REDmanCL-S

question: i have a 2003 CL-S. looking to change out my OEM Calipers for the RL Calipers. has anyone done this before for the CL-S? are there any other Acura Factory Stamped Calipers that i can use for my application?

please help..

civicdrivr

iTrader: (9)

You'll need to fab up an adapter plate and then get new discs, and have them redrilled to the correct lug pattern.

Legend calipers work, but they dont say Acura on the side of them.

aznboi2424

iTrader: (10)

the RL has a 5x100 lug pattern where our cars have a 5x114.5 lug pattern. but why would he have to get new rotors? he cant use CL rotors?

NSX calipers work too, but they have NSX written on the side.

if i had to custom fab up some brackets, then i would use these instead:



same bolt pattern too. I can get them for 600 easily.

civicdrivr

iTrader: (9)

Arent the RL rotors 12.6" whereas the CL rotors are 11.1". Kind of overkill just upgrading the caliper and not the useable surface of the discs.

LIPPSTUH

iTrader: (2)

you can get a rotor company to make custom rotors... then u might as well buy a real bbk kit.

REDmanCL-S

naw, i knew i had to upgrade the rotors as well. dont ask me what the specs are..i left them at the office this morning. i just really like these calipers, and thus far i havent seen it done. as us CL-S owners know, the parts for this car are scares, so i know im going to have to modify somthing. im just worried about clearance issues, bolt on issues, pressure issues. (etc etc). aznboi2424, those are some really nice calipers, but kind of steep for me. do you mind telling me were you got those from? my boy was just telling me to paint my current calipers and just get the Acura stickers and paste them on, however im not feeling that.

REDmanCL-S

Im sorry bro..not to savy on the lingo. BBK? Whats that?

nf3d0149ab

iTrader: (5)

Big Brake Kit.

aznboi2424

iTrader: (10)

those calipers are the brembo calipers from the 3G TL-S.

someone did have the ACURA letters put on their stock calipers but there is so little room to put the letters on, so they were really small.

REDmanCL-S

Hey, thanks aznboi! Good looking out!

jl03CLS

RL is actually 5x120

Goto the fastbrakes website and talk to an associate there. I have been talking to an associate there for a few weeks now and this is a reply that I got.



"The problem with the RL calipers on the 5 bolt cars is the rotor offset is greater then it is on the Integra/Civic.

Because of this greater offset, the bolt holes that the caliper uses to mount to the bracket would not have enough material to adequately secure the caliper.

There are a couple of ways to proceed; first would be to use a different rotor, keeping the bracket the way it is, or change the offset as much as possible and reduce the thickness of the outside brake pad.

We have looked for a different 1 piece rotor but have not yet been able to find one that would work. If we can’t find one that only leaves using a 2 piece rotor, which would increase the price by at least $450.

Changing the bracket offset to work with the thinner pads is relatively simple, although doing that isn’t really the way we like to sell kits. I’ll know more on if this method will work shortly; a customer is trying it now."




I was hoping to find a way to put these RL calipers on since I havent seen any CL's with them yet. For the price of RL calipers and the mounting kit it will be just as much if not more than going for a Wilwood Big Brake kit.

I'm still trying to get this to work though since it will be unique.

jl03CLS

also a quick note..if you do happen to proceed with putting RL calipers on you need to take into account the change in the braking bias and possibly changing the master cylinder. just cause the caliper is bigger doesnt mean you will stop faster.

aznboi2424

iTrader: (10)

your right about the bolt pattern for the RL. 5x100 is for american cars.

REDmanCL-S

Whoa!! Very imformative! I really appreciate all your guy's time in this matter. jl03Cls, can I ask you to follow up with us on what the outcome is with your contact at Fastbreakes? As your contact there said, this has never been done before and i think if it can be done, this would really be big for us in mods for our cars. Finding parts for the CL-S is like finding Noahs Ark.

nf3d0149ab

iTrader: (5)

Yeah...not many parts out there for us.

Sometimes you got to fab. up your own and just use your creativity.

aznboi2424

iTrader: (10)

Noah has an ark?

nf3d0149ab

iTrader: (5)

Haha...but I've got it in a secret place that nobody is going to find it...

jl03CLS

yeah ill keep you posted but dont hold your breath. sounds like they are still doing research and test fits. ive seen thr RL calipers on a civic before and it looks pretty good. sounds like the easiest solution would be to get a custom made 12.8' rotor. probably has to be a 1 piece too. i just wonder how the stopping is. Those RL calipers arent cheap either. around 400 for one side brand new. gonna hurt the wallet a bit but i honestly think it looks great. I definately would like to see this little project take off. Good luck on your research too.

-Jasen

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

This would be a totally custom job. How would this translate into "parts for our cars"?
There is already apps in BBK's for the CL.

jl03CLS

i think it could be available parts for the cl provided fastbrakes gets the mounting issue resolved. either smaller thinner brake pads or thinner/1 piece rotor would most likely make it work. Then its just an issue of buying RL calipers. used isnt too bad but brand new and youre looking at $800 just for the calipers. plus you should probably look into upgrading the rear brakes if the RL calipers are used. The wilwood BBK is $750. In my opinion its cheaper to go with a BBK....but more unique if RL calipers are used.

OperationDarkie

iTrader: (1)

Well you can do like i did, search around for NSX calipers found some here

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/rafr...c1000887k22688

cost me 207 not sure what shipping was but its less than 3 hundred, i just basically bought the caliper, and you dont have to change the master cylinder

direct bolt up too btw.

richardparker

iTrader: (7)

Did the calipers improve stopping performance?Or was this just for looks? You running stock rotors...

civicdrivr

iTrader: (9)

I believe the NSX calipers are 4 piston, so you will have more bite. Its very similar to the Legend caliper swap.

OperationDarkie

iTrader: (1)

they are 2 piston, and they keep rotors from warping, and they are a direct bolt on replacement, imo, cheap mans bbk :P

CH46ESeaKnight

How do NSX calipers alone keep the rotors from warping?

jl03CLS

^ i think what he is saying is since there is 2 pistons it has a more "spread out" placement of pressure as opposed to the the 1 piston on the cl calipers. thats the only reason i can see

but then again i guess a better way to say it is that it prolongs the rotors life. it will eventually warp im sure.

civicdrivr

iTrader: (9)

The rotors will warp from heat. Not where the pressure is being applied. The surface of the rotor needs to be larger to dissapate heat better. A larger caliper isnt going to decrease warping. It will provide better stopping power, but over time excessive heat will warp the rotors.

AnthraciteBeast

iTrader: (3)

what year NSX?

OperationDarkie

iTrader: (1)

1991-1996, 1997 and up have slightly large calipers as well as rotors and will require the necessary mounting hardware to make them fit, ive already put them on my friends CL, just need to do mine, btw you have to swap what sides they go on as well so that the drain plug is near the bottom, so basically left is right and right is left.

AnthraciteBeast

iTrader: (3)

ok so 91-96 are direct bolt-on.

97 and up require some fab work.

Right?

OperationDarkie

iTrader: (1)

Yes, you hit the nail on the head

AnthraciteBeast

iTrader: (3)

Now is this for the 2 front calipers, rear calipers, or both?

OperationDarkie

iTrader: (1)

as far as i know just the fronts, the rears are too big for our car.