Here is the Brake Pros' kit...
Here is the Brake Pros' kit we installed at Stillen's facility. It is a complete bolt-on setup that fits under the factory 18-inch Nissan wheels. Once installed, we shaved off about 15-20 feet from our 60-to-0 stopping distance, which could mean the difference between a close call and a trip to the body shop.
We here at Sport Truck know if you want your truck to stop better, you have to install brake components that are bigger and dissipate heat better. Friction from repeated braking causes heat. If that heat is not diffused, it will build up and brake fade will result, making stopping distances longer and requiring greater pedal pressure. The easiest way to prevent this heat buildup is to make the brakes bigger. The extra metal and wider venting fins keep heat buildup under control. The added size also gives the brakes a leverage advantage over stock, just as it is easier to loosen a nut by putting a length of pipe on your wrench, so it is easier to stop a disc when the caliper is further away from the center.
Another parameter to a killer brake setup is the visual impact, and the 14-inch Brake Pros' kit fills up the space behind the Coddington's Deathblows and give the truck a more aggressive demeanor. We have been working with Stillen for many years and know that the company puts out high-quality products and knows its trucks and what works.
The Brake Pros' Big Brake Kit features 51mm dual-piston calipers that are made of steel for added stiffness and less flex. The calipers clamp down on a 14-inch two-piece cross-drilled and slotted, curved-vane rotors. The cooling vanes are there to direct air through the centers and keep them cool. The cross-drilled and slotted areas are there to allow gases that build up between the pad and rotor to escape. To prevent stress cracking, reduced weight, and improve heat dissipation, the cast-iron rotor discs are mounted on aluminum hats.
This kit comes complete with high-performance brake pads, DOT-approved stainless steel brake lines and all the necessary hardware for installation. This kit is designed to work with the OE Master Cylinder and ABS system. Due to the size of the system, this kit requires 18-inch-or-larger wheels. Luckily, Stillen spent a lot of time in the R&D department to make sure these fit under the factory Nissan 18-inch wheels, so if you can't get wheels, you can still stop.
1.Sammy Camarillo secured...
1.Sammy Camarillo secured the truck safely on the rack and removed the front tires to access the brake system. If you don't have a rack, just jack up the front and support it with jackstands. Be sure to block the rear wheels to prevent the vehicle from rolling.
2.Here's the stock Nissan...
2.Here's the stock Nissan brake system. As you can see, we have a CST lift spindle on this truck. This, in no way, interfered with the install; the only thing that is different is the brake line. Brake Pros sends an upgraded steel braided line, but our CST kit already has them, so there was no need to install them.
3.The tech slid the caliper...
3.The tech slid the caliper on the rotor and dropped the unit in the wheel to check for clearance. Nothing came in contact with the wheel as he spun the system around, so we were good to go. To take out any guesswork, Stillen has a printable clearance profile template on its website so you can check your wheels before ordering.
4.Before we go any further,...
4.Before we go any further, we thought we would show you almost all the parts for these kits are machined and designed in-house. This allows them to bring kits to market very fast and lets them keep quality control standards high.
5a.After the entire machine...
5a.After the entire machine work and anodizing was complete, the parts were put on the shelf to await final assembly.
5b.
6.Here, you can see the tech...
6.Here, you can see the tech coupling the rotor to the aluminum hat. This type of rotor/hat configuration has three distinct advantages to a full cast unit: One is better heat dissipation, two is less weight, and three is multiple applications. By using two components, they can build hats for various trucks, then bolt them on a standard rotor to keep prices down.
7.The calipers are shipped...
7.The calipers are shipped dry with the cage and street-rated brake pads installed.
8a.Back at the truck, the...
8a.Back at the truck, the two bolts were removed and the caliper was slid off. The brake line didn't have to be removed yet, so the caliper was temporarily hung out of the way. Keep the mounting bolts because they will be reused to hold on the new caliper. Also, do not let caliper dangle or hang from brake line. Instead, fasten it to a suspension part with wire or tie-wrap.
8b.
9.Here is a side-by-side view...
9.Here is a side-by-side view of the calipers, and as you can see, the Brake Pros' unit houses larger pucks. This allows them to apply more clamping force and, in turn, stop shorter.
10.This comparison shot of...
10.This comparison shot of the rotors is pretty dramatic; the two-piece modular discs are much larger and, with all the little tricks built in, allow them to cool and stop much quicker.
11.After the factory rotor...
11.After the factory rotor was slid off the hub, the new 14-inch took its place. The rotors are directional so there is a left and a right side, which is clearly marked, but keep that in mind when you install them.
12.A few dabs of Loctite were...
12.A few dabs of Loctite were used to prevent the bolt from coming loose.
13.The tech installed the...
13.The tech installed the new caliper/cage assembly over the rotor. Then, he disconnected the stainless steel brake line from the stock caliper and installed it to the new one. The tech notes: Be sure not to allow the master cylinder to drain completely. Also, do not allow brake fluid to touch the paint.
14.The caliper bolts were...
14.The caliper bolts were torqued to 135 lb-ft.
15.The brake system was bled,...
15.The brake system was bled, keeping an eye on the master cylinder, because the calipers are shipped empty and take some fluid to fill them up. Lightly tapping the caliper with a hammer helps move the small bubbles to the top.
16.Next, the wheels were bolted...
16.Next, the wheels were bolted back on the truck and torqued to 115 lb-ft. The tech checked the brake lines and made sure they were clear of the wheel and tire at full lock in both directions.
17.You can see the new brakes...
17.You can see the new brakes fill the area behind the wheel nicely. Once the truck was set back on Mother Earth, we were on our way. We fought the urge to just hammer the brakes right out of the gate because we wanted to follow proper bedding procedure (see Sidebar).
Bed Them Right
Once you have a new set of brakes on the truck, you want to follow these steps to bed the pads. This will improve the resistance to heat cracking and warping. For the first 10 miles, brake lightly from 35 mph down to zero. Do this five times. For the next 100 miles, increase the braking pressure, but try and avoid full stops from 70 mph. At all times, during this procedure, try not to sit with your foot on the pedal, but kick it into Park if you're sitting at a light. This will keep the pads from creating a localized hot spot on the rotor which creates a high area resulting in a vibration or a pulsating pedal.
Really Big Binders
Stillen also offers an AP Racing Six-Piston big-brake kit that features 15-inch two-piece rotors. The calipers are constructed of a lightweight aluminum alloy that can apply gobs of clamping force. Every kit comes complete with everything necessary for installation and requires no vehicle modification. However, these kits do require at least a 19-inch aftermarket wheel.