SW20 brake upgrade.

[RomanV]

What is involved, to upgrade to the later model SW20 brakes?
(eg. putting later model brakes on Gen 1 SW20)

Is it simply a case of getting late model rotors and calipers, and bolting them up?
(obviously you will need to bleed the brakes, and you may aswell replace seals etc. and give them a clean while they are out of the car.)

Or is it more complicated then that?

Also what exactly is different?
Just larger diameter rotors, or are the calipers different too?

Are there secondary changes which occured too, such as increased diameter brake lines?

Cheers.
Dave.

[anthonym]

What is involved, to upgrade to the later model SW20 brakes?
(eg. putting later model brakes on Gen 1 SW20)

Is it simply a case of getting late model rotors and calipers, and bolting them up?
(obviously you will need to bleed the brakes, and you may aswell replace seals etc. and give them a clean while they are out of the car.)

Or is it more complicated then that?

Also what exactly is different?
Just larger diameter rotors, or are the calipers different too?

Are there secondary changes which occured too, such as increased diameter brake lines?

Cheers.
Dave.

You need rotors and calipers front and rear, rotors are bigger and thicker. brake lines are the same, or very similar, the master cylinder is slightly different but is compatible.

[samlloyd]

Are the gen3+ still 2pot calipers? Whats the difference in rotor sizes?

not a hijack, roman might like too know aswell

[Rick]

For the amount of time and effort and money it would be much better to upgrade the brake pads and fluid on your factory brakes, give RACEBRAKES a ring they will put you right, with a front and rear friction and fluid upgrade they will guarantee they will not be outdriven on the road or the track.

They even guaranteed that my factory AE-85 bakes (with pad & fluid upgrade) solid front rotors and drum rear would not be outdriven even with a supercharged engine dropped in

0800BRAKES

ask for there "Brake upgrade information & price list".

[Akane]

I think they actually went smaller in size on the 93 for the master cylinder.

Yeah, your easy route would be a pad upgrade

[RomanV]

Thanks for the responses guys.


Its something I have been pondering for a while.

But at the same time, since I dont seem to be exceeding the capacity of my brakes as it is, the extra unsprung weight of the larger discs will probably be a hinderance more than a help I suppose.

[anthonym]

Are the gen3+ still 2pot calipers? Whats the difference in rotor sizes?

not a hijack, roman might like too know aswell

The change was made with the gen 2 revisions (>91/12) not gen 3
Yes the calipers are very similar, but are wider to accomodate the thicker rotors.
Front rotors went from 258 x 25 mm to 275 x 30mm
Rear went from 263 x 16mm to 281 x 22mm

Quite a substantial difference.

[anthonym]

For the amount of time and effort and money it would be much better to upgrade the brake pads and fluid on your factory brakes, give RACEBRAKES a ring they will put you right, with a front and rear friction and fluid upgrade they will guarantee they will not be outdriven on the road or the track.

They even guaranteed that my factory AE-85 bakes (with pad & fluid upgrade) solid front rotors and drum rear would not be outdriven even with a supercharged engine dropped in

0800BRAKES

ask for there "Brake upgrade information & price list".

There is always an exception to any rule and the gen I SW20 is one of them when it comes to brakes as this is a particularly straightforward bolt on upgrade for a substantial improvement. IMO, when considering an outlay of six hundred dollars for a set of Mintex pads, likely plus several hundred more for new rotors, an extra few hundred for the late model calipers is neither here nor there, if you can find a set of course.

[RomanV]

Hmmm yes.

Ive been thinking that perhaps I would be better off just selling up to get a later model SW20 anyway.
I mean that way I get the better brakes, more effective front lip, potentially better suspension, and things like cool tail lights, etc. etc.

I mean if I wanted to add all of those things to my current car, it would surely cost more than the price difference of selling up and buying a 1994+ SW20.
And you cant make a silk purse from a sows ear, if I tacked on these bits, its still gonna be a Gen 1 at the end of the day.
And its not as if late model parts are easy to find second hand anyway.

But at the same time, I like the look of an SW20 in black, and my most likely colour choices for the later years seem to be red or white.
And IIRC, SW20s got a bit heavier as the years went on.
An important factor for me (since I will be running an NA motor) will be to keep the car as light as I can.
So it might not be a good idea going to a later model anyway.

Hmmm, tough call!

[samlloyd]

Well my sdub is a 1992 (gen 2?) and ive just pug 17s on it, since they are showing a lot of rotor now, i might think about getting new disks + pads. Can we get DBA disks over here? Id prefer slotted, since they look neat

[Dell'Orto]

Yes we can, I got some for mine

About $350 each retail