Forums/Z31P/z31-performance-upgrade-forums suspension-chassis-and-brakes/Wilwood Superlites
Imported from Z31Performance.com Forums{{#if:bleakdragonmage| — original post by bleakdragonmage}}{{#if:2010-03-13 02:28:00|, posted 2010-03-13 02:28:00}}{{#if:30| · 30 post{{#ifeq:30|1||s}}}}{{#if:/Z31performance_archive/forum/z31-performance-upgrade-forums/suspension-chassis-and-brakes/9823-wilwood-superlites.html|
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bleakdragonmage: (2010-03-13 02:28:00)
Anyone have any experience with these. I am currently debating putting these on instead of the Z32 calipers. Would anyone here have any experiences with them or know if they would be an upgrade or should i just stay with my Z32 calipers… I am preferably looking for people that have ran both sets hard and can give me some insight as to your experiences. If i go with either, they would still use the 12.75" brembo 350z rotor.
This is a diagram. The specs from the wilwood site are as follows. Thanks for any input you might have.
Bore size
1.38" 35,0 mm
[archived image: Forged_Superlite-cm-lg.jpg]
zmech: (2010-03-13 04:54:53)
0
zmech: (2010-03-13 05:01:01)
0
bleakdragonmage: (2010-03-13 06:42:30)
Did i ask for a write up… No, i did not.
Maybe i should rephrase. I am not/do not, need a write up. I am not looking for instructions on how to do it, pictures of your setup, video's of your setup (unless its on the track under harsh conditions.)I am looking for peoples experiences with each, preferably someone who has used both. I am trying to decide if it is worth it for me to switch to the wilwood ones.
Chrisw_2003: (2010-03-13 06:52:14)
[quote]bleakdragonmage wrote:
Or maybe like this? First 30 seconds of this video.
http://www.streetfire.net/video/a-look- … 119439.htm
Or if you are really good, you will locate my Wilwood write-up I did some time back.
Did i ask for a write up… No, i did not.
Maybe i should rephrase. I am not/do not, need a write up. I am not looking for instructions on how to do it, pictures of your setup, video's of your setup (unless its on the track under harsh conditions.)I am looking for peoples experiences with each, preferably someone who has used both. I am trying to decide if it is worth it for me to switch to the wilwood ones.
Im sure in his write up you will find out that he might have liked them more then the z32 brakes or he would have them on his car right? he helps you and you flame him? thats kinda lame man..
bleakdragonmage: (2010-03-13 07:01:26)
He didn't try and help me. He was trying to be a condescending asshat. If he was trying to help he would have said "oh, i liked them more than my z32/less than my z32 setup. Here is my writeup. If you want to discuss it further PM me or blahblahblah"
No, he posted an irrelevant video. He also referenced a writeup that, as far as searching inside the thread that mentions it, is a broken link. Or, the other thread where he doesn't directly compare the two, but on unequal playing surfaces. As he used the normal sized rotor for the Z32, but the 13" one for the Wilwoods. As stated before, both would be using the 13" rotor, so i am looking for a direct comparison of the calipers, not the rotors.
Although, i do admit, i might have taken something out of context…and if i did, i apologize. Its late and im cranky. I am going to ask this on hybridz.org as there are probably more members familiar with the superlites than here.
OK85ZX: (2010-03-13 08:06:05)
So the only people you want speaking in this thread are people who have gone out and done a road test with direct comparisons using controls between Z32 (which one, or all) calipers vs the exact wilwood caliper that you are asking about? Or are you looking for people who have used both and are subject to the placebo effect given how much they spent on the wilwoods and will say "yea they felt much better " ? If you are going to flame someone who posts with information regarding the setup you are asking about on the same platform that you are most likely put it on, even if it isn't exactly what you were looking for in the first place, then you need to be more specific with exactly what you are looking for and tell people not to post with any other information.
/tardrant
bleakdragonmage: (2010-03-13 13:06:17)
I will just have a mod delete this. I should've known how this would go here. I will go ask on Hybridz. Sorry for wasting space.
Thanks.
edit: after searching on hybridz again, i found one member who has used both. I need to pm him, but he said that he prefers the wilwoods over z32 saying they're better.. I still need to ask the specifics.
nismopu: (2010-03-13 17:53:34)
Well, I dont see how Willwoods themselves are better but I would think the difference in components would have more to do with the performance aspect your asking about. For instance, I see alot of different ROTOR thicknesses available, piston sizes, and number of pistons. I think you should've still asked zmech the specs on his compared to the z32 calipers and rotor setup. In reality I dont think you can compare them directly because if you had a six pot willwood and a 1.5" thick rotor, I don't think it would be fair to compare it to the z32 setup. Perhaps broaden your horizons and ask the 240sx crowd who often run the z32 caliper setup as well, and with their numbers someone has to have upgraded to willwoods.
Andrevas: (2010-03-13 19:37:15)
even if you run Wilwood 4 pot calipers, you'll need to either make sure you properly spec what piston sizes to use to maintain correct brake bias or you'll need to run an adjustable proportioning valve.
the only two advantages you'd get probably from running Wilwoods is increased pedal feel/modulation due to the stiffer caliper and I don't know it for a fact but possibly increased pad size.
Racinjitter: (2010-03-13 22:31:29)
To add, you do not have to grind away on the wilwoods, and they are possibly lighter.
TurboDreams: (2010-03-13 22:45:22)
From what I've heard they are as light as the name says but keep in mind a caliper is a caliper, it is not rotating mass so it removes nothing more than say ripping out your carpet. I'd worry more about rotors which are power sapping rotational mass. Not to mention early Z32TT calipers are made of aluminum so they are very light from the factory, though from what I've heard Nissan switched to iron because or durability reasons.
adamvann3: (2010-03-14 02:54:54)
Wilwood will add way more inches to your dick than z32 calipers..... if that makes a difference in stopping power [archived image: smile.png]
TurboDreams: (2010-03-14 03:20:53)
Big dicks add up to extra weight, that's why Asian drivers are so fast and nobody hears fast car and thinks "driven by a black guy"
No offense to either party....
ZFast88Z: (2010-03-14 04:25:26)
You are so wrong its unbelievable. Think sprung vs unsprung weight.
Neil86t: (2010-03-14 18:44:53)
FYI: My Six pistons feel about the same or lighter than my 1-piston factory crap. But that was just holding them in my hand.
tcfs: (2010-03-15 03:01:27)
[quote]ZFast88Z wrote:
a caliper is a caliper, it is not rotating mass so it removes nothing more than say ripping out your carpet..
You are so wrong its unbelievable. Think sprung vs unsprung weight.
He's not completely wrong. Removal of equal rotational weight always > removal of equal sprung/unsprung weight. Yes, removal of unsprung weight > removal of sprung. Less rotational weight pwns all though. 8)
Richard_85ZXT: (2010-03-15 03:42:24)
the weight won't affect acceleration/deceleration on a strait smooth road, but the lighter the weight your suspension has to push back down the faster it can react and the more time with a solid contact to the road, which will result in better braking and acceleration over any bumps or real world driving. When talking about weight with brakes it's not for weight reductions of overall weight, it's for as mentioned the sprung/unsprung weight.
zmech: (2010-03-15 03:46:44)
z
Careless: (2010-03-18 22:22:57)
They are still unsprung weight.
You don't just count the stuff that goes round and round.
You count everything that is under the supporting mechanism that elevates the chassis.
Basically, everything under the coil spring is "unsprung", if I'm not mistaken. It has a way bigger impact/effect than removing your carpet. It's the same as switching to a lighter and strong wheel to save weight in the areas that absorb most of the weight transfer themselves and are allowed to have the suspension do it's work with less effort and allows the individual parts to act a heck of a lot faster.
About the only thing you could save weight on there would be the Rotors, Calipers, and Wheels.
so a caliper is not just the same as any 'ol caliper, and pad surface area isn't the only thing you should be concerned with. weight of every piece is important.
Careless: (2010-03-18 22:26:09)
Can you list where you bought your calipers from and what model/rotor combo you used?
I would like to upgrade soon instead of replace. or if you can PM me…
Willwoods site is not working.
Richard_85ZXT: (2010-03-18 22:55:31)
Some cars, like older Jags used inbound brake calipers to reduce the unsprung weight. There's a huge difference in rotational weight and unsprung weight. Wheels happen to affect both, calipers are unsprung weight. Basically think of it as every time you hit a bump, or there's body roll, or really any suspension movement it pushes up on the springs and shocks. The more weight is pushing up on the springs/shocks the more effort it takes to push that weight back down again, so the lighter the weight the less effort required to push it back down and it can in turn react faster. The faster your suspension can react the more time you have traction both for acceleration and deceleration, and the more time you have proper balance of the car. What it all comes down to is that anything exerting force on the springs/shocks is unsprung weight. Rotational weight is weight exerted to an axis point, in most cases people are referring to the axle. Such as the wheels, rotors, even the lug nuts, but all those rotational weights from the hub outward is also an unsprung weight. You are killing 2 birds with 1 stone with those which is why they are so effective. That's my rant for the day, I am expecting the technical geniuses to correct me on this, but that's my understanding of them.
Racinjitter: (2010-03-19 00:20:49)
:lol:
Richard_85ZXT: (2010-03-19 00:40:22)
lol, if that's all I'll take it
floridaZ: (2010-03-19 02:17:58)
^And so did deuce and a halves. Not for such "glamorous" reasons though… :nanan?re
Careless: (2010-03-19 04:34:18)
Said it better than I did.
Do you think calipers are just calipers now, TurboDreams?
OK85ZX: (2010-03-19 04:43:30)
[quote]Racinjitter wrote:
Some cars, like older Jags used inbound brake calipers to reduce the SPRUNG weight. Correction. Outboard brakes are unsprung, inboard brakes are sprung.
Richard_85ZXT:3nnvoggv wrote:
That's my rant for the day, I am expecting the technical geniuses to correct me on this, but that's my understanding of them.
:lol:[/quote:3nnvoggv]
I think what he was saying is correct, along with your statement. Inboard brakes are sprung, thus using them would reduce unsprung weight because there is no more unsprung caliper, it is now sprung. So… compared to outboard, it reduces unsprung weight.
Richard_85ZXT: (2010-03-19 04:46:38)
thanks careless, now to apply that with my aluminum Z32 calipers, cause the wilwoods are out of my budget right now and I have the Z32 calipers already.
Careless: (2010-03-19 06:51:53)
Same here. I would not doubt that the willwoods are better. Heck, a friend of mine went from porsche "big reds" to a set of willwoods of equal size and he said they were better on his 944. But the price is unrealistic for me at the moment.
Even 350z rotors don't make sense for me either… I'd have to change wheel size, unless my 16's will fit for now.
I'm just going to change to Z32 calipers and rotors, then Z32 MC down the line, then 350z rotors and larger wheels.
Now to search for Z32 brake threads.
85NA2T: (2010-03-19 17:59:42)
this may not be that important but we use Wilwoods on out sprint car and they work fantastic.Never had any problems whatsoever with them.Continue on.