M/R/TA6X Brake upgrades - another option

[WDE_BDY]

OK, after sourcing the elusive MS65/75 hubs for the bargain price of $NZ35 each, I thought I would document the brake upgrade I'm planning.
List of parts so far -
MA61 Struts (I need LESS camber in my application, had TA63 struts in a RWD Starlet)
MS75 Hubs
R32 Skyline 4 pot calipers ($NZ200 for a re-kitted pair all painted fancy blue)
BA Falcon rotor (for trial purposes only until I can get an AUII or III rotor)

The reason I'm using the Falcon rotor rather than the R32 Skyline 280mm one is an attempt to get more caliper clearance and avoid the need for a spacer. Main difference between the DBA 909 (Skyline) and DBA 502 (AUII or III Falcon) is as follows -
Hat 54 65
Diameter 280 287
Width 30 28
Based on the above I should be able to ditch the 10mm spacer normally used on the caliper and possibly place a 1mm spacer between the hub and rotor along with a 2mm spacer behind the outer brake pad to compensate for the thinner rotor.
For those without the limitation of 15 inch wheels, R33 calipers and the BA rotor of 298mm would be an option.

Now for the questions, has anyone else used the AU or BA rotors? Is there a problem with spacing the brake pads in on one side only? From Ed's site the outer face of the MA61and MS65/75 rotors is in the same place, can anyone else confirm this?

I will update with pics and measurements as I go.

Callum

[CrUZida]

Outer face of the rotors may be the same, but the factory rotors are rear mount.
The outer face of the hubs are different. The MS65 hub face sits about 3mm further outboard compared to the MA61 hub.

You also may need to machine the AU disc down from 287mm to 282 or 280mm in order to fit the R32 caliper straight on to the strut.

[WDE_BDY]

Oops, meant hub face not rotor. the rear mount rotor (per Ed's writeup) is 10mm further in on the MS65/75 compared to MA61. Good to have distance of the hub face confirmed, possibly removes the need for a spacer behind the front mount Falcon rotors. I was aware the 287mm rotors may run into clearance issues with the Skyline calipers, have you got an exact measurement of the clearance to the caliper on a 280mm disc? From pics it looked possible that a slightly larger rotor will fit, basically need 3-4mm clearance to save machining the disc down. Although for my purposes machining discs is still of benefit for the additional caliper clearance it will give me.

Callum

[CrUZida]

I'd say there would be 2mm max clearance there.
But that is just a guess.

They are not a very forgiving caliper.

[Norbie]

If you want to use BA rotors you might find R33 calipers are a better match. That's the combo I'm using (on an MX83 strut) and no machining was necessary.

[WDE_BDY]

Yeah, but I have a 15" rim limit due to needing to fit rally tyres and the R33 caliper being spaced further out won't allow this. The BA rotors are only a trial fit for spacing until I can get a worn AUII or III for the diameter checks. Here are the calipers I have anyway.


Callum

[CrUZida]

Yo listen up here's a story
About a little guy that lives in a blue world
And all day and all night and everything he sees
Is just blue like him inside and outside
Blue his house with a blue little window
And a blue corvette
And everything is blue for him and hisself
And everybody around
Cos he ain't got nobody to listen to

I'm blue da ba dee da ba die...

I have a blue house with a blue window.
Blue is the colour of all that I wear.
Blue are the streets and all the trees are too.
I have a girlfriend and she is so blue.
Blue are the people here that walk around,
Blue like my corvette, it's standing outside.
Blue are the words I say and what I think.
Blue are the feelings that live inside me.

[Norbie]

Can I ask why you were ironing your calipers?

[WDE_BDY]

Can I ask why you were ironing your calipers?

Because they had wrinkles, why else?

[amichie]

Outer face of the rotors may be the same, but the factory rotors are rear mount.
The outer face of the hubs are different. The MS65 hub face sits about 3mm further outboard compared to the MA61 hub.

You also may need to machine the AU disc down from 287mm to 282 or 280mm in order to fit the R32 caliper straight on to the strut.

Any ideas what the minimum rotor diameter is before the pad runs to the edge???

Do you think you could get away with a 276mm rotor instead of the 280mm nissan one.???

[CrUZida]

Yeah, quite easy
I think I saw someone with something in the 260's?
But width is the key.

Big calipers and thin rotors = uber heatsoak when you stop hard.

[amichie]

OK What I meant was how much does the outer edge of the nissan rotor stick out beyond the outer edge of the pad. I can see it sticks out a little bit from some of the pics you've posted in other threads. I would like to keep the pad entirely on the rotor surface. Do you follow what I mean??

I'm hoping you have a leat 2mm sticking out with the nisssan rotor so If I use a 276mm rotor it will still sit on the surface of the rotor witout any overhang.


Thanks

[CrUZida]

There is only about 1mm sticking past that.
I was presuming that you were going to move the caliper inwards to compensate.