2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.

4 piston calipers

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Old Sep 16, 2008 | 05:17 AM
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4 piston calipers

My front pads are gonna be dust soon, and I could use alil stronger brakes.

I found some 4 piston calipers for the front, cheap.

Is it just bolt in or what? I couldn't find anything using search on the 2nd gen sections and I'm not a brake expert

I got the 5 lug wheels btw
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Old Sep 16, 2008 | 06:08 AM
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i didn't know fc's came with anything but 4 piston front brakes ( well in australia anyway), i assume being the same model car and they would use the same hub so the 4 piston callipers should bolt up fine

they are a good calliper and with some descent pads stop really well

cheers
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Old Sep 16, 2008 | 06:10 AM
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They also had single piston I believe.
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Old Sep 16, 2008 | 09:39 AM
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well the good news is they will bolt right up the bad news is that you have to buy the steal brake line that goes to the caliper so it will line reach up to the rubber line. there are tuns of threads about it. the search button is very helpful
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Old Sep 16, 2008 | 09:41 AM
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If your car is a 5 lug car it's a bolt on. Get the rotor and caliper.

If the car is a 4 lug car and you want to keep it 4 lug, there is some minor fabrication.

If it's a 4 lug and you want to go to 5 lug, you need the hubs and associate brake parts from the 5 lug setup.
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Old Sep 16, 2008 | 03:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Aaron Cake
If your car is a 5 lug car it's a bolt on. Get the rotor and caliper.

If the car is a 4 lug car and you want to keep it 4 lug, there is some minor fabrication.

If it's a 4 lug and you want to go to 5 lug, you need the hubs and associate brake parts from the 5 lug setup.
Ah, new rotors would be about 120 each minimum I believe, sound close? Before my dad died he told me that the rx7 uses rotors that costs alil bit, but not quite as much as a car like a jaguar.

I guess I can hold off ont his till the pads are dusty and get the calipers.

Was there 4 calipers for the back too, if so and I do the fronts may as well do the backs too?
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Old Sep 16, 2008 | 04:08 PM
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$120 for the rotors? Not unless the price jumped a LOT in a few weeks.

I priced them not to long ago and they were about $60 for a set i belive.
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Old Sep 16, 2008 | 04:09 PM
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$120?! They're $35 at my local parts store.

The 4 piston vehicles had vented disks at the back. In order to convert, you need the caliper and bracket as well as the disk.
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Old Sep 16, 2008 | 04:18 PM
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You can actually keep your front rotors when converting to 4 pot calipers, of course they have to be in good enough condition that you want to keep them. As mentioned above, you need the hardline for the 4 pot caliper. Converting the rear to vented disc requires the rotor and caliper, everything is a bolt on affair.
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Old Sep 17, 2008 | 12:07 AM
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Originally Posted by liquidblackracing
well the good news is they will bolt right up the bad news is that you have to buy the steal brake line that goes to the caliper so it will line reach up to the rubber line. there are tuns of threads about it. the search button is very helpful
Nope, you can use single piston caliper brake hoses, they just bolt up to the caliper without the need for the hard line between the caliper and the strut.
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Old Sep 17, 2008 | 12:21 AM
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when i did my 4piston swap in the front, i ordered stainless steel brake lines for turbo model... when i got them, i didnt realize the hardline situation.. I went to my local auto store and fabbed up some myself for the calipers.. Not hard to make, just got to be creative... had to buy a line flare tool. That night i did it, i also broke one of the hardlines to the master cylinder, so i had to fab that as well, dam that was a fun night =p lol

If i could do it again, i would have ordered the stainless lines for the regular non-4 pistion , it will work.

Last edited by Hypertek; Sep 17, 2008 at 12:23 AM.
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Old Sep 17, 2008 | 12:51 AM
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the rotors are bigger aswell on the 4 pistons
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Old Sep 17, 2008 | 01:05 AM
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the 5lug single piston rotors are the same as the 4piston..
The rears are different, the 4piston cars had vented rear rotors
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Old Sep 17, 2008 | 01:26 AM
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Sounds good

Brake power in the front sucks easy to lock the back.
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Old Sep 17, 2008 | 10:12 AM
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Originally Posted by Black91n/a
Nope, you can use single piston caliper brake hoses, they just bolt up to the caliper without the need for the hard line between the caliper and the strut.
What he said. I know this for a fact as I just did it.
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Old Sep 17, 2008 | 10:25 AM
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Originally Posted by Aaron Cake
What he said. I know this for a fact as I just did it.
Yeah, and it's a much more elegant solution as it eliminates one extra joint in the line.

There's no real need to upgrade the rear brakes unless you need to overhaul the calipers or replace the rotors anyway.
On a street car you'll never notice the difference as the only change is the vented rotor and if you're overheating the rear brakes on a street car, you're doing something crazy.
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Old Sep 17, 2008 | 07:29 PM
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so what is the advantage of the four piston over the single piston. besides even pressure on the both pads and larger rotors. is it longer use with out brake fade or just bigger pad surface?
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Old Sep 17, 2008 | 07:54 PM
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both of the above from what i have heard.
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Old Sep 17, 2008 | 07:58 PM
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The rotors actually aren't larger, (i'm referring to S5 5 lug cars here) the pads however are. When you upgrade to the 4 pots you get increased stopping power, a firmer pedal feel, and a small amount of un-sprung weight savings. In addition to that, they just look the business, what more initiative do you need?
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Old Sep 17, 2008 | 09:16 PM
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Originally Posted by clokker
Yeah, and it's a much more elegant solution as it eliminates one extra joint in the line.
It also makes rotor changes easier. I pretty much ended up that way by accident, as I'd just bought lines before deciding to go to 4 piston calipers. If I were to do it again, I'd do it the same way, as I change rotors twice every time I go to the track (seperate rotors for the race pads).
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Old Sep 17, 2008 | 10:57 PM
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What they said. You can use the single piston lines, but when getting SS lines, you'll have to get the hard lines. I found that out the hard way.... Stupid Russel won't make the proper kit, they just want you to buy more of their fittings + lines to custom fab stuff that will leak. The rubber lines are a bit interesting to put on the 4 piston calipers though. There isn't a swivel on them so you have to rotate the caliper to get them on, then put the caliper on the hub assy.

Front rotors are the same, but rears are different for 5 lug.
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Old Sep 17, 2008 | 11:53 PM
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No, I've got single piston SS lines on my 4 lug brakes, but I've got Corksport lines.
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Old Sep 18, 2008 | 12:50 AM
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Ok so if I only upgrade the front thats fine?

Currently the back seems to brake better than the front and the rotors/pads look about the same and are same age, the front braking better would be much better.
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Old Sep 18, 2008 | 02:23 AM
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yes sir..

thats what im rocking right now. i got the rear calipers in the garage, just waiting for the rear rotors, but otherwise its all gravy.
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Old Sep 18, 2008 | 08:47 AM
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Originally Posted by incubuseva
What they said. You can use the single piston lines, but when getting SS lines, you'll have to get the hard lines. I found that out the hard way.... Stupid Russel won't make the proper kit, they just want you to buy more of their fittings + lines to custom fab stuff that will leak. The rubber lines are a bit interesting to put on the 4 piston calipers though. There isn't a swivel on them so you have to rotate the caliper to get them on, then put the caliper on the hub assy.
Front rotors are the same, but rears are different for 5 lug.
I have the Mazdatrix DOT legal stainless single piston lines on my 4 piston calipers, no hardline required. Though you do have to install the lines before the calipers due to the lack of swivel connection.
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