5th Generation Maxima (2000-2003)Learn more about the 5th Generation Maxima, including the VQ30DE-K and VQ35DE engines.
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Got around to installing the 300ZX TwinTurbo calipers with 6th gen rotors, SS lines, and the BlehmCo kit. A few thoughts first of all, then some pics:
Getting the stuff:
- The calipers I sourced from a local junkyard for $40 each...a great deal for the aluminum Z32 TT calipers
- Caliper rebuild kit, pad shims, and new pins I got from DaveB - reliable as ever!
- Hawk HPS pads and new 6th gen rotors from Jeff at ImportRP - Great service, and when Jeff found out that the Brembo blanks wouldn't be in for a few weeks he worked with me and got me some OEM replacements (Kiriu, which makes our OEM rotors). Thanks Jeff!
- BlehmCo brackets and SS lines from Matt Blehm, of course. With Matt's hectic schedule these days, I greatly appreciate him finding time to get me the stuff when I needed it. When he didn't think it would make it via USPS on time, he 2-day'd it DHL. Excellent at always.
- ATE Racing Blue brake fluid: Had a couple cans around, originally acquired from OG Racing and also from Cutler.
Pre-work:
- Caliper rebuild. It's really quite simple to rebuilt the Z32 calipers, and it took me about 2 hours for both of them. From what I've read, it's a good idea to rebuild them periodically. Replaced seals, boots, pins, and cleaned and re-greased spring clips. Assembled and greased shims and pads.
- Caliper painting....of course. Just some basic black, nothing flashy
- Test-fitting. Using a rotor and spare spindle/hub assembly I double-checked to make sure they'd fit all of my wheels.
- Test-fitting: brackets - One of the bracket holes was about 1-2mm off, so I had to dremel it out just a bit. No big problem, took about 5 minutes
- The rotors come coated with NASTY grease, and it took a while to get all that crap off. I still didn't get all of it.....
Putting it together:
- Like I said, pretty simple. I had no real problems at all with anything. One of the easiest brake jobs I've ever done.
- My wife helped out bleeding the brakes - the best-looking assistant I've worked with! Then Cutler (jason) came over and helped with the other side. He's not as attractive, but equally good at pressing the brake pedal!
Performance:
- After bedding, they feel....alot like the 6th gen setup in initial bite. Good pedal feel, and I think the compression is more "even" than with the single-piston calipers...if you get what I mean. If you really stomp it, these calipers/pads have NO problem locking the wheels up and kicking in the ABS. I call it an improvement to the full 6th gen setup. I don't think I'd call it "drastic" but it is definitely noticeable.
Other notes:
- Thanks to Jason for his help.
- Thanks to my wife for her help (and patience with me spending Saturday working on the car AGAIN)
- This is a worthwhile mod. I spent under $500 total for everything I used for this, and it is an improvement in both performance and looks. Very happy with the results.
So...I'm sure you all want some pics, so I'll post them momentarily
__________________ Sold: 2000 Maxima SE - PR Intake - Frankencar CB - Truax SFCs - Wilwoods - Eibachs - Blehm LTB - Cattman Ypipe
Stillen RSB - RSTB - FSTB - ES Bushes - G wheels - Raxles - Mach1 lip - Illuminas - and plenty more
Those brakes look awesome. Another one of your killer mods that I'd love to copy. By the way thanks for the Eibach spring advice, I got them installed last tuesday and I love the way they feel.
Nice thread as always! Any plans for the rear setup?
not at the moment....I really can't justify the significant cost for the rears. The only kit out there for the rear is Matt's, and with calipers and all it runs well over $1000.....
Hell, This is my fourth front brake upgrade, and I still have OEM pads in the back - need to put some HPS back there at least
I think the car is pretty much where it will stay until next summer. Maybe a few small things here or there, but I've accomplished what i wanted to do with it this year and now it's time to work on the house more, finish up the autocross season, and stash every extra cent away for a new house with a garage
__________________ Sold: 2000 Maxima SE - PR Intake - Frankencar CB - Truax SFCs - Wilwoods - Eibachs - Blehm LTB - Cattman Ypipe
Stillen RSB - RSTB - FSTB - ES Bushes - G wheels - Raxles - Mach1 lip - Illuminas - and plenty more
Very sweet. I've been wanting to do that for a while now. Do you think they'd fit under a set of 16 inch 5zigen wheels? I'd still have to be able to run my drag radials.
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2K2 SE 6 speed w/leather, sunroof and Bose : HLSD tranny from 2004 car, Fidanza 15lb flywheel, 350Z clutch, Hotshot headers, Warpspeed B-pipe, PR CAI, homemade VAIS blockoff plate, Apexi S-AFC2, 17 degree timing advance, HP autoworks STS, PR solid motor mounts, PR shifter bushings, FSTB, RSB. Eibach springs with Ilumina 5-way adjustable struts, 16.5 pound Enkei Wheels. Over 145,000 miles. I turn my own wrenches.
Josh, not sure if you've touched on this at all, and I know those are good quality pieces, but the welds on this bracket kinda scare me...(maybe it's just the picture)
Nice write up bro. I am definitely jealous. One question though, what prompted your choice of the 6th gen rotors over the Cobra rotors?
I didn't think the Cobra rotors would clear the diameter of my winter wheels - as you can see, these are pretty close.
That, and I was originially going to re-use the 6th gen rotors I already had (though I ended up getting new ones)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Myownnismo
Looks great. Wish I didn't have to sell mine. But they didn't clear my 19's.
you could have gotten spacers, couldn't you?
Quote:
Originally Posted by SEMy2k2go
Josh, not sure if you've touched on this at all, and I know those are good quality pieces, but the welds on this bracket kinda scare me...(maybe it's just the picture)
Tim, the welds are a bit sloppy appearance-wise, but I have no concerns on the strength for a few reasons:
1. Those parts are really not holding the caliper, they are essentially just spacers sandwiched between the flat bracket and the caliper. It's the vertical plane of the bracket that's really holding the force of the caliper. Of course like everything else I'll periodically check for cracks and stuff, but I'm not concerned at all.
2. The welds on my LTB are almost as unattractive, but have proven extremely strong. The LTB gets alot more torsional stress on the welds than these brackets do, I'd guess
3. Also of course how many people have used these with no issues at all, including several guys who track them.
__________________ Sold: 2000 Maxima SE - PR Intake - Frankencar CB - Truax SFCs - Wilwoods - Eibachs - Blehm LTB - Cattman Ypipe
Stillen RSB - RSTB - FSTB - ES Bushes - G wheels - Raxles - Mach1 lip - Illuminas - and plenty more
I didn't think the Cobra rotors would clear the diameter of my winter wheels - as you can see, these are pretty close.
That, and I was originially going to re-use the 6th gen rotors I already had (though I ended up getting new ones)
you could have gotten spacers, couldn't you?
Tim, the welds are a bit sloppy appearance-wise, but I have no concerns on the strength for a few reasons:
1. Those parts are really not holding the caliper, they are essentially just spacers sandwiched between the flat bracket and the caliper. It's the vertical plane of the bracket that's really holding the force of the caliper. Of course like everything else I'll periodically check for cracks and stuff, but I'm not concerned at all.
2. The welds on my LTB are almost as unattractive, but have proven extremely strong. The LTB gets alot more torsional stress on the welds than these brackets do, I'd guess
3. Also of course how many people have used these with no issues at all, including several guys who track them.
They wouldn't clear with a 5mm spacer. I got new wheels picked out and for the time being I just got a set of brembo rotors.
Josh, not sure if you've touched on this at all, and I know those are good quality pieces, but the welds on this bracket kinda scare me...(maybe it's just the picture)
Take a sledgehammer to one and see what the outcome is.
ugly welds: 1
sledgehammer: 0
Those are some of my more ugly welds. didn't have much time so I had to run out there and do them in order to get these parts shipped. not my best work.
also note there isn't much stress on them in the first place. the back plate itself takes all of the shear forces and the bushings are there simply as washers. The first few sets of these I made and tried on my personal cars weren't even welded- just used the bushings as spacers. They've been on there for over 5 years and 60,000 miles (about 8,000 of that is track miles too) without a single incident. may be ugly, but they work.
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04 G35 Sedan 6MT- The DD
96 240SX 5 speed- The track toy
93 Maxima SE 5 speed- retired 1-5-09
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