what about the brakes?

I have been through many websites; magazines etc and everyone talks about what they will do for horsepower and spoilers; but never the brakes. I see cars street race all day and then they can't stop. I was curious about big brakes; on a z32 is that just for looks or is it truly necessary. I am trying to map out the build up of my car. I am stumped in the brakes dept. Wondering if i should just upgrade or try to fit bigger brakes. Also I have four Porsche Calipers front and rear (993 calipers which most big brake kit calipers are formed after) I also notice the 993 rotors are two piece rotors(I happen to work at a Porsche/BMW dealer) Thinking custom hats and adapters. The calipers cost me nothing but the custom parts to make them work won't be too cheap. Also some of our customers complain of increased stopping distance after putting front BBK's on their m3's and M5's. I hate to ramble on but I have been searching many forums on brakes and I don't plan to race the car but I do plan a vh45de swap and I just can't justify which route to take. Your help will be appreciated

There are lots of big brake upgrade kits for the Z32. You can go all out and get a $4000 F50 kit with huge 13" rotors and 6 piston calipers. Or you can just use really good pads, braded lines, good fluid and put some nice X-drilled and slotted rotors on it and be fine.Youve really got alot of options. Most of these require bigger wheels to fit the bigger calipers and rotors under. Hope that helps ya out.

yeah, check out some of the sites listed in the 'good z resources' sticky, there's quite a few different kits out there, but if you can, you're probably better off using some custom mounting brackets and trying those 933 calipers on there, that would be intense.

k3smostwanted is making his own custom big brake kit using the stock calipers with a custom mounting bracket and some 12.5" rotors... pm him if you want i guess... good luck

many big brake kits are offered...you can utilize the stock calipers with many other rotors, of course you will need some custom mounting brackets made but this is nothing a machine shop cant whip up for you if you give them clear instructions and a good diagaram.

alot of the Z32 stores sell a "mild" big brake kit which does what i just stated...except everything is strictly bolt-on. they have done all of the research necessary to sell you a proper rotor and bracket fitment.

any brake upgrade will cause you to buy bigger wheels, except for one. the wilwood big brake kit will allow you to keep the stock wheels but still add much better braking performance.

i am personally using a set of 30mm TT rotors along with some 99 VR4 rotors which happen to be 12.5". then i will do some sizing and get the scustom brackets made. though im sure with the crazy offset of the Z32 i will have to get a set of spacers made to bring it back to Z32 specs. all in all...it should be very cost effective.

I was looking at cost also. I was more concerned on the price of the custom hats to fit on the 2 piece rotors. The adapter brackets aren't that bad. Because at the same time I am planning to do this, I have to work on my daily driver (92 maxima that i bought when my engine blew) You know it's funny i come across rims for M5's/M3's and Porsches but none of them fit my cars so I end up getting rid of them. You won't believe what these German car manufacturers warranty for their customers. well I will tackle the 993 brakes and after that I have to tackle the rims. That is where the money comes into play (that's why I wish those german rims would fit. Rims are so expensive (especially ones to clear big brakes). Once again thank you guys for the info.

I was looking at cost also. I was more concerned on the price of the custom hats to fit on the 2 piece rotors. The adapter brackets aren't that bad. Because at the same time I am planning to do this, I have to work on my daily driver (92 maxima that i bought when my engine blew) You know it's funny i come across rims for M5's/M3's and Porsches but none of them fit my cars so I end up getting rid of them. You won't believe what these German car manufacturers warranty for their customers. well I will tackle the 993 brakes and after that I have to tackle the rims. That is where the money comes into play (that's why I wish those german rims would fit. Rims are so expensive (especially ones to clear big brakes). Once again thank you guys for the info.

yeah i have spent the last few months wheel shopping. i finally stopped searching and ordered a set...

yeah 2 piece rotors get pricey...you might want to make up a final tally of what its going to cost you to do the 993 conversion and then do some searching around on ebay and such. it could be more cost effective for you to buy the 2 piece rotor kit from Z1 or some other Z specialist store that utilizes the stock calipers.

but im telling you right now that your not gonna get much better bang for your buck besides those 993 calipers, beings they are free. and im sure they are a little better quality and better clamping caliper than whats on the 300zx.

BTW: they make bolt pattern adapters...you could buy yourself a set of those and then fit the German wheels on the 300zx. just an idea...

i think making your own big brake kit would be much more cost efficient then going out and buying one ...

which german wheels?

Try some full metalic pads. They squel, produce a lot of brake dust and wear you're rotors out a lot quicker but they work great.

i think making your own big brake kit would be much more cost efficient then going out and buying one ...

which german wheels?
I come across many German wheels. When a customer complains that the finish is slightly peeling on his BMW or Porsche rims. They just replace them and instead of the manufacturer calling back for them they tell you to field scrap them. That's how I got the 993 brakes. A customer complained the red was coming off the edges of his caliper and they had to replace them. I had a set of 996's also but when you put the 996 caliper next to the 993 calipers what a big difference. (so I sold the 996 calipers) They also use bigger pistons in the 993 calipers. i used to get the litronic units for the headlamps; but now Porsche came up with a fix to stop the condensation in their headlights instead of replacing them. Well back to the subject. I found a racing catalog that had good prices on custom hats and adapters today. You just have to give them all the dimensions; they even have templates. They have a website but I left the book at work today. I have plenty of work ahead so I will make a map of what to do and figure out the pricing before I get in over my head (commision checks aren't as fat as they used to be) But with these new bmw engines and engineering it should get fat again. I had my custom set up like this 993 calipers make a custom hat to fit unto 993 rotors (they are two piece) Custom adapters and the back brakes will probably be the hardest.
Oh by the way I appreciate the feedback

yeah i have spent the last few months wheel shopping. i finally stopped searching and ordered a set...

It was much easier to order rims for my maxima than the Z (I want a nice lip and a staggered setup (but those prices)


BTW: they make bolt pattern adapters...you could buy yourself a set of those and then fit the German wheels on the 300zx. just an idea...

I knew that but I was always skeptical about them But I did notice some Porsches come with them from the factory to fit the widebody work. I Never used them i only hear what people say about them (I have heard more bad than good)

I knew that but I was always skeptical about them But I did notice some Porsches come with them from the factory to fit the widebody work. I Never used them i only hear what people say about them (I have heard more bad than good)

i dont know...i have never really heard anything about them. i personally would just get wheels to fit the car but i can understand being a on a budget as well.

but why would porsche use adapters for their own bolt patterns??? you sure your not referring to spacers to make the wheel stick out further due to the wide-body work?

i dont know...i have never really heard anything about them. i personally would just get wheels to fit the car but i can understand being a on a budget as well.

but why would porsche use adapters for their own bolt patterns??? you sure your not referring to spacers to make the wheel stick out further due to the wide-body work?
I am sorry I did mean to say spacers not adapters. i get to typing and it just starts to flow. So many thoughts so little time. I will have to get wheels to fit it instead of trying to get out the cheap way. But first I think I need to finish one project before I start another. I have evrything for my max. I just have to paint it first (I am getting a cheap paint job only because I only plan to drive this car until the Z is ready) After paint put on suspension and rims. Then focus on the Z.

I am sorry I did mean to say spacers not adapters. i get to typing and it just starts to flow. So many thoughts so little time. I will have to get wheels to fit it instead of trying to get out the cheap way. But first I think I need to finish one project before I start another. I have evrything for my max. I just have to paint it first (I am getting a cheap paint job only because I only plan to drive this car until the Z is ready) After paint put on suspension and rims. Then focus on the Z.

well good luck...keep us posted.

well good luck...keep us posted.

thanks alot man

yeah man, if things work out, you should start hooking us up with some nice pre-fabbed bolt on kits:sunglasse