Stopping response and power is a huge factor in a daily driver. It improves the feel of the car as well as the ability to avoid accidents, providing a more comforting and safe drive wherever you go.
I snagged a great deal on a set of Toyota brakes. They’re casting code s12+8, and they’re uniquely interesting because they bolt directly into the s30 chassis. You only need to cut back or remove the dust shields attached to the steering knuckles (I cut them vertically from the innermost mount point, and didn’t have any fitment issues)The advantage to these calipers is that they’re four-piston instead of two-piston, which increases their consistency and response. These calipers came with a set of rotors and a fresh set of pads as well, and combined with the stainless steel brake lines I have, should be a good modernized replacement for the tired old calipers.
There are other upgrades I could have gone with for similar prices, such as the s13 casting code calipers, which have larger secondary pistons and use vented rotors, but require a special spacer and are more work to install. If I upgrade again, I plan to purchase a Wilwood kit as a lightweight, extremely efficient setup. The extra cost and energy associated with the other brake upgrades wasn’t worth it at the time. I really just want to refresh this car, and s12+8 calipers in good working order are more common and inexpensive than stock 240z calipers.
There seems to be a lot of controvery over which Toyota calipers will fit on the s30, and hopefully this helps clear up one small portion of that.
I’ll post an update on the brakes once I have the car on the road (there’s still a lot to do to get to that point), and it’s very likely that I’ll need a different master cylinder to adjust the brake bias slightly. These calipers can hold more brake fluid, and it’s recommended to match your master cylinder’s capacity and output to the brake systems you’re using.
I was just looking at craigslist and saw a guy who posted about a 4 piston setup, I bet this is what he was selling. I may have to give him a call. Good luck with the install!
Be aware that there are two setups that are Toyota 4 piston calipers. You want the ones that have two different sized pistons in each caliper. If all 4 pistons are the same diameter they won’t work without spacers and vented (z31) rotors. Vented rotors will reduce brake fade a little, but I really don’t think they’re worth the additional investment of time and money. I’d prefer to save up toward a proper brake upgrade.
Awesome. I’m gonna do this swap when I feel that the stock ones won’t cut it any more.
Driving a car is not exactly the ability of a good driver while driving it is a good one. Power does matter but the braking power is another issue. The Toyota s12+8 set of brakes is a nice pick as it has the bolt direct into the s30 chasis. The s13 casting code caliper is another option in break upgrades.
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