08 Coupe Brake replacement

[vonivo]

I'm 90% sure ill go with the Hawk pads but has anyone used the HPS Plus vs. the HPS? pros ? cons? is there another pad you used or recommend? I've heard bad things about EBC and them falling apart and or wearing out super fast under spirited driving.

I only have 5k miles on my coupe but the stock pads are way too soft and they dont have enough grip either. under spirited driving and hard braking they almost feel dangerous with their slow stopping power.

also what size is the bolts that hold the caliper onto the brake/rotor and can you just use a C-clamp to press the piston back into the caliper like i have done on all of my previous cars?

[vonivo]

anyone???

[One Crazy Max]

i have the Hawk HP Plus pads up front on my car, and the Hawk HPS pads in the rear. both of them came from 03-05 350z's, so if you are looking to purchase them, thats the route you will have to take.

i also have rotora cross drilled and slotted rotors up front, so i basically did a complete brake setup.

they work extremely well, and there is no fade whatsoever. the hawks have a very aggressive initial bite, which i love but others will disagree to that. the hp plus is a very aggressive pads, and was meant for the track, but i drive my car on the street, and i cant complain, but thats just me. they have great stopping power, and i think they really compliment the altimas stock braking system.

when replacing them you can use a c-clamp on all four corners, no other special tools are required like other cars.

if you want to buy the pads, get them from tirerack.com, but use an 03-05 base 350z to find them. thats where i got them from and i got them in 2 days.

i also see that you are in NY as well, so maybe i can give you a ride in my car, and you can see how aggressive they are.

I love the aggressiveness, but like i said, others will disagree with me. i like to let people give their own opinions.

[vonivo]

well the ones that are on from the factory are soft and a bit on the squishy need to use extra pressure to get them to bite enough and then they start to bottom out pressure and they quite frankly scare me with a very aggressive driving / braking style.

[One Crazy Max]

^^ can you reword that, im not quite understanding what you are trying to say?

[Carcass]

I'm happy with my stock pads. They squeak a little when dirty or cold but it goes away fast.

Every time I put on performance pads, I wind up grinding up the rotors and that gets 'spensive.

Much easier to replace pads a little more often. Have you tried resurfacing or just cleaning your rotors and then putting on new pads? Have you checked your vacuum system? A good pad will brake well without grabbing and wear fast.

[One Crazy Max]

I'm happy with my stock pads. They squeak a little when dirty or cold but it goes away fast.

Every time I put on performance pads, I wind up grinding up the rotors and that gets 'spensive.

Much easier to replace pads a little more often. Have you tried resurfacing or just cleaning your rotors and then putting on new pads? Have you checked your vacuum system? A good pad will brake well without grabbing and wear fast.

stock pads suck, end of story/

he probably has a problem with his vacuum system, because most altima owners complain that the brakes are very sensitive which i dont mind.

[Zerep]

i dont know but my pads bite instantly i hardly have any pedal travel dont know if your talking about initial bite or what but if you want more stopping powers, rotors and pads is the cheapest way, to go then the big brake kits but those break the bank.ive accidently set off "ABS" a couple of times because of the little pedal travel i got

[vonivo]

well the ones that are on from the factory are soft and a bit on the squishy need to use extra pressure to get them to bite enough and then they start to bottom out pressure and they quite frankly scare me with a very aggressive driving / braking style.

reworded...factory pads are soft feeling like a little squishy on the brake pedal where you need to use excessive force for extreme braking. They are pretty much junk and if anyone says differently you have no clue what good brakes feel like. from a high speed full force stop they dont even have close to decent stopping power.

[alphapig]

reworded...factory pads are soft feeling like a little squishy on the brake pedal where you need to use excessive force for extreme braking. They are pretty much junk and if anyone says differently you have no clue what good brakes feel like. from a high speed full force stop they dont even have close to decent stopping power.

Your modestly and humility never stops to amaze me.

I had no problems with the stock setup.

I bought Stillen cross-drilled rotors, which came with Stillen Metal Matrix pads. A C-clamp is all you need to compress the piston.

Feels the same to me. All of my friends who have driven the A/C remark on the sharp brake sensitivity.

Is there a reason as to why you are using "extreme braking?"

[vonivo]

i like to drive aggressively and the brakes just don't seem to keep getting more grippy the longer and harder i press on the pedal in a single braking situation.

ps im trying to be a better member but its hard for me not to jump on stupid comments but like i said im trying

[Zerep]

like i said pads are not going to make the difference your looking for and good brakes are brakes that you can modulate the pressure based on the position of your foot the ac brakes in less then 2inchs of travel apply full brake force. driving hard on the street and a track are to completely different things, track pad need higher operating temperature before they get "grippy"rotors and pad combo is what your looking for, because something tells when me you say braking from high speed you mean 80 plus miles an hr to 20mph 10 or more times a day.your car is not a sports car its a daily commuter that can go fast keep that in mind.and that comment on not knowing about good brakes, NOT COOL i drive 5 different cars weekly including a porche911turbo and if those brakes a broken the automotive industry sucks.