may have found an interesting brake upgrade...

**racerxh23** · 09-15-2003, 07:44 PM

This is kinda confusing and I'm not sure if it'll work but please bare with me.

As I was doing brake research for my '95 Prelude I found that Advanced had the same part # for the front calipers of the 4g Lude as the 88-91 Prelude. Hondaautomotiveparts.com has them as diff #'s so I'm not positive if its true. Heres the intersting part. On that same site they have the front brake part #'s for the '89 Accord listed as being the same as the 88-91 Prelude's. This means, in theory, that you guys can do the same twin piston Legend caliper swaps that the 4 and 5g Luders are doing. I also checked the '87's, but the brakes and kuckles are different part numbers so I don't know what would be involved in converting those.

What does eveyone think and has anyone tried this?

**guaynabo89** · 09-15-2003, 07:51 PM

That is correct my son.

I actually bought a set to test fit but never got a chance to mount. THe caliper bolt spacing is exactly the same as the 88-89 lxi sei though.

The bad part is that without a core you wind up Paying 250 plus for calipers.

**deadlight** · 09-15-2003, 07:59 PM

Wow, that's surprising, I thought the only compatibility would be with the 84-87 preludes. Would 88-91 Lude rotors fit too? after-market Cross drilled and vented rotors would look pretty sweet

***Vinny*** · 09-15-2003, 08:20 PM

Originally posted by deadlight
Wow, that's surprising, I thought the only compatibility would be with the 84-87 preludes. Would 88-91 Lude rotors fit too? after-market Cross drilled and vented rotors would look pretty sweet

They do Make cross drilled and vented rotors for our cars. Look at tirerack.com they have EBC and Powerslot

**2old_honda** · 09-15-2003, 08:25 PM

Originally posted by guaynabo89
That is correct my son.

I actually bought a set to test fit but never got a chance to mount. THe caliper bolt spacing is exactly the same as the 88-89 lxi sei though.

The bad part is that without a core you wind up Paying 250 plus for calipers.

just give them your old accord calipers. they wont know the difference

***Vinny*** · 09-15-2003, 08:30 PM

what year legend brakes are they using????????

**deadlight** · 09-15-2003, 08:34 PM

cool vinny thanks for the site man.

**guaynabo89** · 09-15-2003, 08:34 PM

Originally posted by 2old_honda
just give them your old accord calipers. they wont know the difference

That's so dishonest I would never do that!

:lol

**deadlight** · 09-15-2003, 08:37 PM

If they can't tell the difference, in an area they specialize in at that, then they probably should be robbed.

**racerxh23** · 09-15-2003, 09:02 PM

We're using '95 Legend GS calipers with a 10.9" rotor. You'll be using your caliper brakets mounted to the the Legend caliper. However, the scrub area won't match so I don't know how that'll affect the performance. From my testing I've also determined that the f/r bias will be off but that won't hurt you unless you want to maximize the performance of this swap.

If you have rear drums and want better performance, you'll want to look into getting the perportional valve for the 4 wheel disc version of your car. If you can do a rear disc upgrade you'll need to remove the residual valves going to the front calipers. I'm develloping a kit for the Prelude that uses a Wilwood adjustable perportioning valve and some custom brake lines so that the stock parts don't have too be butchered. For max performance you'll want to look into that as well. If theres enough people interested in a similar kit for the Accord, I can look into that too since I'm already at it.

2old_honda: Do you know off hand if LXi parts can be swapped on to other Accords? I would imagine you could, I'm just not sure what other parts you need and I'm tired of chasing part #'s for the time being.

**3G Jester** · 09-15-2003, 09:05 PM

hotdamn thats a nice upgrade. good research

***Vinny*** · 09-15-2003, 09:24 PM

Hot Dayum thats gonna be schweet if it ends up being a do-able deal

**2old_honda** · 09-15-2003, 09:28 PM

Originally posted by racerxh23
2old_honda: Do you know off hand if LXi parts can be swapped on to other Accords? I would imagine you could, I'm just not sure what other parts you need and I'm tired of chasing part #'s for the time being.

yes they can. but it does depend on year tho. 86-87 LXi's have the same brakes as 86-89 DX and LX models. The 88-89 LXi's have larger front rotors. they can be easily swaped into any other years/models (of 3rd gen accords) tho. And the SEi model has 4 wheel disks (the fronts are the same as the 88-89 LXi's I believe)

**2old_honda** · 09-15-2003, 09:39 PM

Originally posted by deadlight
If they can't tell the difference, in an area they specialize in at that, then they probably should be robbed.

they wont know. All you do is go in to autozone, advance auto, or where ever and buy the legend calipers (pay full price) then come back later with your receipt and the accord calipers in the box for the legend parts. all they will do is look at the receipt and open the box to make sure that there are calipers in it. they will then give you back the core charge, and thats it.
The only way that they would find out that you were giving them the accord parts is if they open a new box with the legend parts in it and compare the two. but most stores will have to order the legend parts anyway so they wont have anything to compare it with.

**guaynabo89** · 09-16-2003, 04:31 AM

Originally posted by racerxh23
We're using '95 Legend GS calipers with a 10.9" rotor. You'll be using your caliper brakets mounted to the the Legend caliper. However, the scrub area won't match so I don't know how that'll affect the performance.

THe only thing is I have an AEm brake upgrade kit. That rotor has a much larger surface area than the stock 88-89 lxi rotors. The rotors off a lude or Accord won't fit cause of different bolt spacing. Pre 90 Accords use a 4/100 bolt spacing.

That is unless your willing to have a machine shop put in another set of holes for you. (might be doable)

Another thing is I didn't see if the pad touched the rotor surface fully. Meaning that if it was pushed away from the center too much.

Oh and incase anyone is wondering why this would be such a great upgrade is.............. The 94-95 Legend GS came with dual piston front calipers! The pistons in the Legend are bigger than the NSX too.

**racerxh23** · 09-16-2003, 03:28 PM

Did I forget to mention that?!?! The Legend and NSX calipers both have 42mm and 38mm pots but the NSX's calipers are an alu alloy. If you're worried about unsprung weight the NSX caliper is for you. However, it runs about $550 a pair used and $600 a piece from the dealership. And yes the NSX calipers will fit your car too.

You should still be able to use these calipers with the AEM kit.

2old_honda: Let me see if I got this right. Any model Accord 86-89 can have '89 Lxi rotors and calipers just by bolting those two componants on? What accounts for the knuckles diff part number between the LXi's and the other models? Thats where I got stumped.

**2old_honda** · 09-16-2003, 05:09 PM

Originally posted by racerxh23
2old_honda: Let me see if I got this right. Any model Accord 86-89 can have '89 Lxi rotors and calipers just by bolting those two componants on? What accounts for the knuckles diff part number between the LXi's and the other models? Thats where I got stumped.

I believe that is correct. But I could be wrong. You would have have to talk to somebody that did the swap to find out for sure.

**2old_honda** · 09-16-2003, 05:20 PM

ok, i just went back and did a search. I was correct 88-89 LXi/SEi are larger than 86-87 LXi

do you happen to know what size the 88-89 LXi rotors are?

**guaynabo89** · 09-16-2003, 07:50 PM

Originally posted by racerxh23
Any model Accord 86-89 can have '89 Lxi rotors and calipers just by bolting those two componants on? What accounts for the knuckles diff part number between the LXi's and the other models? Thats where I got stumped.

The 88-89 lxi's have different knuckles than the 86-87 Accords,( all models) and the 88-89 dx and lx models.

So in order to swap the larger calipers and rotors off the 88-89 lxi sei's onto one of the other models you would also need the steering knuckle.

I don't think the Legend caliper will fit with the stock 88-89 lxi sei brake rotor, and the other rotors you mentioned have a different wheel stud patern so the will not fit on the 3rd gen Accord.

**racerxh23** · 09-16-2003, 08:24 PM

I would imagine that they're 10" rotors.

Whats keeping you from doing your swap besides the possible issue with the rotors?

A friend of mine got me access to an '87, so in the next week or two I'll know for sure if the Legend calipers will work or not. I'll probably go ahead and do a rear disk swap and ditch the stock perportioning valve for an adjustable one. It'll all depend on how far the owner will let me take it.

**guaynabo89** · 09-16-2003, 08:31 PM

Originally posted by racerxh23

Whats keeping you from doing your swap besides the possible issue with the rotors?

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ and lots of lack of it of course:lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol

I'know I can bolt them up to the aem rotors no problem. What I doubt will work is the legend caliper with the stock 88-89 lxi sei rotor.

Don't ask me why but I just have a feeling about it not fitting. I never tried on the stock rotor though so I could be completely wrong.

**racerxh23** · 09-16-2003, 08:39 PM

Trying doesn't cost anything. Just unbolt the slides and hang the stock caliper then bolt the Legend caliper on. The only thing thats important at this point is that the caliper is centered up on the rotor using your stock brakets. I'll take car of all the technicallities with finding the best overall setup.

**guaynabo89** · 09-16-2003, 08:41 PM

I already tried and returned the calipers.(had aem rotors at the time) I just haven't gotten a spare 200 or so to get it done.

**Hash_man_Se_i** · 09-16-2003, 08:41 PM

I'm confused here... So the calipers which could fit are from a legend? what year? Cuz I want some... Or would the AEM big brake kit be better??

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by 2old_honda
just give them your old accord calipers. they wont know the difference
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That's so dishonest I would never do that!

It's true though, I work at Partsource, and usually we don't know what the core is supposed to look like. Just throw the accord callipers in the box.

**88LXi68** · 09-25-2003, 08:36 AM

Originally posted by Hash_man_Se_i
I'm confused here... So the calipers which could fit are from a legend? what year? Cuz I want some... Or would the AEM big brake kit be better??

That's so dishonest I would never do that!

It's true though, I work at Partsource, and usually we don't know what the core is supposed to look like. Just throw the accord callipers in the box. [/QUOTE]

If I understand it correctly the Legend calipers will bolt on to our cars. So you can get the AEM brake upgrade and use the Legend calipers.

It is still uncertain if the Legend calipers will work with STOCK 88-89 LX-i rotors.

This is interesting..keep the updates coming.