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Caliper relocation brackets to use FD rotors

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Old 01-12-19, 06:05 PM
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Caliper relocation brackets to use FD rotors

Hey guys, I'm considering making some caliper relocation brackets to allow the use of FD brake rotors with FC calipers. My interest is mostly in doing this for the rear brakes, but if there is enough interest from others I could do the front as well.

I'm not looking to invent the next great brake kit for the FC, just a simple, cheap, bolt on upgrade that uses easily sourced parts.
Old 01-12-19, 10:12 PM
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FYI I run the Supernow bracket on the rear for just this. I am using the “17 inch” bracket running the larger 315mm rear rotor but there is an option for that or the “16 inch” more common 294mm rotor I think.

Great upgrade, helps balance out a bigger front brake setup too.
Old 01-13-19, 07:16 AM
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I could only find the 17"/315mm version of the supernow kit which didnt really interest me as we never got the 315mm rotors here in the States.

Does the supernow kit use the FC or FD caliper? I couldnt find much info on it.
Old 01-13-19, 01:58 PM
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It used the FC caliper, the aluminium dog bone just relocates to suit the FD rotor available here

https://www.rhdjapan.com/super-now-r...inch-fc3s.html

Ships global and is the official English site for all Supernow gear. I have the brake booster delete amongst other products of theirs and it’s brilliant.
Old 01-13-19, 03:32 PM
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Okay thanks for the info James! I posted the idea on Facebook and had a few people interested in making the bracket to use the FD caliper instead.

I had found the 17" version when searching but for some reason I could only find the 16" by searching on RHD directly.

I'll probably still pursue making them even though they already exist, possibly to suit the FD calipers as well. I work as an engineer/ machinist so they'll be an easy project.
Old 01-13-19, 06:41 PM
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I’m not sure if the FD caliper offers anything over the FC, from memory I approached it looking at pad area and piston size/number.

I run R33 Skyline 4 piston front which has the same size and number of pistons as FC caliper, just lets you run a thicker and larger diameter rotor to fight off brake fade and the pads are slightly larger. This means you can use the stock brake master cylinder and if you like delete the booster altogether on the track with the Supernow booster delete kit.

https://www.rhdjapan.com/super-now-b...gold-fc3s.html
Old 01-14-19, 09:49 AM
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I knew that the FD front caliper is functionally identical to the FC front caliper and uses the same pads, however after some digging it looks like while the rear FD Caliper is different than the FC, but uses the exact same pads (at least with the 294mm brakes). That being said, I won't waste my time accommodating the FD rear calipers.

The R33 calipers sound like a nice upgrade, but having to import them from Japan to the USA makes them an impractical conversion.
Old 01-14-19, 12:05 PM
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Originally Posted by JamesG
FYI I run the Supernow bracket on the rear for just this. I am using the “17 inch” bracket running the larger 315mm rear rotor but there is an option for that or the “16 inch” more common 294mm rotor I think.

Great upgrade, helps balance out a bigger front brake setup too.
i have the 16" version, due to wider choice of rotors. at the time I dont think RHD offered just the bracket anyhow so between the kit and the shipping it was getting expensive for that 1" rotor
( I run the ronin kit in the front )
Last I checked, and its been a while, there was only 2 choices of 315mm rotors that would work
Old 01-14-19, 04:07 PM
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Rob how do you like the ronin kit up front?
Old 01-15-19, 11:44 AM
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ive never tracked my car so its strictly street driving, seems good especially with the stock hydraulics

I had to slow down from some triple digits speed and I didnt like the feeling at all, it wasnt a panic stop but it was still enough to linger in my head.
Added power in my car, 18" wheels, along with the fact that I tried to improve something every year or 2 so I went for it
Old 01-17-19, 07:33 AM
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The project is officially a go, I have FD rotors on the way, FC front caliper and rotor on my desk, just need to pull a rear caliper bracket off of my car and pick up a new rear rotor.

The front looks like it is going to be tricky due to the small increase in brake rotor diameter (18mm) and the fact that the caliper bolts directly to the spindle instead of using a bracket like the rear.

I should have some CAD models to show off next week.
Old 01-18-19, 05:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Templeton
I knew that the FD front caliper is functionally identical to the FC front caliper and uses the same pads, however after some digging it looks like while the rear FD Caliper is different than the FC, but uses the exact same pads (at least with the 294mm brakes). That being said, I won't waste my time accommodating the FD rear calipers.

The R33 calipers sound like a nice upgrade, but having to import them from Japan to the USA makes them an impractical conversion.
I had the Ronin kit before I found the Skyline upgrade in an old Japanese tuning magazine. The Ronin kit has the same outcome and fun fact: both the Skyline and FC RX7 caliper use the same rebuild kit. Only difference is stock the Skyline caliper is wider to accommodate 32mm thick rotors and the pad area is very slightly larger.
Old 01-22-19, 02:24 PM
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Initial designs are complete.

Both brackets end up rotating the caliper upward for clearance purposes. It would be a far more simple project were the rotors a bit larger.

Hopefully some prototypes will be done by the end of the week.

Last edited by Templeton; 01-22-19 at 02:26 PM.
Old 01-23-19, 02:52 PM
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first rear prototype is done!
Old 01-23-19, 06:41 PM
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The 1st try was close, but not perfect. I was hoping to avoid requiring any grinding on the caliper, like you have to do with the super now bracket, but there just isnt enough room to pull it off.
Old 01-23-19, 07:30 PM
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Great work on this
Old 01-24-19, 11:26 AM
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Rear relocation bracket v2 is done, I'll verify fitment tonight. Unfortunately a small amount of grinding or filing of the caliper bracket will be required to make the relocation bracket clear.
Old 01-25-19, 01:14 PM
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Front prototype is done, the hardware is going to be a tight fit without without any grinding of the caliper. If it cant be done without grinding the calipers, they will not be produced. If they do clear they will be made from 4140 chromoly steel.
Old 01-25-19, 09:54 PM
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Sweet!
Old 01-26-19, 05:05 AM
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Originally Posted by Templeton
Front prototype is done, the hardware is going to be a tight fit without without any grinding of the caliper. If it cant be done without grinding the calipers, they will not be produced
There is quite a bit of extra meat on the calipers, what area and how much is affected?
Old 01-26-19, 12:58 PM
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Clokker- In the inside corner where the mounting ear meets the caliper body, looks like at most a millimeter or material removal. I'll make it work for my own personal car, but there is too much liability as far as selling a product and telling someone to grind a structural portion of a hydraulic fluid filled body. Someone goes overboard grinding, their brakes fail, the company I work for gets sued, game over.

That being said, it may clear, I'm waiting on the socket head cap screws I ordered to come in.
Another solution may lie in the using FD front caliper, as while the body is physically different than the front FC caliper, it is functionally identical. It's possible the FD would clear without issue. If I can't make the FC caliper fit, I will explore this option.
Old 01-26-19, 03:23 PM
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I have seen FD calipers bolted straight on the FC purely for cosmetic reasons so it would certainly work.
Old 01-26-19, 11:39 PM
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The FD calipers will definitely work, it's just up in the air if they would provide the extra clearance needed over the FC calipers.
Old 01-27-19, 12:52 AM
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super interested!
Old 01-27-19, 03:28 AM
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Originally Posted by Templeton
Clokker- In the inside corner where the mounting ear meets the caliper body, looks like at most a millimeter or material removal. I'll make it work for my own personal car, but there is too much liability as far as selling a product and telling someone to grind a structural portion of a hydraulic fluid filled body. Someone goes overboard grinding, their brakes fail, the company I work for gets sued, game over.
Ah.
It's a shame when innovation is hamstrung by legalities but I understand your concern.


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