A "not-so-expensive" brake upgrade for F355

Looks great Eric!
Strange but nice feeling seeing the brackets finally put on your car Sold two more set, both to the UK

I have been able to test the new brakes for a few days now and so far it works perfect. Still haven't been able to really stress them but as soon as the brakes are run in, I will... Accidentally had a spot on the rotors that gave me a vibration under heavy breaking so I have the ware that off first...

 

Eric,

That will never work with red marking dots on the mounting bolts. They will loosen and come out. Must use yellow marks!






Seriously, very nice work and another great mod.

 

Just want to know is it possible only change the disc to 550 the 330mm disc, create the brackets keep to use the original 355 brake clippers?

 

So if I change the 550 calipers also will no problem right?

 

Have you read from the beginning?

This modification is based on a Porsche/Brembo caliper with a bracket to convert the fixing points. If you can use the 550 calipers as a direct bolt-on is not known to me...

 

Great post, I have been inspired to upgrade my 348 brakes.

I just bought a slightly used Stoptech Front-Back big brake package. The kit came off a highly modified 2007 350Z that had been vandalized. The kit has 355mmx32mm slotted rotors and ST40 calipers in the front and ST45 in the back.

The brakes have less then 4k on them and when I measured the rotors, they were as good are new. Unfortunately the 350Z hats and caliper brackets are too different and cannot be reused for the 348. Therefore, to install these brakes on the 348, I need to machine new hats and new caliper mounting bracket (piece of cake).

When all is done, I hope to have big brakes for under $1400.

 

Here are a few pictures of the brake upgade project. Once all the machining is done, the plan is to powder coat the calipers yellow.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Nice! I love seeing other owner's fabrication/machining threads. Competition is a good thing.


Rob

 

Marcov, please call the guys at StopTech as soon as possible (310)933-1100 or email them to discuss your piston sizing. "Making it work" is more than just fabricating hats and brackets. The weight distribution of a 350Z is completely different from a 348, and I suspect you may end up with a system that is excessively front biased.

One of the goals of any good balanced big brake system is to maintain vehicle stability during the maximum application of the brakes. When the system is overamplified on either the front or the rear, typically there is a loss of stability or an early or partial engagement of ABS.

Alternately, you can PM me your email address and I will send you an Excel template that contains the StopTech pedal calculator. This is a spreadsheet that takes you all the way from the leverage ratio of the brake pedal to the tire/ground interface.

Finally, full disclosure: I work for Centric Parts, the parent company of StopTech, so I'm always concerned about component parts being used in a different application than what they were originally designed for.

 

2024 or 7075? Why is there only a partial bolt pattern, or will it be machined away?

Cool to see othere machining their own stuff too!

 

I am using 7075-T6 Aluminum; it is stronger then the 6061-T6 and is a pleasure to machine. Also 7075-T6 maintains more of its strength when heated. I also plan to use 7075 for the caliper brackets.
There is a partial bolt pattern because I have not completed the other half. The plan is to have additional lightning holes on the front hub.
The hub machining is on hold for the next few weeks, as pointed out by Greg, the ST-45 caliper area is inadequate for the back of the 348. I am thinking of boring out the back calipers and machining titanium pistons (at this rate, this project may extent into next winter).

 

Hi Marcov, you would be further ahead by selling the ST45 calipers and then using the money to shop for the correctly sized front calipers. As noted in the worksheet I emailed you, the Z-Car front calipers are sized perfectly for the rear of the 348 if you run the smaller diameter rear rotors.

The problem with re-boring the ST45 is that (1) You have to develop a work holding fixture that secures the caliper perfectly flat, but does not clamp so tightly as to distort the material; (2) the inside of the bore has a pressure seal groove that you would need to recut to the correct diameter; (3) you would remove the anodizing in the existing bore and there is no way to locally re-anodize that region; (4) you would need to recut the dust boot register. Way too much work for too little $ saved.

Good luck on the continuation of the project!

 

I realize this thread is a bit on the old side...
Just wondering if anyone has performed this mod on the rear brakes?

Also, is it possible to still get the mounting brackets?

 

Did anyone build a rear bracket and maybe got a sketch or cad file from it?
Or atleast is the front bracket compatible to the rear? Distance between the two bolt holes the same as in front or different?

 

This thread has been dead for couple of years. I thought I bring it back to life. I was able get brackets from Johan to do the Porsche caliper upgrade. I've got 550 rotors and thought I had the Porsche calipers. It turns out they've sent me wrong calipers. The problem now is I can't find these calipers. Any other Porsche calipers???
Any ideas??!
Thanks guys.

 

Did you try rockauto.com?

 

Awesome. I am going to go up in stages. All I want is drilled rotors with my new 18 inch OZ Superleggera IIIs. I can go up in rotor size now but stock is fine at this point. I am thinking more about style. The drilling can help for cooling a bit. I want to get another set of stock calipers to preserve my build value and paint the new set Giallo Modena with the upgraded rotors (same size). I have seen them on Superformance and Ricambi if I remember correctly. Probably start next winter. 355 specs are the same for diameters and such.

 

rockauto has only one side
I do appreciate it though.

 

Any other leads on where to find these calipers?
Thanks

 

Bid Red Porsche with Stop-Tech rotors from a fellow F'Chat member.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

That is a nice set up. So, does he use the orm wheels with the big red?
I've purchased 550 rotors, 25mm spacer, and the bracket already. Looking for the calipers.
But, this is interesting. Is there anyway you can give out more info and more pics with the wheels?
Thanks

 

Will do this weekend. Have 355 challenge wheels currently. No problem with fit. 355 Fiorano drilled calipers and rotors on rear.