My front brake conversion write up for Q45 and 240sx to the skyline or 300zx calipers

Well, Hello all, today is a beautiful day for a brake conversion...
 
Please note, the Q45 and the 240sx have the exact same setup for the front braking system. Only, the Q45, has bigger calipers which then in turn allows them to run the bigger rotors. Q45 brakes are the cheapest brake upgrade for the 240sx. To complete that swap, all that is required is the calipers, rotors, and pads. Also, with that swap, you can still run(use) your stock 16" rims and tires.(ask if you have any qustions pertaining to that as well...)
[IMG]http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m14/navajo_drifter/Q45%20240sx%20Skyline%20300zx%20brake%20swap/152.jpg[/IMG]
btw, those tires are from team omega, a race team, with quite a few drifters...that is from about feb of this year...
 
This is my full write up on how to do the conversion. Remember this is how I did it, using the tools i decided to use. Do this at your own risk. =)
 
IF YOU WOULD LIKE OUR SHOP TO TACKLE THIS JOB FOR YOU, STOP BY...
 
E.nhanced S.port C.ompact
1241 lejeune blvd
jacksonville, NC 28540
 
 
TOOLS NEEDED:
-10mm line wrench or wrench
-12mm line wrench
-14mm socket for a 1/4" ratchet
-19mm socket for a 1/2" ratchet
-21mm socket for a 1/2" ratchet
-22mm socket for a 1/2" ratchet
-pair of needle nose pliers
-hammer
-flathead screwdriver (used on the caliper pin when reloading it)
-monkey wrench
-the hard brake line cutter (dont know of the name, help me out)...
-hard brake line flaring kit (I rented from autozone, costs 30.00, but you return it for a full refund...dont lose receipt!)
 
ITEMS NEEDED AND *COST*
-Skyline or 300zx front calipers with the two bolts that mount the caliper to the hub. *I picked all four up for $150 dollars*
-300zx brake lines (im using stainless steel lines)*used, $25 dollars, brand new from advance or autozone is 23.99*
-1998 Q45 duralast rotors *lost the receipt, but no more than $105*
__note: the Q45 rotors are bigger than the 300zx rotors. The Q45 rotors measure about 296mm and the 300zx is about 289mm (or somewhere around there)
-skyline or 300zx brake pads *my calipers came with pads but hawk sells them for around $60*
-I bought a little over a foot section of 3/16 hard brake line. PAX-320 at autozone. *$5.19* 
-3/16" 10x1.0 tube nut bubble thread size part number BLF-39C-5 AGS at autozone...5 pack*$3.19*
-DOT 3 brake fluid *friend bought this, i forgot earlier...$5*
-you will also need rims that clear...i will post up an offset with a spacer that just barely clears so you all can get an idea.
 
 
Don't forget some water or Gatorade, and some hand soap. O, and we sell decals (stickers) as well.
[IMG]http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m14/navajo_drifter/Q45%20240sx%20Skyline%20300zx%20brake%20swap/158.jpg[/IMG]
 
OK. HERE WE GO, description of what is taking place will be above the picture. :biggthumpup:
 
First things first. You will need to break loose the lug nuts on the front wheels. ONLY BREAK LOOSE. 
Then jack up the car. I used the frame and placed my jackstands under the actual frame itself on both sides of the Q.
after that, remove the lug nuts and remove the rim and tire. take a look at what ya got...
in the pic i have already removed the two 14mm bolts that hold the caliper to the caliper bracket...after that, i just removed the caliper and allowed it to dangle (you should prop it up so there is no stress on the brake lines, please remember, this was for my car, not a customer's)
[IMG]http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m14/navajo_drifter/Q45%20240sx%20Skyline%20300zx%20brake%20swap/155.jpg[/IMG]
 
now you see what we are working with, you will need to remove the following shown in orange, using the specifed tool.
[IMG]http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m14/navajo_drifter/Q45%20240sx%20Skyline%20300zx%20brake%20swap/paint1552.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m14/navajo_drifter/Q45%20240sx%20Skyline%20300zx%20brake%20swap/paint22mm.jpg[/IMG]
 
After that is completed the only thing that should be holding the caliper to the car is the line that mounts to the frame, and your rotor should be exposed. when doing my swap, this rotor stuck on mine so i had to use two 14mm bolts coarse thread to work it off by screwing the screws into the spots on the rotors. then made about 3/4 of a turn on each screw, alternating between them to work the rotor off evenly...
[IMG]http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m14/navajo_drifter/Q45%20240sx%20Skyline%20300zx%20brake%20swap/paintexposedrotor.jpg[/IMG]
 
after this is complete, the hub is exposed and you can get rid of those rotors as they will not be used. (duh lol) Next, i mocked up the lines with the calipers...(you will not need to do this as i will show you.)
[IMG]http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m14/navajo_drifter/Q45%20240sx%20Skyline%20300zx%20brake%20swap/171.jpg[/IMG]
 
after mocking up, i cut and flared the brake line. Which makes you... 
[IMG]http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m14/navajo_drifter/Q45%20240sx%20Skyline%20300zx%20brake%20swap/paint178.jpg[/IMG]
and the 300zx line nut is ??mm **NEEDS UPDATE**
 
To make that piece, i measured out (dont have a tape measure handy but, 2 nickles and a dime lenght (placed end to end)will update...and cut to length using this:
[IMG]http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m14/navajo_drifter/Q45%20240sx%20Skyline%20300zx%20brake%20swap/paint169.jpg[/IMG]
 
after using this, which just tightens around the tube, then you spin it around and around, then retighten, then more spinning till it cuts threw. it will look like this and you will then need your tube nuts:
[IMG]http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m14/navajo_drifter/Q45%20240sx%20Skyline%20300zx%20brake%20swap/172.jpg[/IMG]
 
after that, you will need to flare the ends, again, note the tube nuts on the line before flaring the line:**NEEDS UPDATE of step by step typa thing...**
[IMG]http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m14/navajo_drifter/Q45%20240sx%20Skyline%20300zx%20brake%20swap/paintflare.png[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m14/navajo_drifter/Q45%20240sx%20Skyline%20300zx%20brake%20swap/177.jpg[/IMG]

after is that is complete your lines will look like this:
[IMG]http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m14/navajo_drifter/Q45%20240sx%20Skyline%20300zx%20brake%20swap/174.jpg[/IMG]
 
then install the hard brake line like so, but again, remember to tighten..."tights' tight. and too tight is broke" =):
[IMG]http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m14/navajo_drifter/Q45%20240sx%20Skyline%20300zx%20brake%20swap/178.jpg[/IMG]
 
next, i placed the skyline caliper next to the Q45 caliper on the floor, and installed the new rotor:
[IMG]http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m14/navajo_drifter/Q45%20240sx%20Skyline%20300zx%20brake%20swap/180.jpg[/IMG]
 
I then took apart these and quickly screwed the new 300zx lines in its place so there is minimal leakage, and air getting into the line. I also, then mounted the caliper to the hub using the 19mm bolts that the skyline and 300zx caliper uses with no problems and also loaded the caliper to get this:
[IMG]http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m14/navajo_drifter/Q45%20240sx%20Skyline%20300zx%20brake%20swap/182.jpg[/IMG]
 
then you must reattach the clip that secures the hard brake line and the 300zx brake line by taking your hammer and tapping on it, until it goes all the way back in:
[IMG]http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m14/navajo_drifter/Q45%20240sx%20Skyline%20300zx%20brake%20swap/paintclip.png[/IMG]
^clip^ goes here:
[IMG]http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m14/navajo_drifter/Q45%20240sx%20Skyline%20300zx%20brake%20swap/paintclip2.jpg[/IMG]
 
After that the install is nearly complete....you must do the exact same thing to the other side...after the clip is installed on the other side, your "new" BAD A$$ brakes are on. PLEASE double check your nuts and bolts to be TIGHT.
 
HOLD ON, YOUR ALMOST DONE
 
Now you need to bleed your brakes. Always start furthest from the brake master cylinder then work your way up. Since all we did was the front, grab a buddy and bleed the right front, then bleed the left front. I re-bled them after that. After your last pump, and before you put your wheels on, pump the brakes to build the pressure before turning on the car.
 
then reinstall yor wheels that will clear the "new" big brakes. all i had availiable is my 5zigens off my 240sx untill I throw on my 300zx rims:
[IMG]http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m14/navajo_drifter/Q45%20240sx%20Skyline%20300zx%20brake%20swap/187.jpg[/IMG]
 
get the car off the jackstands and finish tightening your lug nuts. I torque mine down to 90ftlbs. start up the car and brake in your new pads and rotors as per the manufactures instructions and ENJOY!
 
:biggthumpup:CHEERS:biggthumpup:

nice so far.  i know 33flavors and fls run skyline brakes.

[QUOTE=ALEXTHESUS*PECT;336941]nice so far. i know 33flavors and fls run skyline brakes.[/QUOTE]
 
thanks, i have been talkin to F.L.S. asking questions and stuff. But one of my friends told me some info to use the 300zx lines...so i took it and ran with it...
 
The write up itself took forever...hopefully ppl can appreciate it...took me like 2.5-3 hours...the little timer thing that kicks you off for inactivity was a nuisance...kept deleting stuff cause i was doin it big in paint for a couple mins. lol! it was aggrevating, but i pushed through...im actually kinda proud of this...i hope to get some good constructive criticism...
 
but, so far the brakes work well...i have to finish it tomorrow, i didnt tighten some lines down all the way, hence me stressing to tighten things down...
 
brakes were kinda mushy...i tightened it all back up, so now i just gotta re bleed the brakes and it should be done...the brakes will be better too when they are fully broken in...but, they are already better than stock by far...even though they were kinda mushy...it will be fixed tomorrow. and nice firm pedal here i come! lol!
 
So, all in all, my "hook up" price, as project car magazine would call it, was about 288 green backs and some time...

[URL]http://www.vipstylecars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12592[/URL]

I run the 300zx brake kit on my y34. with 240sx braided conversion lines. EAsy as ABC and is by far the best mod when it comes to function that I have had on my car.

[QUOTE=ALEXTHESUS*PECT;336951][URL]http://www.vipstylecars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12592[/URL][/QUOTE]
 
not as in-depth...he paid someone to do it too...i talked to him about it which is how i got where i got...

I am running Skyline fronts and 300zx rears on my Y33. I was able to do this because I am on Y32 coilovers which had the smaller older holes sizes like the S chassis. The first gen Q has the same as an s chassis as well. There are Tons of brake options if you just go through 240sx/350Z/G35 forums. Nissan brakes are almost all the same and with some minor work can be fitted to most Nissan cars. you generally have either the bolt sizes from S chassis and so on or the larger ones from the newer Nissans like the newer Q's/350Z/G35 etc etc.
 
 
Nice write up. I would just be a little worried about clearance on the hard lines since they stick so far out, straight out.
 
Although they look better and they have more pistons, there is actually less swept area by changing from Q calipers to 300Z/Skyline brakes.  That is why some people consider this purely a cosmetic upgrade and a functional downgrade.....I chose to do it anyway!  I believe that the GTR skyline brakes are the larger size however.....but most people that get Skyline brakes (like myself) do not actually get teh GTR versions, but rather the other trim level calipers.

isnt stopping power clamping force vs swept area? and why would it seem the skyline calipers work better then?...just curious...

Probably because they are new!  but the difference is so minimal its basically  a wash.  Remember, I am NOT knocking it...I did it too!:biggthumpup:

Thanks for posting up pix with this write up! Ive read FLS post countless times but didnt quite grasp it as far as fittings and what not. Dum dums like me need pictures!:pat: Been wanting to do this for awhile now. Makes me a little more confident!LOL Just one question the hard line adapter does it hit anything when you turn? Would it hurt any if you were to put a slight bend in it? Thanks again for the pictures and the right up!! 

also will you be doing a rear brake install also?

Fo sho! but to answer your quesiton, that was the original idea, to put a bend in the line, i just decided not to because from what i saw it wasnt needed...so, it won't hurt anything...
 
and I will be doing the rears too, asap, aka as money allows...got drifting obligations...:shrug:

ok got another noob brake question... alot of the z brakes are either 26mm or 30mm is there a specific one that you need to use or does it even matter? Been looking online but didnt find any answers.  Thanks!

[QUOTE=dzznuts671;337038]ok got another noob brake question... alot of the z brakes are either 26mm or 30mm is there a specific one that you need to use or does it even matter? Been looking online but didnt find any answers. Thanks![/QUOTE]
 
I'm not exactly sure, but i thought it was 28mm and 30mm...but the Q45 is the biggest you can fit with the 300zx and skyline calipers...the stock Q45 rotors. i went with some duralast q45 rotors from autozone...and, from talking with F.L.S. you can run 350z track rotors with about a 50 or 60 dollar extension adapter from ebay...

Good info. 

I know 240SX and Q45 uses the same thread on the line to the caliper, and in order for S-chassis to upgrade to Z32 calipers is to get conversion line...so couldn't the same be done with Q45? I'd imagine the thread size be same off the hardline for the brake lines.

I'm not sure how long that hardline would last on the caliper itself, not to jinx it but hardlines aren't designed to be moved around like that.

Just saying :/

[QUOTE=navajo_drifter;336963]not as in-depth...he paid someone to do it too...i talked to him about it which is how i got where i got...[/QUOTE]


Yes, I paid someone to do the install, but I figured out what I needed and bought all the bits myself, then took it to my shop. I could have done the work, but I rather just take shit to my buddies shops these days.  If you read the thread I wrote and bought all the pieces, any shop should have no problem.

Regardless you did a nice write up and took pics of the process which I didn't do.  Glad it worked out for you.

[QUOTE=mad-ass;337070]Good info. 
 
I know 240SX and Q45 uses the same thread on the line to the caliper, and in order for S-chassis to upgrade to Z32 calipers is to get conversion line...so couldn't the same be done with Q45? I'd imagine the thread size be same off the hardline for the brake lines.
 
I'm not sure how long that hardline would last on the caliper itself, not to jinx it but hardlines aren't designed to be moved around like that.
 
Just saying :/[/QUOTE]
 
the 240 and the q ARE the same...and you could just get the conversion lines. i was told that the conversion lines would not be long enough, but based off what i saw i think they would. 
 
**your def right about them not suppose to be moved. the hard line i made actually needs a bend, i will edit with a pic...turning it lock to lock pushed the line to approx a 10 degree angle i will post a pic of this too asap. so again to remedy that, make the hard line shorter, and/or, put a slight bend.**
 
 
And FLS, I didnt mean to come off as a dick, i was just sayin. sorry bro. and thanks for the advice!

I have the conversion lines (cheap and easy to find) and they definately fit and it was super easy...As for which size Z brakes to use, it won't matter as long as you use the appropriate rotor as well. I upgraded to Q brakes on my S14.5 and I have done Skyline on my Q. I am thinking about doing Z brakes on my girls I35 also....
 
 
IF doing this on a Y33 I believe you want the stock Q rotors and the 26mm calipers, however I run the stock rotors and the 30mm calipers.  I just need to replace the pads more often....haha

[QUOTE=burgy;337228]I have the conversion lines (cheap and easy to find) and they definately fit and it was super easy...As for which size Z brakes to use, it won't matter as long as you use the appropriate rotor as well. I upgraded to Q brakes on my S14.5 and I have done Skyline on my Q. I am thinking about doing Z brakes on my girls I35 also....[/QUOTE]

thanks. that was my concern. if it mattered what size caliper to use. i have R1 slotted and drilled rotors and want to upgrade. How much bigger are the z brakes to the stock Q brakes in relation to disk size. Hope that makes sense. that way when i order wheels i know what disk size to go with.

[QUOTE=dzznuts671;337232]thanks. that was my concern. if it mattered what size caliper to use. i have R1 slotted and drilled rotors and want to upgrade. How much bigger are the z brakes to the stock Q brakes in relation to disk size. Hope that makes sense. that way when i order wheels i know what disk size to go with.[/QUOTE]
 
get stock Q45 rotors. they are like 10ish mm larger than 300zx. the calipers themselves are the same.

so then z32/r32/r33 calipers with 240sx  to z32 conversion lines, from zilvia.net, with q45 or 350z track rotors with these:
[IMG]http://i861.photobucket.com/albums/ab180/importstorage/BRS134-A%20S/BRS134F-A.jpg[/IMG]
[URL]http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/240SX-S13-S14-BRAKE-BRACKET-ADAPTER-12-75-300ZX-Z32-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQitemZ200439439796QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories[/URL]


does this about sum it up?

Yeah, those are the adapters to run the 350z track rotors. When I got all the parts for Jermaine that's the route he went, I wish I had done it, and was originally planning to, but now I don't even have the car anyhow, but I was always more than happy with the upgrade even with standard Q size rotors.

[QUOTE=ALEXTHESUS*PECT;337237]so then z32/r32/r33 calipers with 240sx to z32 conversion lines, from [B][U]ANYWHERE THAT SELLS THEM[/U][/B], with q45 or 350z track rotors with these:
[IMG]http://i861.photobucket.com/albums/ab180/importstorage/BRS134-A%20S/BRS134F-A.jpg[/IMG]
[URL]http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/240SX-S13-S14-BRAKE-BRACKET-ADAPTER-12-75-300ZX-Z32-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQitemZ200439439796QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories[/URL]
 
 
does this about sum it up?[/QUOTE]
 
^*^*^fixed your quote^*^*^
 
just about...or you can make the little adapater like i did for the 300zx lines...(although this would be the cheapest route...i would perfer and suggest the conversion lines.)
 
what you mentioned can be used on any s13 s14 and y33. please add if you know of another chassis can do this same swap...i.e.y32?

Sorry to bump this, but do s14 BBK swap directly onto the Y33?

It should.. since people do a s13/14 spindle swap on a 33 and the stock brakes fit the holes. Which, this thread answered my question in another thread i posted about Sentra Brembo's working on q45s, if they are cross comparable. Which sentra ones are way cheaper than G ones.. Sure they aren't as big.. but they look nice and they are a 4piston.

got a set of these brackets laying around if anyone is interested. jsk brand, no hardware. willing to trade for z32/brembo track adapters.

y33 caliper mounting holes on the spindle are 14mm. S13,S14,Z32, are 12mm. 

Youll have to machine the caliper or bracket 14mm to bolt on the y33 spindle. Unless your using S-chassis suspension.

^ perfect that's what I was looking for.

Kouki, I need pads and rotors on the Q and full set is $700 for the shit I want... and I can pick up full brakes and calipers for a little more lol I really don't know how much life is left on the OEM Q calipers. It's sat a fair bit in it's life and I have a feeling they're gonna seize on me soon.