Brake Upgrade - Opinions?

[Ilya]

Cheapest I could find so far is $100 (Monroe Brake and Muffler joint) to do the job for me. Dealer wanted $165.

Hmm...to do or not to do.

[mixeaodjservice]

I just bought the Hawk High Performance Street Brake Pads at autopartsdealer.com. They are said to be pretty good. Paid $122 total front and rear combined. I will install these next week as well as turn my rotors.

[WhoDey456]

I got a quote for $260 for both axles, and that is a small town local shop that I have been going to since I've owned my car... I wanted to ask if he was high!

Prolly going to have to tackle this one with my old man...

Just ordered the kit on ebay!

[1M2NV]

I got a quote for $260 for both axles, and that is a small town local shop that I have been going to since I've owned my car... I wanted to ask if he was high!

Prolly going to have to tackle this one with my old man...

Just ordered the kit on ebay!

I initially went to a place called "Cars, etc" which was similar to a local Midas. I just wanted to get a quick quote so I can bargain with the technician if need be.

They wanted 545 bucks for 6 hours of labor.

When they said that, I re-stated that it was a brake job, not an engine replacement.

Needless to say, I got the tech to do it for 80 bucks for me.

[a.blanco0905]

I got a quote for $260 for both axles, and that is a small town local shop that I have been going to since I've owned my car... I wanted to ask if he was high!

Prolly going to have to tackle this one with my old man...

Just ordered the kit on ebay!

$260??? Wow... they must've been high but I remember a shop quoting me almost $400 to install lowering springs, lol...

[pedsemdoc]

That ebay seller owes Craig and I some money yo... or at least a free kit, lol.

true dat--where's my royalties???!!!

Cheapest I could find so far is $100 (Monroe Brake and Muffler joint) to do the job for me. Dealer wanted $165.

Hmm...to do or not to do.

if you do them yourself, you could paint your calipers at the same time or clean the inside face of your rims while the tires are off--they were waaaaay dirty on mine...i know more work and time-lol

[Ilya]

Mine are already painted silver .

[MasterFoo]

Does anyone have a link for rotors only from brakemotive or similar rotors? I did a quick search and came up with the pads + rotors links. Which I don't need since I already changed the pads with Hawks.

[pedsemdoc]

You can try this link for the Brakemotive ones:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Performa ... ccessories

Craig

[a.blanco0905]

Does anyone have a link for rotors only from brakemotive or similar rotors? I did a quick search and came up with the pads + rotors links. Which I don't need since I already changed the pads with Hawks.

If I was you I'd buy the brakemotive kit everybody's getting for $169 shipped (less expensive than just the rotors Craig posted and same description.... "Kinetic Rotors are machined from the finest G3000 grade castings." ) and just keep the pads for future replacement... why complicate your life? Besides I'm sure that you wouldnt get such a great deal by just getting the rotors... I mean... I'll just stop... lol..

Here's the link Master Foo...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 0298786597

[pedsemdoc]

Plus, i think if you use the pads that come with the Brakemotive rotors, the seller gives you a one year guarantee against cracking--assuming you're not taking it on the track or posting a youtube video of yourself doing somethin' foolish-lol.

[MasterFoo]

Does anyone have a link for rotors only from brakemotive or similar rotors? I did a quick search and came up with the pads + rotors links. Which I don't need since I already changed the pads with Hawks.

If I was you I'd buy the brakemotive kit everybody's getting for $169 shipped (less expensive than just the rotors Craig posted and same description.... "Kinetic Rotors are machined from the finest G3000 grade castings." ) and just keep the pads for future replacement... why complicate your life? Besides I'm sure that you wouldnt get such a great deal by just getting the rotors... I mean... I'll just stop... lol..

Here's the link Master Foo...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 0298786597

Thanks to the both of you, I guess I'll just have a spare set of pads. Just finished ordering them.

[Ilya]

Loving these brakes thus far. So much better than the OEM stuff I had.

[a.blanco0905]

Thanks to the both of you, I guess I'll just have a spare set of pads. Just finished ordering them.

Hope you like them Master Foo...

Loving these brakes thus far. So much better than the OEM stuff I had.

Good, man... same here.

[jayfox911]

Just ordered a set. $169 free shipping and no tax.
thanks a.blanco0905, Craig and NICO!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 0566971415
4 NEW DRILLED & SLOTTED BRAKE ROTORS (FRONT & REAR)
2 SETS OF POWERSTOP Z16 CERAMIC BRAKE PADS (FRONT & REAR)

[pedsemdoc]

Jay,

I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the look and quality of this brake kit. For those of us who can't afford the BBK, these are a distant 2nd, but a whole lot easier on the wallet. Most (I think I've only seen one negative review by one of us) are happy with the kit.

btw, I have no vested interest in this ebay seller, just a dude looking for a quality product that doesn't break the bank.

Craig

[Ilya]

Jay,

I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the look and quality of this brake kit. For those of us who can't afford the BBK, these are a distant 2nd, but a whole lot easier on the wallet. Most (I think I've only seen one negative review by one of us) are happy with the kit.

btw, I have no vested interest in this ebay seller, just a dude looking for a quality product that doesn't break the bank.

Craig

I concur.

[a.blanco0905]

Good stuff Jay, and name's Blanco btw...

[BronxBomber]

Definitely intriguing since the shop that I've been talking to wants $274 installed for just front rotors from one of their vendors. I may as well upgrade them and replace all four while I'm at it. Hopefully they'll install them without giving me too much hell! Keep us posted on if you guys have any issues with them (everyone above) who currently has them installed.

[a.blanco0905]

^Hey yankee fan, Before u buy them hit me up, I might sell you my set for cheaper if you're interested plus we're semi local... I might be getting a BBK soon... and I havent put that many miles on mine.

[BronxBomber]

^Hey yankee fan, Before u buy them hit me up, I might sell you my set for cheaper if you're interested plus we're semi local... I might be getting a BBK soon... and I havent put that many miles on mine.

Sounds good to me man. I'm semi nervous about these because the price is so cheap (although I know that there's tons of markup through dealerships and whatnot). It's just tough not to equate price with quality, especially on this expensive of a car. But hell, only one way to find out!

Blanco, any specific reason that you're thinking about upgrading to the BBK's over these or is it just wanting to get the best of the best out there? Let me know if you decide to upgrade and we'll work something out.

[a.blanco0905]

Actually I think that upgrading to a BBK on these cars is retarded... well, not retarded, it's for looks because these cars (even modified) they dont put out enough hp to need performance braking parts, u feel me? I have nothing but praise for this set of brakes... but I'm (possibly) getting a BBK for either free or close to it because a new company approached me through the forums to basically develop one for our cars... so hopefully that comes through, I'm always saying I might be the unluckiest person on earth when it comes to this type of shyt, lol... guess I'm wrong this time.

[pedsemdoc]

hey if you're the developer of the BBBK: the Blanco Big Brake Kit- , could u hook a brother up with a discount?
seriously, will consider it if it's priced competitively.

[a.blanco0905]

The bbbk!!! Lmao... well, once this guys do what they gotta do on my car I'll keep u guys posted, they're supposed to be better priced than those crazy expensive BBKs...

[m4m]

Completed G37 BBK install on my '09M35S:
4 calipers, 4 rotors, 4 sets of pads
http://www.conceptzperformance.com/Cart ... 08.15.90.2

set of brake lines:
http://www.frsport.com/GOODRIDGE-22034- ... 11924.html

15mm H&R DRS Spacers:
http://www.stillen.com/product.asp?id=HRTRAKSP01

Just finished up last night.
The fronts fit the M as a true bolt on affair. No modifications needed. If you are doing the swap - I recomend to get the Stainless Steel Brake Lines. I was really surprized the front dust shield/splash gaurd didn't need any modifications! Off with the old - on with the new. Caliper alignment is perfect, way easier to change your pads as you don't have to remove the caliper with the akebono.

Rears fit with only a slight mod to the dust shield/slpash gaurd. The guard actually covers the back of the rear rotor and has a lip that seemingly, for a lack of a better word, "cups" the rotor which interfere's with the new larger rotor. I went with the tried and true American Way - maximum result, minimum effort, most expensive option of just hitting them with my plasma cutter and it made quick work of the shields. You could cut them anyway you seem fit but it's a minor modification at most.
Other than that it is a direct swap.

[m4m]

My initial impression is that the brake performance is much improved.
There is more progressive take up on the brakes right from tip in to heavy pressure.
On OEMs it was more on/off take up - nothing on tip in then a bite.
Driving behaviors - so far as smooth as silk. I was betting that the drilled option would make them noisey - but they don't at all.
Low speed slowing and stopping is much smoother and you don’t have to concentrate much to get a soft stop in stop n go traffic - this was almost impossible with the OEMs, which would typically stop with a jerk and a head bob followed by a to and from body motion and there was very little feel and ability to moderate the brake pressure with an OEM setup.
Now there is a linear buildup of brake response to the increased pressure on the pedal, on application and release, and it isn’t dimished braking ability, it’s a change in the relationship of pedal travel to brake response. I did have one emergency brake situation this morning the first thing I noticed was how much smoother the pressure built up rather than full force whiplash on tip in.
HTH

[KGBhoy]

Now that everyone's had these for a while, what can you say about the long term performance of these? m4m?
Thanks!

[a.blanco0905]

m4m doesnt have the brakemotive brakes... he has a bbk.

[Em35X]

I just got StopTech cross-drilled/slotted put on a couple of hours ago. Won't be able to speak to their longevity for some time, obviously, but with new Hawk pads my braking is smooooooooth. Just gotta warm up the pads.

[sunoco]

yall still liking the brakemotive kit? Thinking about ordering....