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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
