Changing Only Front Calipers/rotors

[SargeRX8]

Hey all,

Well Ive got most of my parts for my work ready and it should see anything from 280 - 310rwkw on regular fuel pump. The next thing to consider is my brakes but wow the price figures on a set of big brakes is amazing.

I'm going to be cheap here and ask for help and opinions.

First off. What is the biggest, safest size I can get for 17" wheels? Do aftermarket brakes bulge out more than the Nissan brakes on the R33 GTST? They look alot slimmer in pictures.

Secondly, and a big secondly. It looks like alot of money can be saved if I ditch the rear brakes. I can understand this would have a huge impact on a AWD car but all rear wheel cars, including skylines, have little tiny brakes at the back and bigger up front. If I upgrade just the front brakes, would I still get even braking? I don't want my ass to shoot left and right.

Secondly, has anyone heard of the following brands D2 or KSport?

D2 have an 8 piston front caliper, rotor, lines, pads, bolts and adapter set for an R33 for $1650 shipped. KSport have a 6 piston front set for $1500~

I don't really like the idea of running 10 - 15 year old GTR brakes when something brand new can be had for roughly the same price(seriously those old GTR brakes are too overpriced).

Any input would be great.

If anyone can recommend anything else, I ask for your suggestion!

Cheers.

Edited March 5, 2011 by SargeRX8

[Omg_its_trent]

yes obviously 8pot brakes will be bigger than factory brakes, Keep in mind the rotors are big on those big brake kits that why they prob look slimmer in pics.

It depneds on the disk type and offset of your 17's. I would assume you would be fine upgrading the front brakes and leaving the rear standard and not having too much ill affect.

Yes everyone heard of d2 and ksport do i quick google search for reviews.

GTR brakes are proven quality and priced accordingly. Mind you like anything second hand with imports some ppl want drug money for their parts.

Edited March 5, 2011 by Omg_its_trent

[Bl4cK32]

whats the intended usage of the car? Power is sort of irrelevant as a track car would have more of a need for better brakes than a street car sitting on 60 all day.

Keep in mind nissan did a good job with the brakes, look at brembo factory calipers maybe as a good upgrade before spending big $ on the biggest and best only to be let down by worn bushes, and poor rubber on the tyres.

[PM-R33]

First off. What is the biggest, safest size I can get for 17" wheels? Do aftermarket brakes bulge out more than the Nissan brakes on the R33 GTST? They look alot slimmer in pictures.

Around the 330mm mark seems to be a safe bet with 17" wheels. Really depends on the wheel design whether it will clear the brakes as the caliper is now being moved closer to the edge which is where certain wheels will start to "curve in" so to speak.

Secondly, and a big secondly. It looks like alot of money can be saved if I ditch the rear brakes. I can understand this would have a huge impact on a AWD car but all rear wheel cars, including skylines, have little tiny brakes at the back and bigger up front. If I upgrade just the front brakes, would I still get even braking? I don't want my ass to shoot left and right.

This all comes down to brake bias. The front usually has a lot more bias since it does most of the work hence why rear brake calipers are a lot smaller. Obviously there is a lot more to this but I won't cover it here. Research how brakes actually function on the net to get a good understanding of it all.

So as long as you don't upset this brake bias to much you can easily upgrade just the fronts and have the factory rears work in harmony. If you do change the brake bias this can also be ok if you know what you are doing and set it up accordingly.

Secondly, has anyone heard of the following brands D2 or KSport?

D2 have an 8 piston front caliper, rotor, lines, pads, bolts and adapter set for an R33 for $1650 shipped. KSport have a 6 piston front set for $1500~

These brands are all the same. They are manufactured in China and can go under a lot of different names. Basically I could put 100 kits into manufacturing and call them G SPOT and bring them out.

There have been a lot of positive things said about these kits and are probably the most affordable aftermarket options. I looked into these myself but at the end of the day just didn't feel all that comfortable with them.

I don't really like the idea of running 10 - 15 year old GTR brakes when something brand new can be had for roughly the same price(seriously those old GTR brakes are too overpriced).

I know exactly how you feel. The GTR Brembos are great brakes. Perfect bolt on, 100% legal with no mod plates etc needed. However the money people ask for them given their age is a joke. If they were realistic money this would have been my upgrade. Sometimes you can get a bargain, but I was never lucky enough.

If anyone can recommend anything else, I ask for your suggestion!

Well basically after everything was looked into I chose to go with the Wilwood kits that I put together for our group buy. They were everything I wanted in a brake package and were a decent price. For $1850 delivered I really don't think there was anything that could match them

My 2 cents.

[ssxRicho]

I'm running the ksport 8pot 330's on the front with stocker 33 gtst brakes on the rear.

blue stuff up front with yellow stuff on the rear. One track day down, no problems.

fitment with 17" depends on the rim. RPF1 will not fit. super advan, te37, gramlight will.

[ARTZ]

For performance, Personally Id just upgrade to some decent discs like dba 4000 and a quality set of pads like the QFMs , a set of braided hoses and maybe motul 6100 fluid ,I reckon you'd find the setup more than adequate for most applications and cost well under a grand all up..

That said, big brakes do look cool, But Im a cheap ass

[PM-R33]

That's exactly right. A good set of rotors and pads do wonders.

However for the best stopping upgrade the key factor is tyres. It is the tyres that stop the car, not the brakes.

[ARTZ]

have you got the big brakes on your car Phil?

i still havent put those Hel lines in..Im So slack..

[PM-R33]

Hahaha slacker

Nah still waiting on the Wilwoods. Maybe another 2 or so weeks.

I'm looking forward to getting some money to put semi slicks on the car to really get the benefit of the bigger brakes.

[ssxRicho]

For performance, Personally Id just upgrade to some decent discs like dba 4000 and a quality set of pads like the QFMs , a set of braided hoses and maybe motul 6100 fluid ,I reckon you'd find the setup more than adequate for most applications and cost well under a grand all up..

That said, big brakes do look cool, But Im a cheap ass

4000's will crack on the track. I've gone through a set as have many others (Calder, PI and Sandown)

rda, dba5000's, pmu single's in 324mm with UAS spacers is the other thing you can go. I did, but you chew through pad's.

[Duncan]

I run the K-sport/d2/g4 on my race car when regs allow, and also have them on my rb30 stagea.

they are excellent for the price, and very much proven.

[ARTZ]

I like their project car..

http://www.ksport.com.au/K_Sport_Project_Car.html

[PaulosECR33]

they are cheap and from Duncan said it seems they are defenantly worth the money i may look into them now after doin a bit of searching there is lots of good feedback

[bubba]

On my 32 I run 33gtst calipers on dogbones to fit 324mm (33gtr) DBA4000 rotors, DS2500 pads, braided lines and a master cyl stopper.

Way more braking than street tyres can handle (haven't run full slicks so can't comment on that).

They BARELY fit under 34GTT rims, there was like 1mm of clearance from outside of caliper to inside of wheel.

[Touge Kyousou]

I'm keen to try out a big brake kit on my car.

I'm actually running the setup couple of guys have mentioned being the dba4000s, pads (i'm using project mu pads atm), steel lines and high temp fluid but i still find the braking lacking. Tires are KU36s which as some may know, gives insane grip in the dry for an S compound. Hope this feedback helps.

[KiwiRS4T]

For the street GTT or GTR brakes with Motul (or other quality) fluid and decent pads will be more than adequate. Just bought a set of D2 fronts for the track and although they have a good rep for stopping they are not going to do my unsprung weight any favours!!

[Duncan]

really? I found the 2 peice rotors and ally calipers a fair bit lighter than factory gtr

Certainly much lighter than the stagea or 350z setup with their large cast calipers.