Replacing Disc Rotors

[reverseworm]

Hi guys - I think I need to replace discs all round but before I buy the parts, was wondering if it is an easy job or not? I have never changed the discs on a V35 before - is it the same as any other car or is there some hidden trick I should know about?

Thanks

Andrew

[scotty nm35]

Fronts are easy, rears you will have to adjust the handbrake shoes. Have you done that before?

[Nightcrawler]

It is a piece of cake.

A few tips:

- if you brake fluid is very full in the reservoir, remove some, as when you squeeze open the brake pads to put on the new/wider disks, fluid gets forced back into the reservior and will overflow if it is too full (I did this when I recently changed pads).

- open the brake bleed nipples to make squeezing the pads open easier, but once disks are fitted you should bleed them again anyway.

- buy braided brake lines (cheap = $200-$300) and put them on while you have it all apart.

[R6n350GT]

Brembo brakes? if so do the stoptech stage 2 upgrade.

[reverseworm]

Fronts are easy, rears you will have to adjust the handbrake shoes. Have you done that before?

Nope - never worked on handbrake shoes.

[grae35]

Nope - never worked on handbrake shoes.

You can pull out the rubber grommet to get access to the rear hand brake adjusters and back them off a bit. But when I did mine last year the backing plate was held to the rotor by rust etc so you need to give the centre of the rotors a few hits with a club hammer to loosen same. I had to be quite brutal to free it up. It isnt particularly difficult other than for loosening the rear rotors.

[Howaitonaito]

I'm putting DBA slotted Rotors all round On a factory 250GT (I presume sedans have same brakes as a 350Z touring yeah), braided brake lines and new brake pads

(can anyone reccomend some good ones), having my handbrake tightened while my coilovers are being put in..... Within the coming month

[Deep Dish V35]

I'm putting DBA slotted Rotors all round On a factory 250GT (I presume sedans have same brakes as a 350Z touring yeah), braided brake lines and new brake pads

(can anyone reccomend some good ones), having my handbrake tightened while my coilovers are being put in..... Within the coming month

my previous experience with dba slotted rotors and bendix blue pads was not a good one... downhill braking resulted in smoking brakes, and pedal touching the floor. the pads when heated up literally had a chatter feel similar to dragging a wet washing glove on a plate

Edited April 24, 2012 by Deep Dish V35

[Howaitonaito]

I'm open to suggestions people! But I am not made of money

[ka86]

I'm open to suggestions people! But I am not made of money

Email GSLRALLYSPORT for a quote on some QFM HPX. :-)

[Howaitonaito]

Where are they at. I'm in Newcastle

[ka86]

Where are they at. I'm in Newcastle

QLD but they post anywhere. Their prices are pretty good and QFM HPX is a good pad. I got a set of 4 i.e 2x front, 2 x rear for $220 however that was for the Brembos so yours should be cheaper.

[Seano350GT]

Bringing this thread alive again -

My rotors are showing wear, with visable lines on the face and discouloring. My brakes also squeel a lot in the cold or after rain in the morning when i first start driving.

I have had a bit of a look into Stoptech rotors and they seem to be reasonably priced, but if i'm upgrading rotors do i need to upgrade the capiler and pads too? I've got Brembo's 03 coupe.

[iamhe77]

No, although it would be best to do pads at the same time.

Just make sure that the rotors are for your brake package (ie 350z Track)

[Seano350GT]

No, although it would be best to do pads at the same time.

Just make sure that the rotors are for your brake package (ie 350z Track)

Thanks for the advice mate,

I have heard off my mate with a Supra to stay away from drilled rotors because they get really hot. Is this true? Would slotted Stoptechs fit in my wheels, i am about to buy a set of 20's.

[Daleo]

Thanks for the advice mate,

I have heard off my mate with a Supra to stay away from drilled rotors because they get really hot. Is this true? Would slotted Stoptechs fit in my wheels, i am about to buy a set of 20's.

Drilled rotors don't get any "hotter" than a normal rotor, that's a function of how hard you use the brakes.

The drilled holes become a stress riser due to localised heat and expansion & contraction of the rotor.

Just get some slotted ones; they still de gas the pad, and deglaze the rotor, that's where the benefit lies.

Brand is irrelevant, you have to buy rotors that have exactly the same dimensions as what you are running now; otherwise the caliper won't fit on.

The wheels not fitting will be the least of your worries.

I don't mean to offend.

With some of the basic questions you're asking; it might be better if you leave it to a professional, or at very least, have an experienced mate assist you with it the first time.

Brakes are not something you can afford to get even a little bit wrong.

Edited August 23, 2012 by Daleo

[Nightcrawler]

Best to get 2 piece floating rotors like I have - when the disk gets hot it expands and contracts independent of the rotor centre, eliminating the chance of disk warping.

[Seano350GT]

Drilled rotors don't get any "hotter" than a normal rotor, that's a function of how hard you use the brakes.

The drilled holes become a stress riser due to localised heat and expansion & contraction of the rotor.

Just get some slotted ones; they still de gas the pad, and deglaze the rotor, that's where the benefit lies.

Brand is irrelevant, you have to buy rotors that have exactly the same dimensions as what you are running now; otherwise the caliper won't fit on.

The wheels not fitting will be the least of your worries.

I don't mean to offend.

With some of the basic questions you're asking; it might be better if you leave it to a professional, or at very least, have an experienced mate assist you with it the first time.

Brakes are not something you can afford to get even a little bit wrong.

Excellent, thank you for that i understand it now. I will have to look up my dimensions then and go from there. No offence taken at all, i asked the question and requested information and that's what you guys are doing for me so i appreciate it. I just wanted a bit of an idea what to go with for now, my brakes will be fine for months to come so i'm not going to worry about it asap as i have money going on different things but i will keep this info in mind.

Of course, i would not try to fit them myself my Dad was a mechanic for 30 something years so i can always turn to him if i need something put on.

[Daleo]

Best to get 2 piece floating rotors like I have - when the disk gets hot it expands and contracts independent of the rotor centre, eliminating the chance of disk warping.

Floating rotors aren't exactly a guarantee against warping, although the better quality base materials of a 2 piece rotor would certainly help.

The main reason for using 2 piece rotors (in my understanding) is that in high load conditions (i.e; trackwork) the alloy hat minimises the heat of the rotor transferring into the hub; and overheating the bearings causing a failure.

Excellent, thank you for that i understand it now. I will have to look up my dimensions then and go from there. No offence taken at all, i asked the question and requested information and that's what you guys are doing for me so i appreciate it. I just wanted a bit of an idea what to go with for now, my brakes will be fine for months to come so i'm not going to worry about it asap as i have money going on different things but i will keep this info in mind.

Of course, i would not try to fit them myself my Dad was a mechanic for 30 something years so i can always turn to him if i need something put on.

Good stuff, best of luck.

Edited August 23, 2012 by Daleo

[Seano350GT]

At the end of the day, it's my daily drive. I don't track it a lot, probably twice every few months so i'm not necessarily looking for an upgrade more of just a mending of the rotors or replacements.