NissanConvert

iTrader: (1)

Saw this come up in active threads, took the liberty of searching ebay. You can get all of these parts for $500 or less. Not bad for a "big brake" solution.

thetech

iTrader: (1)

I agree, if we could find a rotor that would fit without machining (there has got to be one) then this would be pretty much a perfect solution. There are multiple sets of Evo Brembo's on ebay sub-$500.

If someone can measure the exact dimensions of the Evo front rotor including the hat height we could piece one together easily, especially using a Wilwood or similar 2-piece solution.

sub9lulu

iTrader: (7)

anyone got access to some STI rotors ?

owen is fat

yes I have a set at home (STIs) on my workbench.
theyre 5x100 for the 2004 STI but the other measurements are the same as the 05+ 5x114 rotors.
I'll measure them up tonight and see what I can find out.

sub9lulu

iTrader: (7)

yea, i know that the 240sx guys used the EVO calipers with 05+ STI rotors with good result
maybe it'll work, who knows

Project7

iTrader: (16)

I'll look in to getting the specs above what I have already posted. I'd have to take one side apart again, but it would be nice to know there is a rotor that can be used without machining.

DAMN I'M ANXIOUS TO TEST DRIVE IT! 8" of snow tonight... Man I love Michigan in the winter F#@!#$#@@!!!!!

danamezjohn

awww lol the snow!!! but yeah man good **** good ****!!

owen is fat

STI rotors-
12.8125" O.D. (325mm)
1.19" Thick (30mm)
2.273" Hub Register = Hat center hole (57.73mm)
1.817" Hat Offset = measured from back of rotor to back of hat (46mm)
0.27" Hat Thickness (6.8mm)

the above thickness and offset may be off by a millimeter as I measured used rotors but they were still in great shape.

I wonder if there are any ~12" rotors for trucks that may be inexpensive, I see the front rotors on my wifes '05 Chevy Equinox are similar in size and shape and may be a little smaller O.D. than the STI rotors, I will measure up the old ones I removed a few months ago.

cbrock

iTrader: (1)

I don't know why you guys want to swap to Brembos. The sumitomo calipers (we make) are much better for knockback than Brembo. In addition, if there is a size difference in piston diameters then your pedal feel could change. I agree the OEM pads in the opposed calipers are lacking but that is because there are limitations on mu and noise performance. Get some Hawk pads put them in the stock calipers and you'll be all set. The 3rd gen front calipers are a direct swap if you want a cleaner look. Brembo is just a company that went a different route. Sumitomo, now ADVICS is the largest manufacture (by volume) of opposed piston calipers. Matter of fact, most of the OEMs don't even like to use Brembo because they are a pain to work with and typically have a lot of NVH issues. If you take a look at some of the Porsche calipers they had to add mass dampers and other nick nacks to try and keep the noise levels down. The OEMS are stuck because Brembo has created a name and the customers expect it on high performance vehicles.

cbrock

iTrader: (1)

Another difference can be in the amount of piston roll back you get when you release the brake. Another caliper might use more or less. Too much and the pedal sucks, not enough and you'll get higher drag which will typically create the warped rotor feel. Not sure how many people know this but the warped rotor feel or disk thickness variation (DTV) is typically caused during off brake highway driving. Matter of fact, not using the brakes generates DTV faster then people that always use the brakes. Many current production vehicles can only make it about 20k miles before the DTV generation has increased to a level where you feel it in the steering wheel or in the pedal when you brake. Opposed piston calipers typically perform better in this regard than floating calipers due to piston retraction on both the inboard and outboard pads.

thetech

iTrader: (1)

Personally, I'm trying to get a larger pad and rotor area and couldn't give a rats *** about nvh given that it's on a racecar application. There are precious few 'off the shelf' options for the FC for those of us that really need larger brakes, so this is a pretty interesting development.

I've already spent too much money on fab work and would love an option that doesn't cost ~$100/hr

SE7ENS_GARAGE

ur awesome

Derek 357i

Wilwood sells 2 piece GT Rotors for the evo in 12.6" diam. I sent them an inquiry asking if they had resources to put together in either 12.4" or 12.31" with other dimensions remaining the same.

How much additional clearance is needed to clear the brembo calipers. I realize the clearance would be needed another inch away from the centerline, but I need to know how much further it sticks out than the factory caliper. I have a nice set of JDM BBS RS 17" that I would hate to have to part with.

Project7

iTrader: (16)

I had to shim out my SA-3's 25mm to clear the Brembo's. I am not sure off hand what the back spacing on the rims is though. I will get it for you soon.

Derek 357i

I think there are two factors that come into play. Backspacing is part of the equation, but also the "spoke" design of the wheel. Some go pretty much straight from the hub mating surface to the rim and others have the spokes out from the hub mating surface, almost as if a spacer was built onto the wheel.

So I guess the dimension I would really like to have is how much the caliper protrudes past the wheel mating surface on the rotor, at the hub, assuming the evo rotor and mazda rotor are the same thickness at the hub.

BTW, GREAT WORK on this. I had wondered if the Mustang Cobra Brembo setup would work the same way, but wasn't really wanting to drop the $1K to try it out.

Derek 357i

I just ran out to the garage and checked and I have 52mm from the wheel mating surface to the back of the "spokes" of the wheel. I would think that would clear by a mile.

thetech

iTrader: (1)

This is an excellent discovery. When I had Wilwood's on my Z you were able to substitute any Wilwood rotor (of which they are several) onto any of their hats, so it might be that we could find the appropriate sized rotor and order it separately.

Derek 357i

I'll let you know what they have to say.

I think the 312.7mm X 32.0 might be the best prospect. They would provide 3.65mm more clearance than the evo rotors and are only .8mm narrower.

How much did you have machined off of the od of the rotor?

thetech

iTrader: (1)

I wonder also if the Wilwood hub will clear, as he also had to machine the center bore of the hub.

Derek 357i

I had thought about that, but fortunately that would be a one time fix since they are two piece rotors. As you wear out rotors, just buy new ones but reuse the hats.

thetech

iTrader: (1)

Well I just researched for a while; unfortunately there are no smaller rotors that Wilwood sells which have the correct hat bolt pattern (12x7"). There are also no other hat options available (there's one, but it has a bolt pattern which also has no other sized rotors available) as it's super shallow with only a 0.21" offset.

So close!

Derek 357i

Yep, just got off the phone with Wilwood and they told me the same thing. He said it was really odd that the evo rotor is the only one they have in that pattern. I asked him about turning down the rotor and he said as long as the pad touches ONLY the friction surface of the rotor it is fine.

Ouch I just priced some evo rotors, man are they proud of those!!!

thetech

iTrader: (1)

So what ended up happening here? Did you ever try the Brembo's out?

Project7

iTrader: (16)

^ not yet man, I live in Michigan and I have been getting hammered with snow. As soon as I have a chance to, I will update everyone with my findings.

Project7

iTrader: (16)

Made the first test drive yesterday. The car stopped, but not like I wanted it to. The brakes are really soft. I am going to bleed them again for good measure to make sure that is not the issue, then I might take a closer look at using the Evo master, booster or both. Other than the lack of pedal, everything else work fine it appears. Clearance for the calipers was good, no dragging at all when the pedal was released and everything sounded clean (no catching or dragging of any moving parts). More to follow.