Brakes?

[hitbychance]

I didn't want to thread jack the endless thread to ask this question so i'll ask it here:

Is it possible to upgrade stock brakes to the track model brembos on an 08 model 350z and if so how much would the upgrade be (ballpark value)?

[kuhan]

Yes, that's the best bbk upgrade for the money. Any 350Z/G35C equipped with Brembo's can fit on your 08 350Z.
The whole kit ranges from $1300-$1700 depending on the condition.

[BusyBadger]

Kuhan's right on the money. The Brembo package is a great deal for the money. Plenty of aftermarket support for the OEM Brembos, both with pads and rotors. I've never had mine make the slightest objection to being punished on the some of the roads in the mountains here, even after repeated runs around The Devil's Triangle.

I've even seen then show up for right at $1000 from time to time, usually it's someone that ditched their Brembos for some other BBK and is wanting to clean out some garage space.

And as always there's the option of scrounging from a salvage yard. Just hope the brakes weren't what caused the Z to wind up there in the first place.

[hitbychance]

by the sounds of it, buying them brand new would be super pricey as opposed to used?

[dasoupdude]

by the sounds of it, buying them brand new would be super pricey as opposed to used?

That's usually the case..yes


Some brand new bbk cost about as much an s13. (or two )

[kuhan]

Don't be too concerned when buying used Brembo bbk. Like Badger said, there are tons of rotors and pads available.
What I recommend is that when buying an used Brembo bbk, make sure you get a rebuild kit to replace old gaskets, etc.

Yes, the ranges are actually between $1000 - $1500 for the whole kit. You can find just the calipers in good condition for about $600-700.

[BusyBadger]

What I recommend is that when buying an used Brembo bbk, make sure you get a rebuild kit to replace old gaskets, etc.

^ ^ This ^ ^

Yes, the ranges are actually between $1000 - $1500 for the whole kit. You can find just the calipers in good condition for about $600-700.

If I were upgrading to the OEM Brembos I'd just get the calipers, a rebuild kit and pick up everything else (pads, rotors and lines) brand new from an aftermarket provider. I've recommended them before and I'll do it again, I've got nothing but good things to say about the stuff I picked up from RacingBrake out in Fullerton.

While the calipers were out I'd fix any nicks and chips they had and maybe even get them powdercoated so after a rebuild they would be in a like new condition.

And not that it's a big deal to most people but keep in mind that when you upgrade to steel lines you'll be bumped out of Stock classification if you were planning on autocrossing your car. Can you believe that we've got cf reinforced driveshafts but don't have steel braided lines?

There is one other quasi-OEM upgrade that you could do. I've only seen it a couple of times, but you can mount the MASSIVE Akebono brakes from the 370Z Sport Package on the 350Z. You'll spend more simply because of the size of everything, but I can't imagine these beasties ever not being up to any task you might throw at them.

[Ace2cool]

I just pooped a little over the size of those brakes. Are they a direct 1-for-1 swap on the 350Z?

[kuhan]

I personally don't recommend Akebono bbk. I've read a few bad reviews on them overheating at tracks, etc. And the some installation costs were over the roof since the brackets didn't line up properly on 350Z's or G35's.

Brembo > Akebono any time.

[hitbychance]

all good information guys, i'm going to see if i can track down a set of the brembos and get the rebuild kit and new rotors, there aren't many z's around here so i'm thinking this will be an online transaction.

[BusyBadger]

I just pooped a little over the size of those brakes. Are they a direct 1-for-1 swap on the 350Z?

You need a mounting bracket/adapter to put them on the 350Z. Concept Z makes this one.

I personally don't recommend Akebono bbk. I've read a few bad reviews on them overheating at tracks, etc. And the some installation costs were over the roof since the brackets didn't line up properly on 350Z's or G35's.

Not that I mind hearing about the superiority of a brake setup that I already have, but I'd like to see some empirical data on the Akebono setup vs the Brembos. Pads & rotors, tires, type & condition of fluid (not to mention driving technique)all play a huge part in heat soak/brake fade. it's quite possible for an oem setup with good pads & rotors to outlast someone with some BBK that's got sub-standard components.

I do know that the Nismo 370Z that Car & Driver had a writeup about after it plowed into a wall after some serious brake fade (using the Akebono setup) was running stock ceramic pads. As C&D wrote in the article, Nissan now offers a performance pad upgrade. My thought is that a performance pad should be the standard when opting on the sport brakes from the factory, as well as DOT 4 fluid. The C&D testing numbers after they made these simple changes say it all.

[dasoupdude]

Since I'll never afford brembos or endless brakes in a million years, I think I'm going with a CZP akebono kit..


..in yellow to help deal with my strange obsession.

Instead of 'akebono' I'm looking for something clever like a word or message to put on the caliper.

ex:
brakes
brombo
weaksauce
lolz
bacon

[audtatious]

Why don't you contact Mike for the kit?

http://www.370zcoupe.com/how-tos/instal ... 0z-or-350z

[dasoupdude]

Perhaps, as long I can get them yellow..

[audtatious]

He has a powder coater he uses.

[bryan d.]

I just completed my brembo brake swap. I can say that I'm a big fan of them. Definately better than stock and it wasn't too hard to swap. I found my set on ebay haha

[audtatious]

You'd be surprised at how much better the Akebono brakes are over the Brembo's. Brembo's are still a great step up from stock tho

[RED_DET]

Akebono's over brembo' any day of the week. I just put the bono's through the paces at deals gap and they felt much stronger than the brembo's. Now don't get me wrong, the brembo's are nothing to scarf at, but when comparing used brembo prices to brand new akebono setup with after market rotor/pads, it becomes a no brainer.

[BusyBadger]

You'd be surprised at how much better the Akebono brakes are over the Brembo's.

It's good to know all that extra weight is good for something.

[RED_DET]

What a whopping 20lbs....

[BusyBadger]

What a whopping 20lbs....

I just saw the install article and noticed they were StopTech rotors and not the the stock 30 lbs chubsters.

Are those rotors StopTech's two piece AeroRotor?

[audtatious]

No, they are the base PowerSlot versions.

[dasoupdude]

In other news, my friend is getting rid of his 370 and is willing to trade his brakes along with dba rotors for my stock brakes. Only problem is since nobody else has done this before custom brackets will have to be made in order to make this even remotely possible.

[audtatious]

Yes, you will need custom brackets for a 350z to use the Akebono brakes.

[Bubba1]

Akebono's over brembo' any day of the week. I just put the bono's through the paces at deals gap and they felt much stronger than the brembo's. Now don't get me wrong, the brembo's are nothing to scarf at, but when comparing used brembo prices to brand new akebono setup with after market rotor/pads, it becomes a no brainer.

I'm not familiar with akebono. I;d be interested in hearing how well they do long term. Since I had a non-Brembo touring model 350z, I went with a Stoptech BBK upgrade, with Ferrodo 2500 pads and love the set up. No fading, minimal dust, drama free braking on track.

[audtatious]

I put almost 50k on my Akebono's before I needed to turn the rotors (factory, not stoptech). Project mu pads really make it bite, but with more dust than I would really care for. Going from my coupe to the V36 sedan with base brakes is like night and day.

[dasoupdude]

Yes, you will need custom brackets for a 350z to use the Akebono brakes.

Indeed..but we'll have to make another bracket to get my 350z brakes onto his 370.

[RED_DET]

That is going to be interesting for the next person that gets that car with all the wrong brake components....

[dasoupdude]

LOL, sport model 370z with base 05 350z brakes.


If he does decide to sell it, its going to carmax.

[audtatious]

If he does decide to sell it, its going to carmax.

50 years from now it will roll across the Barrett-Jackson (or similar) auctions as a one-off Z