6th gen rotors/calipers installed...pics and thoughts

[irish44j]

Well, got around to installing the 6th gen front brakes today, with much help from Jason (Cutlr7) and have some thoughts and comments, plus, of course, some pics.

-2005 Maxima calipers
-2005 Maxima rotors
-Stainless steel lines (front and back) - more on that below
-ATE Super Blue brake fluid
-Hawk HPS pads.

So.....to make a long story short:
- Rotors/calipers bolt right up, fit perfectly.
- Put on rear SS lines with OEM brakes....perfect fit
- I have 5th gen SS lines, of course...well, they are the right length for the 6th gen stuff...but the fitting is in the wrong direction (see photo below)...so for the time being I still have the OEM lines in the front (SS in the back)
- I hate brake fluid. What a mess, as usual
- My right foot is sore from pumping the pedal while bleeding all 4 wheels and flushing the entire system of the old fluid...
- Performance: you can feel the extra unsprung weight a little, but it gives the front end a "solid" feel I suppose.....Braking is very nice, though I need to break in the pads a little before a full report can be made
- Looks: well, it fills the 18's nicely. I did a little "custom" painting on the calipers (yes, I know it's lame but couldn't resist)

so, here's some pics:

setting up shop with Jason (cutlr7)'s stylin Accord inthe foreground



the hardware (smaller rotor/caliper are OEM 5th gen, larger are 6th gen)





Jason says: "brake fluid is messy!"

[irish44j]

on the left, the 5th gen caliper fitting...see the two prongs, so it leaves the back of the caliper cylinder at a certain angle....on the right is the SS one, which doesn't have the same kind of fitting and leaves at a different angle, which rubs the strut (not good)...need to check into why this is...



SS lines on the rear brakes...fit is perfect



finished product:



by the way, also dinged in the rear dust caps, so my Nissan centercaps will fit....
for those of you who asked about that earlier....

overall, a highly-suggested mod!!

[Puppetmaster]

Good, that's another thing I know who to get help from if and when I do it....

Looks like there are lots of things I gotta check out when I finally get to meet up with you guys again...

I'd be interested to see how ya like these when ya auto-X...

[Tek-Niq]

those brakes stop the 6th gen real nice, I can imagine a 5th gen.... nice like always Irish...

[Puppetmaster]

Btw, I think those calipers are fine, custom paint or not... at least they're not red or yellow...

[Kevin]

you feel a difference in acceleration at all ?

did you bleed in the order RR---> FR ---->RL---->FL ???

[irish44j]

Originally Posted by Kevin

you feel a difference in acceleration at all ?

did you bleed in the order RR---> FR ---->RL---->FL ???

well, I already had the 6th gen rotors with the blehmco kit, so there's no real difference in rotational mass from that.....the caliper is heavier, but not THAT much heavier.....

yes, we bled in order...but my FSM specifies RR--->LF--->LR---->RF as the correct order. Also unplugged the battery so the ABS stuff would free-flow...

[SEmy2K2go]

Josh, looks good. The black calipers look great.

[irish44j]

btw, if anyone has some more detailed questions on this topic, there's another long thread where we talk about it more in detail;

HERE: Subwoofer advice: Kicker

[irish44j]

update: did a bunch of stop-and-go from 50-0-50 stuff today in traffic (alot of red lights) and I must say, this setup is very smooth braking, requires less pedal effort, and the Hawk HPS pads seem to have the same bite cold or hot...very consistent, very nice.

[Cutler]

Overall not that bad of an install, I am still alittle pissed we couldn't make the front SS lines work, another project for another day.....

[Kevin]

overall would you decscribe this an incremental difference or a major difference in braking?

[Max20SE00]

very nice irish

[irish44j]

Originally Posted by Kevin

overall would you decscribe this an incremental difference or a major difference in braking?

vs. the OEM setup: significant difference
vs. the Blehmco setup: incremental

I am expecting the biggest difference to be when I am coming down the mountains fully loaded with skiing gear and friends and am really riding the brakes alot - that and auto-x....

[daddyjr05]

Due to major issues with my 2004 Maxima SE I traded mine in on Friday night and the braked rotors warped three times within the first 23K. I've read other posts and it appears along with the many issues the 6th generation max has this was one of them so hopefully you'll won't have any issues.

[irish44j]

Originally Posted by daddyjr05

Due to major issues with my 2004 Maxima SE I traded mine in on Friday night and the braked rotors warped three times within the first 23K. I've read other posts and it appears along with the many issues the 6th generation max has this was one of them so hopefully you'll won't have any issues.

I had heard the 6th gen was having rotor problems as well. But since my 2000 weighs about 250-300 lbs less than a 6th gen, hopefully that will make some amount of difference.....

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by irish44j

vs. the OEM setup: significant difference
vs. the Blehmco setup: incremental

I am expecting the biggest difference to be when I am coming down the mountains fully loaded with skiing gear and friends and am really riding the brakes alot - that and auto-x....

Wow! I hate to say this, but if its, better them Blehmco, its blows it out of the water when considering the overall cost. I checked autozone for the price on new rotors for a 6th, and they were like $45 / piece, 6th gen calipers are about $120 from Dave B. so for about $220 you got yourself a bbk.

Sweeeeetttt!!!

[irish44j]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Wow! I hate to say this, but if its, better them Blehmco, its blows it out of the water when considering the overall cost. I checked autozone for the price on new rotors for a 6th, and they were like $45 / piece, 6th gen calipers are about $120 from Dave B. so for about $220 you got yourself a bbk.

Sweeeeetttt!!!

whoa there!

remember, there are other costs associated too:
1. kit with shims and spring clips (which do not come with new calipers): about $35 from DAVE B
2. Pads - OEM Nissan 6th gen pads are about $50 from Dave or $90 from a normal dealer. My Hawk HPS pads were about $70 or so...

Overall cost of Matt's kit w/6th gen rotors: about $240 if you get the rotors fromthat autozone...using the calipers, spring clips, shims, and pads already on the car. Bolt-on, no bleeding needed.

Overall cost of full 6th gen kit (using the prices you listed): about $350+, plus you have to bleed the entire braking system, which is loads of fun

not a huge price difference, but it is notable that the full 6th gen setup will NOT fit under the 2000-2001 17's or the mini-spare.....

I was quite satisfied with the Blehmco setup for normal driving. The main reason I wanted more pad surface area was for auto-x.....

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by irish44j

whoa there!

remember, there are other costs associated too:
1. kit with shims and spring clips (which do not come with new calipers): about $35 from DAVE B
2. Pads - OEM Nissan 6th gen pads are about $50 from Dave or $90 from a normal dealer. My Hawk HPS pads were about $70 or so...

Overall cost of Matt's kit w/6th gen rotors: about $240 if you get the rotors fromthat autozone...using the calipers, spring clips, shims, and pads already on the car. Bolt-on, no bleeding needed.

Overall cost of full 6th gen kit (using the prices you listed): about $350+, plus you have to bleed the entire braking system, which is loads of fun

not a huge price difference, but it is notable that the full 6th gen setup will NOT fit under the 2000-2001 17's or the mini-spare.....

I was quite satisfied with the Blehmco setup for normal driving. The main reason I wanted more pad surface area was for auto-x.....

ahh i forgot about the pads. so the cost is more for the 6th gen setup plus more labor, i guess the trade off is slightly better breaking then blehmco. overall both are comparable i guess.

Also the point about the mini spare is interesting. never thought about what do do if i was stuck with a flat somewhere. would probably have to put a rear on the front and hten the spare on the back...

[xtantmaxima]

Originally Posted by Kevin

would probably have to put a rear on the front and hten the spare on the back...

That's the ticket.

[ICULookN]

Another project I will have to do oneday.

[ZIPPIN]

irish,
so they cleared the g-35 wheels without any spacers? what offset are they? i wonder if they will clear my millies. I think they are 40

[irish44j]

Originally Posted by -ZIPPIN-

irish,
so they cleared the g-35 wheels without any spacers? what offset are they? i wonder if they will clear my millies. I think they are 40

The g35 18's are 8" wide with a 30mm offset...They clear by a MILE. Tomorrow I will test them with my G35 coupe 17's (auto-x and winter wheels) which are 7.5" wide with a 30mm offset, which should also clear easily.

I would think they would clear most wheels with a 40 offset if the wheel is wider than 7.5"....

[ZIPPIN]

Originally Posted by irish44j

The g35 18's are 8" wide with a 30mm offset...They clear by a MILE. Tomorrow I will test them with my G35 coupe 17's (auto-x and winter wheels) which are 7.5" wide with a 30mm offset, which should also clear easily.

I would think they would clear most wheels with a 40 offset if the wheel is wider than 7.5"....

thanks for the info. mine are 18x8 and 40. the only draw-back is that i use stock wheels in the winter. if i do the swtich to these, i won't be able to switch wheels...

[Jeff92se]

How much space inbetween the caliper and G spokes? You think they would clear a 300z caliper?

[ZIPPIN]

i say 2 inches...............

[irish44j]

Originally Posted by Jeff92se

How much space inbetween the caliper and G spokes? You think they would clear a 300z caliper?

to be perfectly honest, they'd probably clear just about any brakes you can find to put on there....300z caliper should be no problem at all....

[irish44j]

Originally Posted by -ZIPPIN-

thanks for the info. mine are 18x8 and 40. the only draw-back is that i use stock wheels in the winter. if i do the swtich to these, i won't be able to switch wheels...

That's why I have the G35 coupe 17's for the winter and sold my SE 17s...the G35 17's WILL clear the brakes in the winter...

[ZIPPIN]

Originally Posted by irish44j

That's why I have the G35 coupe 17's for the winter and sold my SE 17s...the G35 17's WILL clear the brakes in the winter...

what was the $$$$$$$$$$ damage???????

[irish44j]

Originally Posted by -ZIPPIN-

what was the $$$$$$$$$$ damage???????

for what, the 17s?



Energy Suspension shifter bushings

got a nice deal on them...

[ZIPPIN]

the fronts are 17x7.5. how will the caliper clear those???

[irish44j]

Originally Posted by -ZIPPIN-

the fronts are 17x7.5. how will the caliper clear those???

30mm offset, that's how

[ZIPPIN]

irish,

did you see this:
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....=1#post3798922

[irish44j]

Originally Posted by -ZIPPIN-

irish,

did you see this:
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....=1#post3798922

great deals and so, so tempting to try a rear caliper conversion. But I don't have any complaints about the OEM rears, so I'm not going to go to the trouble.

Someone should jump on these front sets though...what a great deal!!!

[ZIPPIN]

the front calipers are not for a 6th gen. they are from an 03, otherwise i would get em..

[irish44j]

so...anyone tried the rears from the 6th gen yet????

[panda_1]

can u give us part numbers for everything required? i.e calipers, shims and clips.

[Ammi]

very nice setup

[nyautostyle]

as soon as summer is over im getting these

[ICULookN]

Not to bring this back from the dead, but did anyone do an official writeup on this with pics?