BBK

[suprspinner]

Does anyone know if the AP racing BBK will work with the stock 2011 3.5 rims? also what are your guys thoughts on the AP racing BBK if you have it?

[DJ_B_Easy]

I dont believe so. IIRC, someone posted that minimum wheel size is 18" to clear it. Do a search, Dangeris did a write up on install as well.

[dangeris]

OP...Rim diameter doesn't matter,..it's the offset. if the 2011 rims have the same offset as the 2008 which is +45, then the answer is a big fat NO! When I installed my AP BBK, i was running an offset of +35 on my rims and it still hit the BBK so I purchased 7mm spacers. That bumped out perfectly and clears the BBK by about 2mm. So the total offset I'm running now is +28. So if you wanted to run your stock wheels (assuming the offset is +45) then you will need to purchase at least a 17mm spacer to clear the AP BBK. PM me if you have questions...

[DJ_B_Easy]

^Speak of the devil!

[dangeris]

^Speak of the devil!

[suprspinner]

thank you dangeris. what did you think of your BBK? was it the AP Racing one?

[beeristasty]

I would say spoke design is just as important as offset. If the spokes aren't designed with clearance in mind, then you'll obviously need to go with a lower offset to allow enough room. My rims have +40 offset (20x8.5) and I have at least 5mm of clearance, and that's with the 370z's fat-honkin-akebono kit. I also test fitted my old rims (same design, 18x8) that are +48 and they barely don't clear. Adding in a 5mm spacer would obviously make things work.

Now that I think about it, OP could potentially add 20/25mm spacers to the oem rims and gain enough clearance for a bbk to fit.

[dangeris]

thank you dangeris. what did you think of your BBK? was it the AP Racing one?

Let me ask one thing..why do you need a BBK? Will you be auto-crossing or will it be more for show? If your answer sways more to the latter, then I would say save your money, paint your calipers and call i the day.

[Bmore-coupe]

Let me ask one thing..why do you need a BBK? Will you be auto-crossing or will it be more for show? If your answer sways more to the latter, then I would say save your money, paint your calipers and call i the day.

This 1000000%

[suprspinner]

i want to max my car out and it seems as if the BBK is the only thing left. I also feel as if my brakes could be better, there have been times where im braking going down a hill and they get an ABS feel but ABS hasnt kicked in.

[MetallicSlate]

The other option if you're looking for a brake upgrade is to find a higher end Nissan that shares the same caliper mounting points. I think alexm said the 370z brakes would fit in another post? Don't quote me on it though 100%. An adapter might still be necessary like a bbk.

[suprspinner]

wouldn't that cost nearly the same anyway though?

[MetallicSlate]

Perhaps if you buy them new. But buying a used pair or pulling a pair off a wrecked one can save you some change.

[suprspinner]

but will those give me the same stopping power as the AP racing BBK?

[MetallicSlate]

It would not give you quite as much as a big brake kit but it would provide you with more stopping power because you increase the size of the rotor too. Again though, it is more about how you're using it then how big it is. Some big brake kits are up to 6 pistons which will provide you with a lot of stopping power but they're mainly for track use.

[wade001]

What are you going for mostly? looks? performance?

Theres a 14" akebono bbk for the 370z, less then the AP kit and both front n rear. if changing brakes do front n rear, not just one. And yes, I'm pretty sure the 370 calipers bolt on but idk about if the rotors are the same specs as ours except the diameter. 13" is more then enough for a 3.5 so the nismo ones (13") will do that .

[spawn01]

14 in akebono brakes from a 370 or g37 with upgraded pads and slotted rotors will give you equal braking performance as ap racing in a street or agressive street setting. AP racing bbk are 13 in and not really much larger than stock. Front and rear will run you about 4 grand. Akebonos about half that. The thing is what are your intentions. If you plan to auto cross once in a while, you are better off just upgrading your rotors and better pads, if you plan on hot lapping at a real track that does not include a bunch of cones in a parking lot, def ap racing. But if you just want bigger brakes and shave off a car length or two from you stopping distance, get the akebonos. I have had them on the coupe since 2009. I can get brake pads for them anywhere, including autozone. tons of aftermarket rotors and a nissan dealership will service them. Try and find parts for ap racing on a weekend. good luck with that. And I am pretty sure the akebonos will not fit under your stock wheels.

[suprspinner]

i want to shave a few car lengths off so the akenbono seem better for me then, but how much more stopping power would the AP racing BBk give me? also will the akebonos fit if i used spacers?

[SEismyG]

Little curious on this...can I use the 13in G37 rotors with Altima coupe pads? Or do I have to use G37 pads?

[spawn01]

The braking distance between stock and upgraded brake systems will always have an equal starting point. The difference will come with speed. The better a brake is able to dissipate heat, the less brake fade. They will all stop in the same distance at 30 mph, but at 60, the difference grows, at 80 the difference get larger and so on. So in a initial panic brake situation at normal freeway speeds, there would be little difference between stock and the other kits. But if you are blasting down a canyon road, those of you with bbk's are still having a good time at the bottom of the hill. those of you with stock brakes are not. Because of the ap racing ability to dissipate heat quickly, I think that they would be superior to the akebonos in aggressive driving.

Little curious on this...can I use the 13in G37 rotors with Altima coupe pads? Or do I have to use G37 pads?

altima brakes are 11.7 in diameter, g37 are 13in, g37 with sport package are 14in fronts. Cannot mix and match components. What ever rotor you use, you need the matching caliper and pads with it.

[suprspinner]

so the AP are better for more aggressive and track like driving. when you put your akebonos on how much of a change was there from stock?

[spawn01]

It was a big difference, especially on initial bite. They are a lot easier to modulate through out the pedal travel. You just need to know, these things are heavy! Stock g37 sport rotors (akebono 14 in) weigh something like 28 lbs. More rotating mass usually equates to slower acceleration. You can find lighter rotors like dba's and lighter wheels to offset the difference. I don't know what spacers you would need to fit these. These calipers are huge!

[MetallicSlate]

How did you get a hold of the Akebonos? I went to their site and didn't see any way to order them. But if the 370 brakes fit, couldn't I just go to courtesy parts and order the parts necessary? The stock calipers for a 370Z with no pads or shims for the base model is like 300 per caliper. Obviously no brake lines or anything, but that seems like the way to go for a minor upgrade.

[dangeris]

Listen...Save you're money. I've had the AP BK for almost 5 years now and honestly I wished I didn't spend the money on them. Don't ge me wrong, they're awesome brakes and have saved my A$$ from idiots who can't drive coming back from carshows but there's nothing wrong ith the OEM brakes that your coupe came with. A mod here adidas2go, ran the first 3.5 turbo hee with CVT and he ran them on his OEM...not on a BBK. He never had a problem. If you're getting them just for show, which is what I'm gathering from your post, I'm telling youright now, DON'T DO IT!!! If you want to dress up and firm up your brakes do the following:
- Remove your brakes and get them professionally powder coated to whatever color you want.
- Upgrade your rotors to drilled and slotted rotors. ** HINT ** DO NOT BUY THE eBAY POS!!. Buy the quality ones from Stillen or oher reputable manufacture. The eBay will heat up quickly and warp.
- Replace your brake pads wih HAWK performance pads. **Warning** - These create a lot of DUST!!! These also come standard or for the AP BBK
- Replace your brakelines to high quality SS lines. Stllen has them. (BTW you would need these anyway if you were running the BBK)
- **Not Required** but you can also change out the brake fluid to DOT 5 full Synthetic but as noted, unless you're gonna road race or track the car, you're wasting money cause the synthetic is for high temp which will never be achieved in normal driving.

So that's my advice...do what you will but IMO, I can spend that cash on something better....like a NISMO 370!

[suprspinner]

would you recommend changing the rotors as well? or is that unnecessary like the BBK. i want to thank you dangeris for your honesty and knowledge on this topic, im going to follow the tips you have given us.

[dangeris]

would you recommend changing the rotors as well? or is that unnecessary like the BBK.

Yes..thank you for pointing this out. I have editd my post to reflect this important upgrade (which btw I did on my rear brakes

i want to thank you dangeris for your honesty and knowledge on this topic, im going to follow the tips you have given us.

NP - Glad I could help..Now I feel like this guy cause I'm helping people save buku bucks!