How hard can it be? DIY brake upgrades

hIGGI · 01-08-2010, 05:48 AM

Did it ever came across your mind - 'what i am gonna do with my front 4 piston calipers' - after installing something bigger there?
I went to 13" 4 piston Brembo setup couple years ago for front of my drift FC, and having some spare 4 piston calipers, i thought about putting them on the back ....

How hard can it be?

I was already running rear 2005 Ford Mustang GT rotors in the back (300mm) and wanted to keep them...and of course, being able to run stock 16" FC wheels in the back for drift trainings....its easier to find free tires for 16 than 17 or 18....

In the end, its not that hard, nor expensive....but its not one of these afternoon basic upgrades either....

First come rear knuckle. I found spare on the shefl, cleaned it up a little and pressed out old bearing, installed longer wheel studs (from front of FC). All back together here :

Installing longer studs is the reason why you have to take it apart and install new bearing. If you want to use wheel spacers with own studs, you can skip this step.

Bolting on adapter is pretty simple, 3 small bolts and one bigger with spacer...

Then the ring for centering of rotor

And now rotor :

Here we are !

And now, special feature for those who must have something MORE

If you have cut the one of the 'eyes' for stock caliper, you can install 2 calipers. In my case it will be one caliper for normal braking and other one for handbrake - independent hydraulic handbrake. Of course, you have run new line for that handbrake...

Thats about it now, i will provide more pics and details once i`ll have it on the car, its too cold for fitting it outside

Fullsize pics are here :
http://rx7.cz/gallery/?Qwd=./2010-01...v=thumbs&Qis=M

Max777 · 01-08-2010, 09:25 PM

damn, that's just too much! Have you considered running a small single piston caliper for the hand brake, or just tying the hand brake into the rear rotors? Two extra calipers seems like a lot of weight for a race car... How's it been working out for you?

My5ABaby · 01-08-2010, 11:06 PM

That's pretty damn ridiculous.

Project10AE · 01-09-2010, 12:04 AM

Ok...

I'll be that guy:

Whats the point?

I don't drift so don't flame me if its 'drift-related'... I just don't see the car stopping that much better (if at all) with so much of it being front brakes anyway?

If its just for the 'science project' of it, then cool!

hIGGI · 01-09-2010, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Project10AE

Ok...

I'll be that guy:

Whats the point?

I don't drift so don't flame me if its 'drift-related'... I just don't see the car stopping that much better (if at all) with so much of it being front brakes anyway?

If its just for the 'science project' of it, then cool!

2 calipers is just drift related, they dont work together to combine 'normal' braking power.
I wanted something different, i wanted to change my hydraulic handbrake setup to independent routing and i as well wanted to use parts i had laying at the shelf...
And stock rear brake calipers are more expensive, harder to repair and i was short on spares, while i had plenty of 4 piston calipers...

In the front i have brembos with 2x40 and 2x44mm pistons on 330m rotors.
Rear is 4x36mm i think (or maybe 35mm)

Master brake cylinder is 1" from Mazda 929 and if necessary i might go for 1 and 1/16" from Mazda B4000.

I already purchased adjustable brake bias regulator, will let u know how it works.

RETed · 01-09-2010, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max777

Two extra calipers seems like a lot of weight for a race car...

I believe the stock rear brake calipers are iron?

The front calipers are aluminum.

I wouldn't be surprised if the twin front brakes calipers actually weigh less than one stock rear brake caliper...

-Ted

RETed · 01-09-2010, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Project10AE

Ok...

I'll be that guy:

Whats the point?

I don't drift so don't flame me if its 'drift-related'... I just don't see the car stopping that much better (if at all) with so much of it being front brakes anyway?

The second set of brake calipers are just for "handbraking".
If you seen any of the "pro" drift vehicles, they almost all run a 2nd brake caliper in the rear for independent handbrake control (with a dedicated handbrake lever).
This has nothing to do with overall brake performance.

-Ted

Phoenix7 · 01-10-2010, 12:55 PM

I want to see the final brake setup and how it compares to a stock TII. The upgrades up front should make it stop on a dime with nice tires.

Keep it up higgi, you always have interesting mods.

Max777 · 01-14-2010, 12:13 AM

FACT: Big brake kits do NOT reduce stopping distances, they reduce brake fade during performance driving conditions... or so I've read on the internetz...

DrftQuin23 · 01-14-2010, 05:38 PM

Very nice mod. The only other car that I have seen this on is one Team Orange of Japans Drifting D1 I believe it was a Evo 10. I have always thought about this...i'm keeping an eye on this for sure.

MaczPayne · 01-15-2010, 12:47 PM

Pics of the front setup?

RotorDad · 01-16-2010, 01:11 PM

Seems interesting, BTW who make the adapters?

hIGGI · 04-01-2010, 02:53 PM

hIGGI · 04-01-2010, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaczPayne

Pics of the front setup?

hIGGI · 04-01-2010, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RotorDad

Seems interesting, BTW who make the adapters?

Lets say that i do

01-08-2010, 05:48 AM	#1
hIGGI Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Czech Republic iTrader: (0) Posts: 78 Rep Power: 17	How hard can it be? DIY brake upgrades Did it ever came across your mind - 'what i am gonna do with my front 4 piston calipers' - after installing something bigger there? I went to 13" 4 piston Brembo setup couple years ago for front of my drift FC, and having some spare 4 piston calipers, i thought about putting them on the back .... How hard can it be? I was already running rear 2005 Ford Mustang GT rotors in the back (300mm) and wanted to keep them...and of course, being able to run stock 16" FC wheels in the back for drift trainings....its easier to find free tires for 16 than 17 or 18.... In the end, its not that hard, nor expensive....but its not one of these afternoon basic upgrades either.... First come rear knuckle. I found spare on the shefl, cleaned it up a little and pressed out old bearing, installed longer wheel studs (from front of FC). All back together here : Installing longer studs is the reason why you have to take it apart and install new bearing. If you want to use wheel spacers with own studs, you can skip this step. Bolting on adapter is pretty simple, 3 small bolts and one bigger with spacer... Then the ring for centering of rotor And now rotor : Here we are ! And now, special feature for those who must have something MORE If you have cut the one of the 'eyes' for stock caliper, you can install 2 calipers. In my case it will be one caliper for normal braking and other one for handbrake - independent hydraulic handbrake. Of course, you have run new line for that handbrake... Thats about it now, i will provide more pics and details once i`ll have it on the car, its too cold for fitting it outside Fullsize pics are here : http://rx7.cz/gallery/?Qwd=./2010-01...v=thumbs&Qis=M Last edited by Phoenix7; 05-28-2010 at 03:00 PM.. Reason: Edited title to reflect thread content

01-08-2010, 09:25 PM	#2
Max777 Pirate Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Central IL iTrader: (5) Posts: 1,323 Rep Power: 18	damn, that's just too much! Have you considered running a small single piston caliper for the hand brake, or just tying the hand brake into the rear rotors? Two extra calipers seems like a lot of weight for a race car... How's it been working out for you? __________________ Rotaries:They are NOT that complicated!

01-08-2010, 11:06 PM	#3
My5ABaby Sigh..... Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Murfreesboro, TN iTrader: (6) Posts: 2,377 Rep Power: 19	That's pretty damn ridiculous. __________________ 1986 Sport: 132k miles, 5A (Sapphire Blue Metallic), Tokico Blues, Racing Beat Springs, Custom LED tailights (only S4 LED tails in the world), SSR Mark II, Racing Beat exhaust, S5 black interior, Rotary Resurrection rebuild at 120k miles Community Service Manual RotorWiki "Imagination costs nothing; we could build square locomotives or fly to Mars" - Felix Wankel Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the "present."

01-14-2010, 12:13 AM	#9
Max777 Pirate Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Central IL iTrader: (5) Posts: 1,323 Rep Power: 18	FACT: Big brake kits do NOT reduce stopping distances, they reduce brake fade during performance driving conditions... or so I've read on the internetz... __________________ Rotaries:They are NOT that complicated!

01-15-2010, 12:47 PM	#11
MaczPayne Bah! Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Riverside, SoCal iTrader: (1) Posts: 442 Rep Power: 17	Pics of the front setup? __________________ Johnson TA FC in the works!

01-09-2010, 12:04 AM	#4
Project10AE Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Upstate SC iTrader: (1) Posts: 42 Rep Power: 0	Ok... I'll be that guy: Whats the point? I don't drift so don't flame me if its 'drift-related'... I just don't see the car stopping that much better (if at all) with so much of it being front brakes anyway? If its just for the 'science project' of it, then cool!

01-14-2010, 05:38 PM	#10
DrftQuin23 The Newbie Join Date: May 2009 iTrader: (0) Posts: 5 Rep Power: 0	Very nice mod. The only other car that I have seen this on is one Team Orange of Japans Drifting D1 I believe it was a Evo 10. I have always thought about this...i'm keeping an eye on this for sure.

01-16-2010, 01:11 PM	#12
RotorDad Big Ugly Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Fredericksburg, Va iTrader: (1) Posts: 591 Rep Power: 16	Seems interesting, BTW who make the adapters? __________________ *Boosted Big Body On 335's* PS3 ID: Rotordad 1986 Mazda RX7 GXL - Street ported 13BT, Haltech, 62mm, ect. 2006 MazdaSpeed 6 - Eagle, Wiseco, Cobb, ect.

04-01-2010, 02:53 PM	#13
hIGGI Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Czech Republic iTrader: (0) Posts: 78 Rep Power: 17