Big Brake Upgrade!

Over here you will find out how to do a big brake upgrade on your SR20 car (unless you have an NX2000, then you're already blessed with the brakes). Below you will see each step to upgrading your brakes. This job should take a few hours to do depending your skill level.

Items needed: The main things needed are the calipers, rotors, brake pads, and MOST important, the mounting brackets for the calipers. Without those, you cannot mount the calipers (you can buy the whole loaded caliper including mounting brackets and brake pads from most auto parts stores).  Brake fluid, 17mm, 14mm, 12mm and 10mm sockets, and other various tools.

You are ready to start upgrading. This brake upgrade was done on a 1991 Nissan Senrtra SE-R. The bigger brakes were used from an NX2000. Before starting, please note, if you are using stock 14" wheels, you will need to grind down the caliper to clear the wheel. I do not know the exact amount, but grind, and check the clearance, and repeat if necessary.

Step 1: Start by jacking up the car. Do each side, or put the whole front on jack stands, which ever is more convenient for you. Remove the front wheels.

Step 2: Remove the entire caliper and mounting bracket at once. It will be easier this way. You will need to use a 17mm socket to remove the top and bottom bolts. Turn the wheels to one side if you need more room to work with. Once you get these bolts off, the caliper will come right off, put it aside and take off the rotor.

Step 3: In order to fit the new caliper and bracket, you will need to trim some of the dust shield around the hub, or you can remove it all together. Use a screwdriver and hammer to cut the dust shield off the hub. You can put the new rotor, and mount the caliper on it and put the rim on to check for clearance, if you're using a stock 14" wheel, you will need to grind some of the caliper. The side of it will hit the rim. If you have a 15" wheel, you're all set.

Step 4: Remove the brake line from the stock caliper using a 12mm socket. Have some drain pan handy, brake fluid will come out. Put the brake line on the new caliper, and put the bolt on. Use a 14mm socket to remove the caliper bolt from the new caliper and put the brake pads in. Drop the caliper back down, put the bolt back on.

Step 5: At this point you are almost done with one side, you just need to bleed the brakes. Use a 10mm wrench to loosen the bleeder. Have someone pump the brake pedal until some fluid comes out. Tighten the bleeder, pump brake pedal, hold, open bleeder, close. Repeat this until you get a steady stream of brake fluid coming out.

Step 6: Put wheel back on, and do the other side. Make sure to top off the brake fluid reservoir when finished. 

Here are a few pictures.

Removing the dust shield	Dust shield removed	Comparing calipers
Comparing rotors	Grinding down the caliper	New brake installed