When to upgrade brake system

[240TKE128]

Hey Everyone,

So i am working on planning out my restoration. Ice been searching for a few hours and cant seem to locate an answer to when a brake system upgrade is needed for a street only setup. Its easy to find stuff for track use but i want to make sure once the restore is completed i will be able to stop without issues. I am setting a wide power goal for a Ka24eT build of between 250-350 wheel horsepower. I plan to rebuild the calipers and upgrade to drilled and slotted rotors, but i wanted some feed back if that would be enough or if i probably should look to going to 300zx calipers or one of the other brake swaps out there?

Any help you guys can provide would be greatly appreciated, and if i missed a previous post somewhere please feel free to link it to me.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Realistically you can upgrade whenever you see fit. You don't have to package it with the power upgrade. If you do the small upgrades like you're talking about (drilled and slotted rotors, better fluid, etc) and don't use the car on the track/abuse the brakes, the setup will most likely be fine. Repeated stops from high speed is when you'll see brake fade. If you ever do, its definitely time to upgrade.

[centralcoaster33]

Second Brake Fade. When you experience brake fade in your driving, it's time.

[240TKE128]

Thank you both for the feedback,

yeah that is what i figured the answer would probably be, i was just curious since the car is going to be completely gutted, and rebuilt from the ground up, i figured its the time to go ahead and upgrade the brakes in the process if it was needed. I guess really it boils down to do i want to go ahead and do it, (at most) Q45 or Z32 brake upgrade, or just wait until its needed.

[GTR PrYdE]

Q45 front brakes/5 lug/SS brake lines/ new fluid/flush would be what I'd consider a minimum upgrade for brakes, but completely necessary once you add a turbo (or any power adder). Brake fade can be extremely dangerous yet easily can happen with stock brakes + turbo.

[GTR PrYdE]

Repeated stops from high speed is when you'll see brake fade. If you ever do, its definitely time to upgrade.

For me - one stop from 100mph gave me terrible brake fade. Granted I was driving like a moron many years ago, but even still, a car should be able to come to a complete stop from any MPH at least once before brakes fade, and the stockers aren't capable of that IMO.

[float_6969]

I've gotten fade on stock brakes in a singe stop as well, but it was on stock rotors, and non-performance pads. Brake pads make a HUGE difference to brake performance. For a street car, with that power level, I'd be surprised if stock stuff with good pads wouldn't serve you well. IF you do get fade, the Q45 upgrade is easy enough to do and should solve any issue you have.