4 or 5?

[PDenbigh]

OK, here's the deal. I have, and hate, my 4x108 bolt pattern, so I am getting rid of it. Here are my options:

5-lug conversion, to 5x114.3 (same as Mustang). The kit I can get, however, has 12mm studs, and from what I can tell, Mustangs use 1/2" studs. Not a huge difference, but I have heard that if I use rotors designed for 1/2 on 12mm, when braking hard, they shift around, and result in vibration or worse. Any knowledge on this? The 5-lug is more work, but I feel would be a little more hard core, but that's only because I associate it with a Mustang.

4x100 conversion, so I could be like a normal 4-lug car, which for once would be great. Questions: Can 4-lug take a lot of Torque and stress? (RWD Car). Also, does anyone in Harrisonburg have a rotor (used) from a Civic, etc, so I can see if it will fit around my hub? (Hub-centric car) This would be the easiest option, as I could just have my current hubs drilled. Would you guys reccomend going to something like this so that I could use (civic, etc) rotors, and have a much larger selection of wheels? Who makes huge, slotted, hard core rotors like this? The car weighs around, hmm, 2700+ish, and will be my track car.

Any thoughts?

Thanks a bunch.

[JohnC]

I think Nissan studs are 12mm. Don't know if you could substitute those into the kit, but there are plenty of rotor choices available there...

[Mike]

i'd go 4-lug, because it is generally lighter and wheel choices are UBER abundant, but not a civic setup. it simply isn't enough to handle a 2700lb car at track speeds. you may want to contact fastbrakes to see if they can custom make you some mounting brackets. at the very least get a non-r integra setup, but see if you can't get fastbrakes to fab you up some adapters to take a willwood caliper and corrado rotor.

also, no sense in getting slotted rotors. save your money for non-wear items.

[.RJ]

You could always just drill out the hub to accept the 1/2" (12.7mm) studs...

[Mike]

but then he still has a stupid lug dimension.

[PDenbigh]

Thanks for the thoughts. I have the caliper side of things handled nicely, so no stress there. The rotor selection and # of lugs is what I'm curious about.

As for drilling, definately an option...

[PDenbigh]

I think Nissan studs are 12mm. Don't know if you could substitute those into the kit, but there are plenty of rotor choices available there...

Nice, can you direct me to some proven sites that would sell rotors?

Thanks!

[.RJ]

<!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.carbotecheng.com">www.carbotecheng.com</a><!-- w --> - ask for matt, tell him I sent you - they sell brakes for just about anything, I'm sure he can hook you up if you know what rotor dimensions (diam, thickness, offset) you need

[JohnC]

I think Nissan studs are 12mm. Don't know if you could substitute those into the kit, but there are plenty of rotor choices available there...

Nice, can you direct me to some proven sites that would sell rotors?

Thanks!

Studs:
Courtesy Parts

Rotors:
Tirerack

[PDenbigh]

Awesome, thanks. Just as a clarificatioin, your ZX is 5x114.3?

[JohnC]

Awesome, thanks. Just as a clarificatioin, your ZX is 5x114.3?

Yup.

[.RJ]

Z rotors may not be the right offset - and you'll need 16" wheels to clear Z brakes, but thats all solved with custom caliper brackets

[Maengelito]

i say 5 lug just because the more you have, the better safety margin you have. however, 4x100 is capable at track speeds, and i have integra rotors sitting on my shelf that you can borrow if you want to. either way, i think you'll have an abundance of wheel choices to pick from wether it be for a mustang or a civic.

[Mike]

i say 5 lug just because the more you have, the better safety margin you have.

i've heard that so many times, but how many times have you seen a 4-lug setup fail?

[KPWSerpiente]

How many times have you seen a car with 4 lugs producing more than 350 ft lbs of torque at the wheels?

I'd go with a 5 lug conversion.

-T

[CaptainHenreh]

Wheel choice shouldn't be an issue. Lots of cars have 5 X114.3. Mustangs, Z32's, 5 Lug Toyotas, and the like. Lots and LOTS of nice, wide wheels out there for 5X4.5" bolt patterns.

I say go for 5 lug.

[Maengelito]

i say 5 lug just because the more you have, the better safety margin you have.

i've heard that so many times, but how many times have you seen a 4-lug setup fail?

last year on the backstraight at VIR... but thats my own fault. also, hasnt b00bies snapped a lug and G and chan and maybe a few others?

[Mike]

i say 5 lug just because the more you have, the better safety margin you have.

i've heard that so many times, but how many times have you seen a 4-lug setup fail?

last year on the backstraight at VIR... but thats my own fault. also, hasnt b00bies snapped a lug and G and chan and maybe a few others?

those failures were due to improperly installed lugnuts, not an inherent flaw in a 4-lug system.

[Mike]

How many times have you seen a car with 4 lugs producing more than 350 ft lbs of torque at the wheels?

your reasoning is not sound. i can't say that i've seen many, if any. but does that mean a 4-lug setup cannot handle that much torque? no. can those 350 ft-lbs even be put down to the ground all at one time? doubtful, so it is a moot point.

[KPWSerpiente]

Mike, I refuse to argue with you. You go ahead and rock those 4 lugs.

-T