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Model Y front brake rotors on the Model 3?

Discussion in 'Model 3: Driving Dynamics' started by Dolemite, Mar 24, 2020.

  1. Dolemite

    Dolemite is my name

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    Can it be done? All we'd need is a different bracket? Bolt patterns etc. seem to be the same.

    Model Y

    Diameter: Front (non-Performance): 14.0"/355 mm
    Thickness: New (non-performance): 0.98"/25 mm

    Model 3

    Diameter: Front (non-performance): 12.6"/320 mm
    Thickness: New: 0.98"/25 mm
     
  2. Zoomit

    Zoomit Active Member

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    #2 Zoomit, Mar 24, 2020
    Last edited: Mar 24, 2020
    Good question. I suspect it can, as long as a suitable caliper bracket is engineered and built to move the caliper outward. It may only be possible when using 19" or larger wheels.

    It'd be great for someone like @MountainPass to offer a solution here. They offer lightweight stock (320mm) diameter rotors and a larger (365mm) diameter rotor kit for the standard brake Model 3's. Providing the caliper bracket could be a cheap solution to give more brake energy even considering the cost of buying Model Y OE rotors. Then again, this might steal sales from their other products.
     
  3. Dolemite

    Dolemite is my name

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    If they don’t do it... someone will. What about the offset from the rotor hat? Or whatever it’s called?
     
  4. Zoomit

    Zoomit Active Member

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    Any difference in rotor hat thickness would change the wheel offset, but that would likely be minor. The critical bit is ensuring the wheel hub can still fit flush on the rotor hat.

    Someone with both cars just needs to pull the wheels and take a look. Having someone design and build a caliper bracket would be the hard part; it’s not a place to skimp on a solution.
     
  5. Dolemite

    Dolemite is my name

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    So wheel offset is basically the hub’s positioning relative to the centerline of the wheel - what I’m wondering about is the same, except for the rotor hat vs. the rotor. If those are the same... and the wheel can still sit flush... basically all we should need is a bracket. Maybe a bracket could also be designed to accommodate any “offset” differences as well, if any. Would be a nice cheap(er) upgrade for those of us looking for beefier brakes.
     
  6. Zoomit

    Zoomit Active Member

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    Right, the bracket would, theoretically, be able to move the caliper outward from the hub for rotor clearance and also account for any spacing adjustment necessary along the axis of rotation of the rotor.

    Here's the MPP bracket for their 365mm rotors. It moves the caliper away from the hub and shifts it either in or out a little as well.

    [​IMG]
     
  7. MasterC17

    MasterC17 Active Member

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    Unfortunately not possible with 355mm rotors. 360mm is the smallest you could go with a bracket and still get full pad sweep and have everything lined up right. I already tried this with the 3 performance rotors which are the same size.

    Also, the 3 performance rotor are only $165 each, so no reason to use these inferior 1-piece Y rotors as they will likely save little to no $ and weight several pounds more.
     
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  8. Msjulie

    Msjulie Active Member

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    Apropos nothing I really like the MPP rotors on my car - brake feel from changing the fronts was noticeable and appreciated.

    I am merely a customer
     
  9. Alayjune

    Alayjune New Member

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    Hi, does anyone know is model y performance front brakes or brake rotor fit on model 3.
     
  10. MasterC17

    MasterC17 Active Member

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    I have not actually tried this yet - but if you swap the calipers AND rotors it should bolt right on (assuming the wheels will clear, would probably need 19" or larger).
     
  11. MODEL+

    MODEL+ Vendor

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    The performance 3 rotors are direct swap on to non performance models?
     
  12. MasterC17

    MasterC17 Active Member

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    Not on the front. Neither the Y rotors or the 3 Performance rotors will fit on the Base 3 brakes for the front axle (they will fit on the rear). My point was that they are both 355mm rotors, but the 3 Performance ones are two-piece whereas the Y are one-piece.
     
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  13. fiehlsport

    fiehlsport Member

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    Where did you get this info? First I've heard of the Y/3 brakes being different, thought the base and performance of each model shared the same brake sizes.
     
  14. MasterC17

    MasterC17 Active Member

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    I own more Model 3's than is sensible. I dabbled with a few Model Y's for a few weeks, and ended up with another 3 instead (don't ask why, I don't know). Additionally, a lot of information is on Tesla's EPC catalog.

    The Base brakes on the Y are the same on the front axle as the Performance brakes, the only difference being the Performance has a red caliper. The calipers and rotors are physically exactly the same. The rear rotors on the Y are the same on both. The Performance does have the upgraded rear calipers, and the base has the standard rear calipers (same as 3).
     
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  15. wstamaria

    wstamaria Member

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    I can confirm that this is the case. I Put my Model 3 Performance PUP brakes (Calipers & Rotors) on my wife's 2021 Model Y Dual Motor. The front calipers are EXACTLY the same, just with red paint. Every Number stamped in it is the exact same. I found that the rotors are different though, but will fit interchangeably with the Model 3 Performance floating rotors. Model Y Dust shields on the front work fine.

    The only changes that i needed to do is swap out the rear dust shield and swap out the parking brake wiring harness. You can cut the Model Y dust shield to clear the mounting brackets of the Performance rear calipers if you don't want to buy new ones.

    I cannot confirm that the Model Y Performance Parking brake wiring harness is a direct fit since I didn't buy the harness to try out. I made my own Harness. The wires are longer but it uses the same connectors as the Model 3 Performance harness.
     
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  16. Dolemite

    Dolemite is my name

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    w8... so you guys are telling me that if I want to upgrade to the M3P+ “BBK”, basically all I have to do is get the base Model Y front calipers + rotors?

    And were the rear rotors the same across the board?
     
  17. wstamaria

    wstamaria Member

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    Yes, Correct. To be clear though, Base model meaning long range dual motor. I'm not certain what brakes the on-then-of menu RWD Y has.

    Also, the rotors are the same size and will work, but not the same kind. (Model 3 PUP rotors are "2 piece", Model Y AWD are standard cast)
     
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  18. MasterC17

    MasterC17 Active Member

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    I would get the base Y front calipers and pair them with Performance 3 rotors on all four corners. You would still have the base rear calipers, though.

    This would be a cool and cheap way to upgrade the front brakes and drop some pounds in the process!
     
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  19. Dolemite

    Dolemite is my name

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    Yeah or get the MPP discs so that I don't have to deal with the hub bs... Still leaves the rear caliper but maybe the rear caliper from an S would fit?

    My main "concern" at this point is "feel." I miss the brakes on my BMW - by far the most impressive thing about that car. I know that changing pads might help, but I don't know if that'll get it to where I want. If it weren't for regen, I probably would've done something about it by now. Got the MPP brace but that's only part of the equation.
     
  20. wstamaria

    wstamaria Member

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    I have the S rear calipers in my pile of parts I bought, but shouldn't have. I think I tried to test fit them before but they didn't fit. I don't remember why. I want to say that they bolted on, but the pads didn't line up with the rotor, or something like that. Ill give it another go this weekend and report back.
     
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