300zx front calipers on a spec v!!!!!

all done by me with the help of my friend chris doing some research

copied over from my write up on myspecv.com

complete write up http://myspecv.com/f/t157639-300zx-calipers-on-a-spec-vno-56k-updated-driving-impressions-pg-3.html

after a bunch of research and testing and fitting etc. i finally was able to put 300zx calipers on my spec v. first time it was ever really documented that i could find and hopefully will become a more popular mod that others can benefit from as well. and it costs a fortune of what a brembo updgrade for a spec v costs

the 300zx master cylinder is 1/8" bigger bore than ours so the stock one should be completely fine

this write up also gave me some help when i researched the calipers
http://importnut.net/300zxbrakeswap.htm#compare

kind of a long read but i tried to be the most informative as i could

Parts used:
1990 300zx 26mm 4 piston N/A calipers. (Re-manufactured from AutoZone, came loaded. ditched the pads tho) $188
300zx to 240sx conversion brakes lines (found on ebay) $35
Axxis metal matrix pads. to cut down on brake dust $38

overall cost about $260

300zx's use an 11 inch rotor as do the spec v. the 300zx rotor is 26mm wide will the spec v rotor is 22mm. so 4mm difference isn't enough to matter.  the only catch is that the calipers need to be the 1990 300zx N/A calipers which had 30mm of clearance between pistons where all the other 300zx calipers had 35mm between the pistons. so the better option is definitely the 26mm calipers. these also allow for a more likely fit with rims since they are a little skinner so the need for a crazy offset isn't really needed.

here are test fit pictures with 30mm calipers which have too big of a gap for the rotors


anyway, the way our hub is designed the caliper kits the rotor when it is bolted up. not by a lot. it will bolt on but the rotor cannot spin freely. so in order for the rotor to spin freely about 1/4" has to be taken off from the diameter of the rotor so the calipers clears. so you can argue 1/4" less makes a difference but i can assure you it doesn't and i will show you why in a picture. the way the stock spec v caliper hits the rotor it leaves about 3/8" between the center of the rotor and the actual breaking surface. but the 300zx calipers contact 2/3 of that 3/8" so you aren't really losing any contact surface.  so i brought my rotors into the shop at school and took about 1/4" off the diameter on the lathe. took about an hour and a half to do since you have to go slow and cant use coolant with cast iron. 


so i clear coated the edge of the rotor that i shaved so it wouldn't rust since the rest of the caliper is zinc coated. then i put my rotors back on my car with the stock calipers until i was done painting my rims since steelies were no where close to clearing the calipers.

comparison picture between stock and 300zx calipers. a lot bigger obviously

and some test fit pictures with the 30mm calipers before i realized i needed the 26mm calipers



went and bought 26mm calipers and returned the 30mm calipers and test fit the calipers with my rims. the rims wouldn't clear the calipers at first:angry:. so i tested it out with a couple washers to the point where the rim would clear the calipers. it ended up being about 4mm so i ordered 5mm spacers for the front.

pictures with the rims when i was testing out the spacers

close fit lol


so next  i sanded the shit out of the calipers and de-greased them to get the oily film off of them so the paint would stick no problem. i painted them with high temp red paint. didn't end up clear coating them because the finish was too perfect from the red.

with the pads in


new stainless brake lines


all bolted up


notice the very little distance between the pistons and caliper. alot closer than with the 30mm caliper.


put the spacers on and tested the fir before i went and mounted my tires on the rims just to double check. good to go!


and with the tires mounted on the rims for the final time they are finally bolted on the car so i dont have to drive around on steelies anymore lol didnt really take alot of pics since it was 9pm. ill take some new ones with the whole car this weekend

wheel clearance: very close with 5mm spacers with my rims. +45 offset i believe. the spokes aren't the problem that i needed spacers. the inside hub part of the wheel whatever you wanna call it is whats so close.

pics of my 2-3mm  caliper-wheel gap lol
 


Painting: i used Duplicolor high temp engine paint for the calipers. i used ford red. most red IMO of the selection i had. was originally gonna clear coat them but decided not to due to an awesome painting job with the red lol.

making the NISSAN letters silver: just taped off the caliper once the paint was dry aroudn the letters and used 1000 grit sandpaper to sand it off. its aluminum so its not gonna rust or anything.

and some pics with the tires on etc

so theres my one of a kind brake caliper upgrade that no one else has on a spec v. enjoy

complete write up http://myspecv.com/f/t157639-300zx-calipers-on-a-spec-vno-56k-updated-driving-impressions-pg-3.html