angeloserio

ok so i am new to this forum and cant find any info about this for the prelude
i just converted my 92 accord to the 5 lug all prelude way and now i am in the need for brakes being that i cant use my accord front ones. so my question is i am using 98 prelude knuckles now i want to put the nsx calipers on so do i just use the factory 97-01 prelude rotor and then use the nsx caliper and the nsx mounting bbracket?? please help me i want to do this and need to know all the parts i will need i want to finish this in about 2-3 weeks including the part gathering.

NirVTEC

You CAN use the stock Prelude rotors but you should also look into the LEGEND rotors. They are thicker than the Prelude rotors and IIRC are the same thickness or damn close to that of the NSX. The problem you run into with NSX calipers and Prelude rotors is the 3-5mm difference in rotor thickness will cause some strange pedal feel when the pads get low. The caliper piston will have to extend further to compensate for a thinner rotor and could lead to premature piston failure.

Now, why do you want to do this swap? The only viable reason I could see would be FREE or almost FREE NSX Calipers. The Stock Prelude Calipers are MORE than enough with the right pads.

Heres a nice taste though!

angeloserio

so i have heard of using the legend rotors but what model?? i want to say its the GS model rotors.

and also which mounting bracket?? will the nsx bracket work???

thanks

NirVTEC

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by angeloserio &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">so i have heard of using the legend rotors but what model?? i want to say its the GS model rotors.

and also which mounting bracket?? will the nsx bracket work???

thanks </TD></TR></TABLE>

I am not 100% sure but GS sounds right. You should be able to use the NSX bracket with it. I did with mine.

angeloserio

cool and yeah i checked into the rotors and the prelude 97-01 rotors are 1 5/64'' and the legend gs rotors are 1 3/32''
so i think the legend rotors are 1/64'' bigger?? so i guess get them
and ill use the nsx bracket if that is what you have done

thanks for the help if i asked this question at cb7tuner i dont think anybody would have known

dk4ever

So tell me i have the legend type-2 GS twin piston calipers, 4th gen vtec mounting brackets, and legend ceramic pads what else would i need to run this setup on my 4th gen lude. Right now Im running my si setup ceramic/kevlar pads, brembo front rotors, nopi crossdrilled and slotted rear rotors goodridge ss lines, and Dot 4 brake fluid. I stop great. Has never been better. But i got the legend/nsx setup for 40 bucks at the local junk yard so I figured why not? but i need help. Any info will be greatly appreciated.

CR-V-tech

well i have the 95' legend GS twin piston calipers on my civic, and 95 prelude vtec rotors, i had to mill 4mms off of the mounting brackets and have the lude rotors redrilled for the 4x100 bolt pattern. works like a charm, but then again it's not on a lude. but i love the set up and the civ stops like no other! good luck on what ever upgrade you choose!

NirVTEC

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CR-V-tech &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">well i have the 95' legend GS twin piston calipers on my civic, and 95 prelude vtec rotors, i had to mill 4mms off of the mounting brackets and have the lude rotors redrilled for the 4x100 bolt pattern. works like a charm, but then again it's not on a lude. but i love the set up and the civ stops like no other! good luck on what ever upgrade you choose!</TD></TR></TABLE>
That seems like overkill. I run GSR calipers with Agressive pads on my Hatch and I get whiplash every time I tap the pedal.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dk4ever &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So tell me i have the legend type-2 GS twin piston calipers, 4th gen vtec mounting brackets, and legend ceramic pads what else would i need to run this setup on my 4th gen lude. Right now Im running my si setup ceramic/kevlar pads, brembo front rotors, nopi crossdrilled and slotted rear rotors goodridge ss lines, and Dot 4 brake fluid. I stop great. Has never been better. But i got the legend/nsx setup for 40 bucks at the local junk yard so I figured why not? but i need help. Any info will be greatly appreciated.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Sounds like youre ready to go. I would use OEM pads if I were you though. Unless you actually Race the car. Anything more is too much and will trip your ABS easier.

mugen22

Since you have swapped to a 5th gen Prelude knuckle, you can use the Legend GS (Type II motor) rotors. Just go to Napa and tell them you have a 95 Legend GS Coupe and they should order you the right rotors. Go with their Premium which are still only $25 each. I ended up with the Napa rotors becuase the Brembo's were on back order through the Tire Rack. After tracking both rotors, I have been way more impressed with the quality of the Napa rotors and they are half the price. I'm assuming you have 1st gen NSX calipers and brackets.

I did the full swap on my Prelude, and it is a direct bolt on for the 5th generation Prelude. I recommend ordering new caliper bracket bolts from http://www.acuraautomotiveparts.org and then going to your local hardware store and getting 1 mm hardened washers to space the NSX caliper bolts off of the backside of the knuckle so they don't hit the rotor. The Prelude caliper bolts fit, but they will only thread in about half way. Get the NSX caliper bolts.

The OEM Prelude rotors are 11.1" x 23mm thick, the Legend GS rotors are 11.1" x 28 mm thick, the same as the 1st gen NSX. Here are links to some photos:


OEM Brakes



NSX Brakes/Legend Rotors







Brian.




Modified by mugen22 at 3:27 PM 11/8/2007

dk4ever

Ok so i don't get mixed up, start from the very beginning if you don't mind. What all do I need for the nsx/ legend type-2 calipers to work on my 4th gen? What would I need for them to work on a 5th gen? A list, ora write up on it would be great. Any info will be greatly appreciated.

auto addict

nice info people...

CR-V-tech

no way man, i have 95' gs twins up front with prelude v-tec brembo blanks custom drilled and slotted (thanks to 88rotors.com) and redrilled to 4x100 pattern and hawk hps pro pads, si stock rear discs, and 01' type R 1" bore master cylinder! my hatch stops me fine and i have no complaints!


originally posted by NirVTEC
(That seems like overkill. I run GSR calipers with Agressive pads on my Hatch and I get whiplash every time I tap the pedal.)


Offline

2581 posts [99%]
NW Chicagoland IL
3-8-2002
« Re: (CR-V-tech) « » 4:23 PM 11/8/2007 Reply Edit

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quote, originally posted by CR-V-tech »
well i have the 95' legend GS twin piston calipers on my civic, and 95 prelude vtec rotors, i had to mill 4mms off of the mounting brackets and have the lude rotors redrilled for the 4x100 bolt pattern. works like a charm, but then again it's not on a lude. but i love the set up and the civ stops like no other! good luck on what ever upgrade you choose!

lude98SH

anyone know a good place to get nsx calipers ? Im having a hell of a time finding any.

mugen22

I'm sure that I will forget something, so those of you that have done this, feel free to add to the list!

Parts:
1st Generation NSX front Brake Calipers and Brackets
4 copper crush washers (you only need two, but they don't always "set" right)
2 10 x 1.25 mm Speed Bleeders (just get the Russell's from Summit)
Brake Fluid
4 hardened steel washers 1mm thick
4 Acura NSX caliper bracket bolts
1 pair of Honda OEM Prelude front brake pads (or your choice for the street or track)
2 Acura Legend GS front rotors
**2 brake pad backing plates - 3mm thick

If the calipers are old, then add the following:
3 NSX caliper rebuild kits (you only need two until you accidentally slice one of the seals)
2 sets of caliper sliders
$20 to have a local shop "pop" the pistons out (you can do it yourself, I chose to save the time)


Tools:
Jack/jack stands
Impact driver
5lb hammer
14mm box wrench
15mm box wrench (I believe this is what size the banjo fitting is?)
17mm box wrench
10mm box wrench (3/8" if you have speed bleeders)
Bleeder bottle
Drain tub


Installation is pretty straight forward (but in no way do I accept responsibility if something goes wrong!)
1. Raise the front of the car and set it on jackstands

2. Remove both front wheels

3. Remove the bottom bolt, 14mm, from the brake caliper and remove brake pads then put bolt back in

4. Using the 17mm wrench and your 5lb hammer, break the caliper bracket loose

5. Now use the impact driver on the phillips screws on your rotors, there are two of them.

6. Remove the banjo bolt and brake line from the caliper. Make sure you have a drain tub to catch all of the brake fluid that will come out of the lines and calipers

7. Remove the caliper and bracket

8. Remove the rotor

9. Clean anything that looks like it needs to be cleaned

10. Use some high temperature anti-seeze on the knucle where the rotor hat contacts it as well as on the threads of the set screws for the new rotors

11. Install the new rotors

12. Install the NSX calipers by bolting the caliper bracket directly to the knuckle. For those of you that have read about installing these on ITR's, disregard what they said about spacing the caliper off of the knuckle. You should be using brand new NSX bracket bolts with the 1mm hardened steel washers on them to bolt the bracket to the knuckle. The bolts are a little too long and if you don't space them, they will come through the knuckle and hit the rotor. If you use the Prelude bracket bolts, they will only thread in about half way. I was not comfortable with that.

13. Re-attach your brake line at the banjo fitting. Don't forget to use your new copper crush washer. Make sure to really tighten this bolt. The odds are pretty good that if you have a leak in the system, its because the copper crush washer didn't set right.

14. Remove lower caliper bolt and install your brake pads, then put the bolt back in.
** If you are using Prelude rotors, you will need to shim the brake pads to make up the difference in the rotor size. Use a 3mm brake pad backing plate on the outside of the caliper to offset the 23mm rotor and the thicker rotor.

15. Open your brake fluid reservoir.

16. Loosen the bleeder screw with the 10mm (or 3/8" if you have speed bleeders) wrench and bleed the brakes by pumping them 4 times, then refill the fluid. You will need to do this at least 5 times. If you have a vacuum bleeder, it will be helpful. At minimum, make sure you have speed bleeders.

17. Tighten the bleeder screw and the cap on your brake fluid reservoir and then really give the brakes a good amount of pressure. Check, inspect, check, inspect and check again.

18. Do the other side.

19. Road test. DO NOT GO FAR. I had two crush washers that did not set and ended up losing fluid on each road test.

20. Periodically check all of the bolts on the caliper and bracket.


There are so many more details I could get into, but that is the gist of it.
Brian.

dk4ever

So has any done this on a 4th gen prelude? I thought the prelude vtec mounting bracket would work with the nsx/ legend calipers. And where exactly do you put the shims for the calipers to work with prelude rotors? Like in between what parts?

117

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mugen22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The OEM Prelude rotors are 11.1" x 23mm thick, the Legend GS rotors are 11.1" x 28 mm thick, the same as the 1st gen NSX.</TD></TR></TABLE>

5Gen OEM rotors are 25mm thick.

MLBZ521

iTrader: (6)

So 4thGen's are 23mm thick and 5thGen are 25mm? I've read both before.. Confused each time I read it..

Fongman

i would like to ask if you will stop better on prelude 97-01? or it just loolks great?

skinnyboy

So im getting this right, the Legend rotors will work with this set up on a 4th gen?

I thought you had to use a 5mm shim because you had to use the lude rotors??

I have a set of NSX calipers coming my way soon, so if anyone can answer that would be great [/BillLumbergh mode off]

MLBZ521

iTrader: (6)

The Legend has a different Bolt Pattern than the 4thGen, so no.

The Legend Rotors are 28mm thick. And I'm pretty sure the NSX Rotors are also 28mm thick.

117 said that 5thGen Rotors are 25mm thick.
I was thinking that they were 23mm thick, but maybe just 4thGen Rotors are.

Need definite answers.

Televator

iTrader: (1)

Here are some for sale: https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=2127698

I'll never understand the fascination with these calipers though...

PinoyShadow

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Televator &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I'll never understand the fascination with these calipers though...</TD></TR></TABLE>


Yea, why would someone want NSX calipers on their car...

Televator

iTrader: (1)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PinoyShadow &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">


Yea, why would someone want NSX calipers on their car... </TD></TR></TABLE>

You would be here just to hear me say that. LOL! It figures, but we can't all have the same interest. I wonder if anyone can tell about any improvements or increased stoping distance from experience.


Modified by Televator at 11:52 AM 11/12/2007

buzz944

Nice info i sure wants one but we dont have any nsx breaks here

mugen22

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dk4ever &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">And where exactly do you put the shims for the calipers to work with prelude rotors? Like in between what parts?</TD></TR></TABLE>


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mugen22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">


14. Remove lower caliper bolt and install your brake pads, then put the bolt back in.
** If you are using Prelude rotors, you will need to shim the brake pads to make up the difference in the rotor size. Use a 3mm brake pad backing plate on the outside of the caliper to offset the 23mm rotor and the thicker rotor.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Televator &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

You would be here just to hear me say that. LOL! It figures, but we can't all have the same interest. I wonder if anyone can tell about any improvements or increased stoping distance from experience.


Modified by Televator at 11:52 AM 11/12/2007</TD></TR></TABLE>


Yes and no! Please keep in mind that my car is 100% streetable and has the full interior, AC, Power steering and all of the other creature comforts that are stripped out of a race car. However, I judge most of it's performance based on lap times!

On the race track, I have noticed a few big advantages over the OEM brake calipers. Initial braking is more repsonsive due to the dual piston set-up. I have no doubt that some of the responsiveness came from freshly rebuilding the NSX setup, but I think a good amount of it comes from the additional torque the calipers have on the rotor. Another very large advantage is heat discipation. Because the caliper is a bit bigger and has small cooling fins plus the thicker rotor, heat is much better dispersed. This has greatly improved the life of my brake pads. I use Hawk Blues and got away with using 1.5 sets across nearly a dozen track days this year! In addition, I can run an entire 30 minute session and maintain the same feel and performance throughout. With this setup, I'm now at the limit of my tire's traction (Hankook RS2's 215x45x17 - love them) whereas when I was using the stock brakes, I had a hard time getting the brakes/grip to threshold at the end of sessions.

On the street there is very little difference. In fact, the initial bite is almost too much with Hawk HPS'. I would imagine that on less sticky tires, the front wheels would have a tendancy to lock up and/or cause the ABS to activate pretty quickly. There is no need to do this to a street car unless you have to have NSX calipers.

I was at a point where my OEM calipers needed to be rebuilt and stumbled across a set of NSX calipers and figured I would give it a try. I am extremely satisfied with the overall ease of finding parts, fit, quality and performance.


Brian.