Calling all vendors - front brake ducting

imag · 11-03-2009, 04:56 PM

Can someone please develop a kit that turns the front nostril blanks into a directed front brake cooling vent?

It seems like there has to be a way to take air from those two locations into a pair of ducts and route them through the fender wells onto the brakes. Judging from comments on here, I'm pretty sure that I'm not the only one who would buy such a kit. Is it just too difficult to work around the constraints of that location, or are people more interested in selling BBKs to care about cooling?

I realize that this will push more air under the car, which might slightly increase lift. But if it can allow us to get away with a pad and two-piece rotor swap instead of a BBK for track use, it would be well worth it.

Maybe I should make a poll - how much would you pay for such a kit? Speaking for myself, I'd be up for $400 if it was well engineered, included all applicable parts, and required minimal cutting.

Anyone else interested?

imag · 11-03-2009, 04:56 PM

Oh, and if you're already working on it, now might be a good time to say so

imag · 11-10-2009, 11:44 PM

For those interested, I've been doing a bit more research on this. A couple of sites have some good guidance on brake ducting:

How to Control Brake Temperature - Stock Car Racing Magazine
How To Install Brake Ducts

Airflow for us might a bit limited through the stock fang inlets. The real trick is delivering air to the center of the rotor. This surprisingly good InsideLine how-to has some good shots of the problem, although it doesn't show the side of the rotor I really want to see.

2009 Nissan 370Z: DIY Brake Pad and Rotor Change, Part 2

It seems to me there are three main challenges:

1. Routing - need to check what is between the bumper cover and the fender (can anyone else weigh in on this?)
2. Nozzle - I really like the nozzle the guy uses in the Zhome article above, but I'd have to figure out some fabrication.
3. Movement allowance for turning and suspension - this is what makes me a bit nervous. It's one thing to make a duct for a track car that only gets limited mileage, but designing a duct that can work safely for 10K miles or more is a bit tricky.

Anyway, suggestions/thoughts/comments welcome. I may try to embark on this in the next month or so if it seems workable.

Modshack · 11-11-2009, 04:25 PM

Here's an idea that will cost you almost nothing.......

Done on a Audi TT but you get the idea.... Pics: Cooling album | Ttschwing | Fotki.com

bigaudiofanat · 11-11-2009, 04:48 PM

That to me looks very cheesy. If I did something like that I would want it to look like quality. Just my .02

Modshack · 11-11-2009, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigaudiofanat

That to me looks very cheesy. If I did something like that I would want it to look like quality. Just my .02

WTF does it matter what it looks like when you're trying to cool your rotors for track use?? This is strictly function over form for about $15/side.

Doing this for street use, or to impress your ricer friends is beyond the scope of my intentions...

Division · 11-11-2009, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigaudiofanat

That to me looks very cheesy. If I did something like that I would want it to look like quality. Just my .02

How are you addressing the brake heating issues on your Z?

racerxj17 · 11-11-2009, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Division

How are you addressing the brake heating issues on your Z?

LOL.......

RCZ · 11-11-2009, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Modshack

WTF does it matter what it looks like when you're trying to cool your rotors for track use?? This is strictly function over form for about $15/side.

Doing this for street use, or to impress your ricer friends is beyond the scope of my intentions...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Division

How are you addressing the brake heating issues on your Z?

Pwned.

Z1Performance · 11-11-2009, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigaudiofanat

That to me looks very cheesy. If I did something like that I would want it to look like quality. Just my .02

as opposed to all the elegant brake ducting kits on the market?

to the OP, the problem right now is the lack of decent track pads for the 'big' calipers - perhaps that will change in the future, but there is not a wide range to choose from.

imag · 11-12-2009, 01:53 AM

Proper brake ducting never really looks good. You need large diameter ducts to get enough air through, and the duct has to allow movement for steering and suspension travel. That means you end up with something like this:

Brake Duct Hose : Air Duct Hose : Brake Duct : Duct Hoses : Racing Brake Duct Hoses

Anyway, the issue with the Z that I can see (although a frickin lift would help) is that there are several tricky areas to get through. Then, in order to get air to the center of the rotor you have to get the ducting to the rear side of the front hub, which is not easy. I think it might require some custom injection molded plastic parts to really do the routing right on this car. Next time it's on a lift, I'm going to try taking a better look at the whole thing...

RCZ · 11-12-2009, 08:37 AM

I've had my car on a lift many times already and there is room for it, just takes a little finagling.

azndummie · 12-07-2009, 01:31 AM

I would be willing to try this over buying an entire bbk. This plus aggressive pads will probably cure most brake fade depending on how good the ducting is. I think Corner3 Garage in lake forest is looking for some candidates to develop a kit.

ChrisSlicks · 12-07-2009, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azndummie

I would be willing to try this over buying an entire bbk. This plus aggressive pads will probably cure most brake fade depending on how good the ducting is. I think Corner3 Garage in lake forest is looking for some candidates to develop a kit.

Carbotech has track pads out for the Z. XP10's have a MOT of 1650 degrees, XP8's 1350 - which is a damn sight better than the 500-600 degrees the stock pads are good for. Combined with some ducting I think you could make the stock brakes hold up ok, although you'd probably be replacing the cooked dust boots on a regular basis.

Travis has plans to have one of his shops develop a solution over the winter, and hopefully kit it.

Rps13.jw · 12-07-2009, 12:25 PM

Looks like you took apart your vacuum cleaner to make that.

11-03-2009, 04:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
imag Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Oakland, CA Posts: 446 Drives: up the wall Rep Power: 16	Calling all vendors - front brake ducting Can someone please develop a kit that turns the front nostril blanks into a directed front brake cooling vent? It seems like there has to be a way to take air from those two locations into a pair of ducts and route them through the fender wells onto the brakes. Judging from comments on here, I'm pretty sure that I'm not the only one who would buy such a kit. Is it just too difficult to work around the constraints of that location, or are people more interested in selling BBKs to care about cooling? I realize that this will push more air under the car, which might slightly increase lift. But if it can allow us to get away with a pad and two-piece rotor swap instead of a BBK for track use, it would be well worth it. Maybe I should make a poll - how much would you pay for such a kit? Speaking for myself, I'd be up for $400 if it was well engineered, included all applicable parts, and required minimal cutting. Anyone else interested?

11-11-2009, 04:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
Modshack A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Greenville NC Posts: 2,883 Drives: 370Z Sport Rep Power: 976	Here's an idea that will cost you almost nothing....... Done on a Audi TT but you get the idea.... Pics: Cooling album \| Ttschwing \| Fotki.com __________________ Steal my car! (SOLD)...Now Porsche Cayman S Oil Cooler DIY: Here!

11-11-2009, 04:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
bigaudiofanat Car Audio Installer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Magnolia DE Posts: 8,342 Drives: 2012 Infiniti G37x Rep Power: 853	That to me looks very cheesy. If I did something like that I would want it to look like quality. Just my .02 __________________ Need help with car audio or electronics? Let me know!! Need Help Let Me Know Direct email address reimermatt@gmail.com Owner of: Dynamic Mobile Audio Follow me below https://www.facebook.com/Dynamicmobileaudio/

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11-03-2009, 04:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
imag Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Oakland, CA Posts: 446 Drives: up the wall Rep Power: 16	Oh, and if you're already working on it, now might be a good time to say so

11-10-2009, 11:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
imag Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Oakland, CA Posts: 446 Drives: up the wall Rep Power: 16	For those interested, I've been doing a bit more research on this. A couple of sites have some good guidance on brake ducting: How to Control Brake Temperature - Stock Car Racing Magazine How To Install Brake Ducts Airflow for us might a bit limited through the stock fang inlets. The real trick is delivering air to the center of the rotor. This surprisingly good InsideLine how-to has some good shots of the problem, although it doesn't show the side of the rotor I really want to see. 2009 Nissan 370Z: DIY Brake Pad and Rotor Change, Part 2 It seems to me there are three main challenges: 1. Routing - need to check what is between the bumper cover and the fender (can anyone else weigh in on this?) 2. Nozzle - I really like the nozzle the guy uses in the Zhome article above, but I'd have to figure out some fabrication. 3. Movement allowance for turning and suspension - this is what makes me a bit nervous. It's one thing to make a duct for a track car that only gets limited mileage, but designing a duct that can work safely for 10K miles or more is a bit tricky. Anyway, suggestions/thoughts/comments welcome. I may try to embark on this in the next month or so if it seems workable.

11-12-2009, 01:53 AM	#11 (permalink)
imag Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Oakland, CA Posts: 446 Drives: up the wall Rep Power: 16	Proper brake ducting never really looks good. You need large diameter ducts to get enough air through, and the duct has to allow movement for steering and suspension travel. That means you end up with something like this: Brake Duct Hose : Air Duct Hose : Brake Duct : Duct Hoses : Racing Brake Duct Hoses Anyway, the issue with the Z that I can see (although a frickin lift would help) is that there are several tricky areas to get through. Then, in order to get air to the center of the rotor you have to get the ducting to the rear side of the front hub, which is not easy. I think it might require some custom injection molded plastic parts to really do the routing right on this car. Next time it's on a lift, I'm going to try taking a better look at the whole thing...

11-12-2009, 08:37 AM	#12 (permalink)
RCZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Miami Posts: 6,403 Drives: '09 370Z Rep Power: 1119	I've had my car on a lift many times already and there is room for it, just takes a little finagling.

12-07-2009, 01:31 AM	#13 (permalink)
azndummie Base Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Irvine Posts: 7 Drives: nissans Rep Power: 16	I would be willing to try this over buying an entire bbk. This plus aggressive pads will probably cure most brake fade depending on how good the ducting is. I think Corner3 Garage in lake forest is looking for some candidates to develop a kit.

12-07-2009, 12:25 PM	#15 (permalink)
Rps13.jw Base Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: California Posts: 38 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 16	Looks like you took apart your vacuum cleaner to make that.