New Brake Advice for R32 GTR

[writeoff]

Hi All,

I'm about to upgrade the front brakes on my R32 GTR and was seeking some advice. I have done a search and read through various other threads on this forum. My car has 18" BBS rims on it and currently runs stock rotors & calipers. It does have braided brake hoses and I use good brake fluid. I'm looking to spend about $1500 including pads. The car is used mainly on the street with occasional track days.

Everywhere I look seems to offer DBA, which I don't really want (I'm unconvinced by them). I would love Porsche GT3, Brembo, AP, or Harrop but all are out of my price range. Any suggestions?

I have looked at Unique Autosports, Racebrakes, DBA, and all the sponsers sites listed on this forum. All only offer DBA below $3000 except the yahoo japan site but I can't read Japanese so it means very little to me.

[djr81]

Don't want to rain on your parade, but for the kind of money you are looking at you will only really get new pads & new rotors.

The DBA 4000 series rotors are a good thing. They are slotted, heat treated & marked with thermographic paint. Shop around & try to get a good price.

Unfortunately an upgrade to second hand Brembos will be about $2000 for the hardware.

[Sydneykid]

Everywhere I look seems to offer DBA, which I don't really want (I'm unconvinced by them).  

Let's see if I can convince you............

We have 5 cars in my family fleet, all but one has DBA rotors (it's still under warranty).

We have 7 cars in the race team, all but 2 have DBA rotors. They had to have special rotors machined up using AP Racing blanks. If there was a DBA rotor the same size I would by them, same quality less than 1/2 the price. We use DBA4000's on the road cars and DBA5000's on the race cars. Even after a 20 minute race they can still lock the brakes, which means the tyres are the limiting factor in braking not the brakes themselves.

We have never had a rotor failure, we just wear them out.

On to the other parts of the braking system...............

The main problem I find with R32's is, due to their age, the callipers need servicing, this affects their clamping ability and consistency. For a bit less than $400 you can get a full service, new seals and pistons (if necessary) on the callipers.

Brake pads, there are litteraly thousands of choices. We use Bendix Ultimates on road cars and Hawke carbons (blue compound usually) on the race cars. Plenty of others will have other preferences to suite their individual application and driving style. No matter what brake calliper and rotor you use there will be a choice of brake pads, the more unique the calliper, the smaller the number of choices.

You have already done the brake hose upgrade to braided, which is well worthwhile on R32's due to age. They are similar prices to new rubber hoses from Nissan anyway.

Lastly brake fluid, regardless of the choice of brake fluid it must be changed regularly. Most of the problems I have seen (road and race) are caused by brake fluid past its use by date. We use Castrol SRF, extreme performance, silicon ester based brake fluid with a very high boiling point. When you get the callipers overhauled, start using it from then on as it is best not to mix it.

That will have spent a bit less than your $1500 budget, everything will be as new, and you won't believe the improvement.

[writeoff]

Thanks for your responses. I should have added some info...

I currently use Bendix Ultimate pads and recently had the rotors machined and the callipers sercived (about 1100kms ago). The brake fluid was replaced at the same time. I need to replace the front rotors on my white GTR, but figured I'd just swap the rotors from my grey GTR and replace these with larger discs (to fit under the 18" rims). I was intending to continue with the standard callipers, if possible, and only upgrade the rotors.

Every place I go to seems to only sell DBA. I've seen RBA, and Profex (I think) but these were cheaper options to the DBA. Surely there are brands of rotors out there other than DBA for R32 GTR around 330mm for $1500.

[Beer Baron]

unique autosports have a kit from memory is around 800 dollars. it has 324mm rotors and brackets to mount the stock calipers in the right spot.

maybe send them an email or ring them. tell John the beer baron sent you!!

www.nismo.com.au

[[[d a n n y]]]

UAS has porche GT3 brakes

750 for the front

but needs to be modified to fit any other car

[writeoff]

Thanks Beer Baron.

I have already sent an email to Unique Autosports. Their website claim to have:

STAGE 1 BRAKE UPGRADE KIT FOR SKYLINE R32 GTR

KIT INCLUDES 324MM R33 GTR DBA 4000 SERIES BRAKE ROTORS, CALIPER ADAPTERS, CAP BOLTS AND SHNOOR WASHERS

COMPLETE KIT

PRICE: $795.00 FRONT ONLY,

and

STAGE 2 BRAKE UPGRADE KIT FOR SKYLINE R32 GTR

BOLT ON KIT INCLUDING 330MM SLOTTED & VENTED DISC ROTORS. STANDARD ROTORS ARE 296MM. KIT ALSO INCLUDES ADAPTERS AND HIGH TENSILE CAP BOLTS TO SUIT FACTORY CALIPERS

PRICE: $995.00

My email enquiry was regarding the stage 2 kit- front only?, what brand?, do SAU members get discount?

John responded:

DBA4000 rotors or optional extra alloy hat DBA5000 rotors both heat treated

and slotted. 10% discount SAU

[writeoff]

Thanks Beer Baron.

I have already sent an email to Unique Autosports. Their website claim to have:

STAGE 1 BRAKE UPGRADE KIT FOR SKYLINE R32 GTR

KIT INCLUDES 324MM R33 GTR DBA 4000 SERIES BRAKE ROTORS, CALIPER ADAPTERS, CAP BOLTS AND SHNOOR WASHERS

COMPLETE KIT

PRICE: $795.00 FRONT ONLY,

and

STAGE 2 BRAKE UPGRADE KIT FOR SKYLINE R32 GTR

BOLT ON KIT INCLUDING 330MM SLOTTED & VENTED DISC ROTORS. STANDARD ROTORS ARE 296MM. KIT ALSO INCLUDES ADAPTERS AND HIGH TENSILE CAP BOLTS TO SUIT FACTORY CALIPERS

PRICE: $995.00

My email enquiry was regarding the stage 2 kit- front only?, what brand?, do SAU members get discount?

John responded:

DBA4000 rotors or optional extra alloy hat DBA5000 rotors both heat treated

and slotted. 10% discount SAU

Again I'm only getting DBA as an option.

[Beer Baron]

If you are set against not using DBA then you could source some project mu rotors or some endless rotors. they both make discs in standard 32GTR size.

try www.musecret.com.au and go for the project mu SCR PRO 2 piece rotors. that's what I would get.

[lwells]

You could always get Race Brakes Australia discs (IIRC they sell their own). I think Roy is a big fan of their products.

Out of interest, what do you dislike about the DBAs? They only problem I have ever heard of was one of their rotors fracturing on Targa Tom's car, and the DBA guys were very quick to replace and try and find the cause.

Lucien.

[writeoff]

Thanks again Beer Baron.

I've checked out www.musecret.com.au and sent an email to Andrew regarding the SCR PRO two piece rotors you mentioned.

This is what I'm after... CHOICE! I like to consider all options.

I have no personal experience using DBA, I've read reports (mostly +ve, some -ve), and seen images.

[writeoff]

Leon from www.musecret.com.au responded that the SCR PRO two-piece rotors for the R32 GTR are $1050 + $70 shipping. I'm getting confirmation on the size. Has anyone used these and able to provide some feedback?

[Beer Baron]

that seems fairly reasonable for 2-piece rotors. I wonder if they sell replacment rotors (ie, without the alloy hats). if so I wonder how much they are?

[Mr R32 M-Spec]

I'm going to look into that, DBA4000, had them on my GTST all the way round. sweeet as and no probs

but I'm going to email and as about stage 1 with DBA 5000's. I've heard they are good. and I wonder if they are any cheaper then MUSECRET ones? made here in aus so maybe

thanks for the info guys!

[danh]

sorry to hijack, i figured u had finished gaining answers u were looking for....?

but what sort of options are there for upgrading calipers on R32 GTR?? prices would be greatly appreciated!

cheers!

dan

[blk180]

GREX 6 piston 355m fronts about $4500 GREX 4 piston backs about 3500 then tou will have no problem stoping :werd:

have also seen endless fronts in 345mm 6 pistons for $3800

[Duncan]

Whydo you guys want to change calipers, the standard ones are fine unless you have a very quick track car....

Have you checked Sydneykid's suggestions above I'm sure they will give you the braking you need.

[danh]

im just curious because i've driven about 15 different R32 GTR's this month trying to find my new car and they all seem to have very...'weak' brakes. what i mean is, the cars stop fine, but really need quite a lot of pressure on the pedal. i have just come from driving a 04rex so i'm guessing a more advanced power assisted brake system is whats making the difference?

or all the GTR's i've been driving need new pads and rotors and caliper rebuilds????

dan

[Duncan]

well my front brakes were crap when I got them in too, remember you are buy a 10-15 year old car.

Now its got new discs, pads, good fluid, new brake lines and reco calipers it stops brilliant If you still have problems after all that try a new master cylinder.

The GTR brakes are fine when they are working OK

[Guest DIRTgarage]

im just curious because i've driven about 15 different R32 GTR's this month trying to find my new car and they all seem to have very...'weak' brakes. what i mean is, the cars stop fine, but really need quite a lot of pressure on the pedal. i have just come from driving a 04rex so i'm guessing a more advanced power assisted brake system is whats making the difference?

or all the GTR's i've been driving need new pads and rotors and caliper rebuilds????

dan

For better pedal feel you can bore out a R32 non-abs master cylinder and fit a larger Z32 piston. Then buy the non-abs brake lines from nissan that bolt straight on. Easy!