Hilux brake mods yet again!

I've always shied away from using any kind of spacer as I was told years ago that they aren't a good idea (stresses on bearings I think I was told). The gist was that they were OK-ish for a road car but a no-no for track or race use. Have any of you lads ever had any problems with them?
 
Tony 260Z said:
I've always shied away from using any kind of spacer as I was told years ago that they aren't a good idea (stresses on bearings I think I was told). The gist was that they were OK-ish for a road car but a no-no for track or race use. Have any of you lads ever had any problems with them?
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Tony have a set of 32mm spacers all round on my car with no problems at all :)
 
For this modification I could grind the so called cooling fins off the outside face of the caliper to increase the clearance to the wheel and touch off the casting id. number off the rim, which is proud on one spoke. This would probably give me the clearance needed.
I could instead fit a thin wheel spacer to save this work and not spoil the outside (and visible) face of the caliper.
Although adding a spacer will increase the moment on the bearing and hence the load on it I can't see such a small increase making all the difference. I would think that the load on the studs would be a bigger issue.
 
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Lots of people use spacers, I think the issues really are suspension geometry and bearing load. Dave your wheel design (inset) will compensate but with Wolfraces the steering is heavier and I suppose it gives bigger loads on the bearings.
 
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John, many many cars run spacers of one kind or another....its common practice and in moderation not necassarily bad practice.
Yes it will increase loadings of the bearings and will induce a little additional load on the studs but how many studs have you ever heard of snapping due to spacers being used, and whats the differance in large offsets or wheels with thick billet centers to a spacer....the spacer is effectively built in.

As Dave said he was running 32mm spacers with no issue...previously I have run 6mm spacers for thousands of miles (hard miles at that) with no noticable issues.

Matt in the HSCC car has run spacers I believe, you dont get more punishment than that.

As long as your hubs, bearing and studs are in good order and are checked regularly (like they should be) I cant see the issue.

I would be more inclined to watch out for a change in handling as even using a 6mm spacer was noticable...actually improved the turn in.
 
If anyone out there has a need for long M12x1.25mm pitch wheel studs at a decent price, contact www.priracing.co.uk They are based in Cheadle, in Cheshire and can supply studs with either 12, 13 or 14.3mm splines.
They are well priced and I am using them on my Cherry turbo with 16" rims from an S13 200sx and spacers to suit! If you need proof of their strength, then a colleague at work runs them on his 2.2 turbo Honda Civic at 650BHP and drag slicks!!
Hope this helps all out there on the quest of fitting modern wheels to their trusty old steeds.
Good luck, Mark.
 
I've done a little comparison between the hilux pads to the zed ones.
I didn't think the increase in contact area was very large.
However doing some measuring and a little estimation due to the shape of the pads it looks like about a 60% increase in braking area! Put this along with 4 pots and vented discs and the change must be very significant indeed.
How does the finished article compare with standard?
 
This is just an update on my Hilux brake mod.

My mate machined the discs for me as a favour so it took a little time.
We've machined the discs as a tight fit on the hubs because the bolt holes are only clearance.
I've built up the hubs with the discs and longer studs. The calipers are fitted and don't need any spacers because the joint line of the caliper is directly in line with the centre of the disc.
Pads are now fitted after putting them in upside down and on the wrong side (school boy error!)
It all looks very very good and just the job. I've used 6.5mm wheel spacers so the stock rims pass the caliper. Now it just needs bleeding.

Total costs so far £120 and 6 bottles of Magners for the machining!!!
 
Wow... that's a bargain. Well done John.

John, I'll be in touch re the brakes. Makes a change to do something to the car that doesn't end up costing a fortune!

Tony
 
i used the same set up on my 260 505 turbo discs and hilux callipers used 7" wolfys 1st and no prob with clearance, now gone to 10x15 minilites. total cost of £94 inc new discs the machining and second hand callipers

for the price you cant get better braking:thumbs:


martin
 
hi

I run S12W Hilux and Z31 4 struds rotors.

That matchs with no mods in standard 14" steels for 240z.

I had to grind the caliper to fit to my 14" Shelby CAL500 "wolfrace" near the hub.
As mention higher, the radiator on the calipers and also near the hub to avoid spacers.

That works well but it is mandatory to grind as less as possible material on the caliper :unsure:
 
Buit tell them what happens when you use them consistently at speed.

I retain that this is a great mod for a standard or slightly modified car or any car that doesn't do track days.
 
it is not the topic here, Sean ;)

This is definitively a great mod because bolt on and cheap. It is of course not the only way to upgrade brakes.

For track days, it is fine also for a modified car if not an extreme racer. Ok, inferior to pure race calipers such as AP or Willwood.

In my specific case, I know that I have at least to upgrade brake fluid for a race fluid.

and not sure yet if the major "heater" are Toy calipers or rear drums :p
that is another path for the issue.
 
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The Hilux 4 pot caliper/Peugeot vented disc arrangement works well enough for rallying on gravel or tarmac. The big pads dissipate the heat well and there are lots of pad materials available as they are pretty much the same as the Group N Subaru Imprezas. Best we used was Mintex F4R which cope with the heat of tarmac stages without eating the discs!
The problem then becomes getting enough braking on the back. Again vented discs and 4 pot calipers are they way to go and are historic legal, if that bothers you. The 280ZX solid disc/little caliper set up is probably little better than drums.
 
SeanDezart said:
From experience ?

I have this with a brake bias - no problems.
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That is what has been found in rally cars in the UK. We use the 4 pot caliper/vented disc set up and full or almost full pressure going to the back, depending on the surface and front pad material
 
Hugh Myers said:
The Hilux 4 pot caliper/Peugeot vented disc arrangement works well enough for rallying on gravel or tarmac. The big pads dissipate the heat well and there are lots of pad materials available as they are pretty much the same as the Group N Subaru Imprezas. Best we used was Mintex F4R which cope with the heat of tarmac stages without eating the discs!
The problem then becomes getting enough braking on the back. Again vented discs and 4 pot calipers are they way to go and are historic legal, if that bothers you. The 280ZX solid disc/little caliper set up is probably little better than drums.
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Interesting info!

What are you using as fluid brake?
 
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