So. I have researched this through and through. Every other post contridicts each other. So far after reading 20+ threads its apparent that the vtec rotors are larger. To convert brakes from S, SI to vtec brakes, you need the brackets. Now, the main question that seems to get condridicted so much: 50% of the people say the S, SI calipers will work, 50% of the people say the calipers in fact DO NOT WORK, YOU MUST GET THE LARGER CALIPERS. That being said, lets get down to business and clear this up for me since I didn't find a FAQ on doing the conversion which im sure would have stated this.

92 prelude ...SI maybe?

1 - bb2 = SI ? Did they came with 16" wheels, not 15" ? Was the style different between these 2 wheels? (i dont think my oem wheels were the originals that came with the car)

2 - Do you need to get the vtec calipers to do this swap? If yes, the pads are larger than the S, SI to fit these calipers?

3 - On the vtec prelude, were only the front rotors etc different? Or were the rear also larger?

4 - Do you know a good place to find rebuilt / used / new master cylinders?

5 -

The girl I bought the car from a year ago blew out the previous motor. Didnt know what motor was in the car, she thinks her new one was the f22, the rims are the older style (i'll measure at home). I'm at work and don't have access to the title with the vin# on it, but the vin tag on the car is bb2 but I'm nervous she could have just replaced it for shock value of being retarded. I did search, and read alot. My car was just chopped up so much before I bought it, so im trying to piece it all together.

thx

btw, if you have not done the conversion up to vtec brakes, or know 100% for sure...don't respond to the calipers question because I have read probably 50 people that said both ways.

 

bb2 is SI

 

what about the wheels that were on the SI? Because I think mine are 15" straight spoke honda rimes, not the rims with the curved spokes.

 

the S and Si calipers are the same. The Vtec calipers use a larger pad, they also might mount up different, not sure on that, but the calipers are different. I believe that all the 4th gens other than the S, where 15" wheels.

 

ok s had 15" steelies si, si/vtec had 16 alloys

si rotors are 1" smaller than vtec rotors (Front only)

vtec calipers are needed with the brackets and rotors and yes the pads are much larger

si, si/vtec rear rotors are the same

i have done the conversion it is magic!!

 

wow! all the information from someone who completed the job. someone needs to sticky those few sentences of wisdom since they are completly scrambled in 1000+ other posts.

btw, is there cosmetic differences between the 15" steelies and the 16" alloys.


Modified by JDMgareth at 2:53 PM 9/17/2007

 

how much is it roughly(part-by-part) to do this conversion?

 

S & Si Model Rotors: 10.2"
VTEC Model Rotors: 11.1"

S & Si Models have different Model/Size Pads from the VTEC Models, which you can tell Parts# being different.
The VTEC Caliper is Larger than the S/Si Caliper, but the Piston inside the Caliper is the same size.

You should be able to use the S/Si Caliper + VTEC Bracket with a VTEC Rotor. Now the question with that is, are you able to use the VTEC Pad with the S/Si Caliper?

Thinking about this, I had another question(s) pop up..

The difference between the S/Si Pad and VTEC Pad would have to be Surface Area, as the Rotor should be the same width (25mm).
And I've been told that the Prelude VTEC and the Legend GS (2-Piston Caliper) have the same Pads, as part numbers are the same.

So if you did the Legend GS Caliper swap, the size of the Rotor would be the same and so would the surface area of the Pad to Rotor. You'd be changing the thickness of the Rotor to 28mm.


So the point of this swap would be:

Would the Legend GS 28mm Wide Rotor hold more heat capacity than the Prelude VTEC Rotor?

Would the Legend GS 2-Pistons Calipers create more braking force with the same Surface Area Pad to Rotor over the Prelude VTEC Set-Up?


Also, the Model S Brake Master Cylinder is supposed to help out the feel of the brakes with the Legend GS Swap.

 

The steelies are NOT 15", I have an S model, they are 14's, the other models have 15's. The 5th gens I believe came with 16's, not the 4th.

 

ok i picked up the rotors calipers and brackets off a 94 prelude si/vtec at a salvage yard for $75

There was three wheel types

92-93 si 15"


92-96 s 14"


94-96 si, si/vtec 16"





Modified by prelude-all-the-way at 5:07 PM 9/17/2007

 

...I thought the SawBlades were 15"...

I'll go check mine...

 

the saw blades are 16'' and the 7spoke Si wheels are 15''

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ludeSi94 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">the saw blades are 16'' and the 7spoke Si wheels are 15''</TD></TR></TABLE>

My saw blades are 15"...'96 Si

 

My SawBlades are 15" also... Are there different sizes or are we just saying what we think??

Or do I some how have 205/55/15 tires on 16" Wheels?

 

yeah my sawblades are also 15" , same as my original straight spoke alloys are! The sawblades also, aside from looking better, are a few pounds per wheel lighter.


Now to add a new dimension to the questions, there are also the NSX calipers, bolt up the same, bleed the right way which the legend calipers do not, and are lighter, but have less piston area from what I have read. My question on them is, what pad thickness is correct with them, and how thick are the NSX rotors?

 

Damn it.LOL..The S came with 14" Steelies which do not fit over the vtec rotors/calipers. All Si and Vtecs came with 15" wheels both Saw blade and regular 7 spoke. I have owned all the wheels and model ludes. The S brake master cylinder is smaller than the SI and Vtec. The distributor housing is different from the S and the Si/Vtecs.

 

The S also did not come with Power door locks, door chime, EL gauges, ABS, Stock front lip, tweeters, spoiler or A/C. The door locks, spoiler, A/C, Tweeters, Lip etc were options if wanted at point of sale.

 

Snobordboi, the NSX Caliper Pistons are 2mm Smaller on both. But the NSX Calipers are lighter as they are aluminum.. You'd run the Pads for the NSX Calipers. I forgot the thickness for the Rotors... I did know.. Heh
Wouldn't be hard to figure out though, I'm sure you could ask the NSX Forum.

lol, Calm down dark_rican, didn't need all that info.

And yes, the S Model BMC has a smaller line.. That's the reason to get it for the swap, more pressure in the line with the larger Calipers and Pistons..

 

No 4th gen Prelude models EVER came with 16" wheels. The 5th gen was the first Prelude to ever come with factory 16" wheels. Also, the 4th gen VTEC has different calipers than the S/Si/SE models. This is a fact. I don't know why some people swear that the only difference is the larger rotors on the VTEC. It's totally wrong. If it were true then the pads would be the same shape between the models and they are not.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mike95lude &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">No 4th gen Prelude models EVER came with 16" wheels.</TD></TR></TABLE>

S = 14" steelies
Si, Vtec, 15" alloys

93 Vtec had the same wheels as the Si.

 

That's what I thought on the Wheels..

The S/Si Calipers are smaller compared to the VTEC Calipers, but the Piston inside the Caliper is the same size.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MLBZ521 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So the point of this swap would be:

Would the Legend GS 28mm Wide Rotor hold more heat capacity than the Prelude VTEC Rotor?

Would the Legend GS 2-Pistons Calipers create more braking force with the same Surface Area Pad to Rotor over the Prelude VTEC Set-Up?

Also, the Model S Brake Master Cylinder is supposed to help out the feel of the brakes with the Legend GS Swap.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'd go with the VTEC or Legend GS calipers, whichever you can get cheaper and really good pads. Check the salvage yards for the calipers, they should include the brackets as well. http://www.car-part.com is pretty good source to search the salvage yards. You can't use the Legend rotors on the 4th gen, wrong bolt pattern.

 

Yea, I've already researched where to get stuff, and ready to purchase if I did.. Just waiting until I need to do a break job, no point right now..

Yea, you'd have to use the 4thGen Rotors with 3mm Shims, get Legend Rotors Re-drilled, or get custom Rotors made.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ludeSi94 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">the saw blades are 16'' and the 7spoke Si wheels are 15''</TD></TR></TABLE>

uhh yea dude, sawblades are 15"

they would look sick in 16" though. IMO.

I would only ever use honda brake parts, that crucial of a system deserves OEM.

Per reviews from many track drivers, legend brakes don't make much of a difference, though the extra 3mm thickness is nice.

 

I did this on my 1992 Si

YOU WILL NEED 5th gen calipers or 4th gen VTEC calipers. 4th gen VTEC rotors and 5th gen pads or 4th gen VTEC pads.

my setup was 5th gen pads and calipers and 4th gen vtec rotors.