stillens don't but how do you know the brembo's don't

 

thanks.. what is IIRC?

 

If I Remember/Recall Correctly...

 

Because the caliper is just as big. Let's just say that no aftermarket caliper will fit under the stock 17"s. Not the AP/Stillen, not the Brembo, not the 300ZX, not the Skyline ones. They are all 4 piston calipers and much too wide. It's not the height of the brake, it's the width. Look at a factory caliper, look at a Brembo, tell me that the Brembo will fit under there. I had to space out my 19"s 6mm just to clear my 300ZX brakes. Stock wheels have even less clearance.

 

Yep... to add to Shadows comments... Single and dual piston calipers have the piston(s) on one side of the caliper so the other side is just a 'brace' (for lack of the proper term). On 4, 6 or 8 piston calipers, half the pistons are on the either side... so it has to be 'wider' overall.

 

Since I have the Wilwood kit I would have to reccomend them over the Brembos because they are $1000 cheaper, and you lose around 10 pounds a wheel, while I think the brembos add weight. They only problem is that the calipers are so damn wide, I know of one person who couldnt get them to clear with his 18" rims. On my 17"s you can slide a business card between the caliper and the rim and the business card will be held in place, but they stop the car fast, look good, and there is no fade.

 

Yeah I'm fully aware of how brakes work and don't need a lesson. Some 4 piston calipers are pretty small in comparison to other ones.

Woun't it be possible to get a spacer out on the 17" to allow them to fit the way you did for your 19"s.

 

Damn, what kind of 18s did he have that the Wilwoods wouldn't fit? I'm seriously thinking about upgrading my brakes now

 

It's all about the width, the offset and the style of the wheels. 1. 18X8.5 will have an extra 1/2" clearance compare to 18X7.5. I don't think any 7.5" wide rim will clear any of the big brake system out there for the maxima. 2. +35mm offset will have that extra 5mm compare to +40 offset. 3. The fatter the lip, the less chance it will clear. 1" shouldn't be a problem but anything bigger you better have 8.5" or even 9".

 

Probably not, it would clear the brakes, but the wheels would be spaced out so far they'd stick out slightly.

 

Why would they stick out I could just space the factorys out as far as my 19"s go whitch is flush.

 

Spoke design. Some wheels have to be spaced out further than others to clear the brakes, it all depends on the design of the spokes. The factory 17"s have pretty thick spokes that would need a lot of spacer to clear. Even a lot of aftermarket wheels won't clear with spacers. Ming (MAC) had a set of 18" AV3's witha 46 offset. He had to space them out 15mm (a lot) to clear and the wheels ended up sticking out. So he ended up getting Volk GTP's which did clear. It's all about spoke design.

 

The Wilwood kit was _meant_ to fit under the stock 4th gen 16" SE wheels. (it didn't).
As was said in another post, it's about width, offset and spoke design. There's someone out there using 16" Kosei K1s over 300ZX brakes, and of course, 300ZX rims fit over 300ZX brakes. I have a polished set that I plan to use over my own Wilwood kit.
All that being said, 4 piston calipers pretty much have no shot of getting under the 17" 5th gen SE rims