How big are the OEM front calipers? I think they are 12.9" in the front. Would it be possible to move those to the rear and buy another set of front brembo in 14" or something. I just cant stand looking at the rear calipers, they are like 7". If this wouldnt work , can someone tell me some possible brembo upgrades.

 

It is a 4 piston front and 2 piston rear. You can change your front to a Brembo GT kit a 2 piece rotors and what you have to understand is that this setup is very well balanced for the car. Upgrading your front kit may throw it off depending what size you go with. As of right now i believe Brembo offers the GT kit in 14 and 13 inch kits. Plus they do not offer the GT kits with a gold caliper so the caliper colors will be off.

 

So putting the stock front 4 piston brakes in the back going with a 6 piston 14" kit in the front wouldnt work? Arent there brake controllers or something that control bias? Cant I powdercoat the gt kit gold?

 

The 4 piston front was meant to be a front braking system and there is now ay youd be able to run the e-brake to it.

 

Dont most aftermarket kits put a 4 piston in the rear?

 

no usually 2, a lot do have 4 though and usualy 4 in the rear is overkill even for the most hardcore trackers and just adds weight. But it has Bling so people buy them

 

there will be way too much clamping force if you run the brembo caliper made for the FRONT ont he rear...

The caliper has nothing to do with the e-brake system... The EBrake is a drum brake system with shoes that work with the rear rotors, thast why the rear hats are soo tall...

STOP TECH offers a 14.1" Front and rear kit...
The frotn uses the ST40 caliper while the rear uses the ST45 caliper... They are tuned for the 350Z to ballance the braking... The very big downside of this kit is there are only 2 brake pad compounds available for the rear ST45 caliper... They are not good brake pads at all for tracking...

If you are looking for best braking performance... Go with a Stop Tech 13" / 14.1" front kit along with the 12.9" rear kit...

Their 12.9" rear kit uses the ST22 caliper which is a 2 pot calliper with a huge variety of street, and full race pads...

Just because a caliper has more pistons does NOT mean it's better braking...

In most of the multi piston calipers (6-8 pot) they dont offer better braking, but more even pad wear...

I chose the 14.1" / 12.9" stop tech big brake kit...

Havent gotten it to fade yet, even with street pads...

 

Exactly. Pistons mean nothing.

Merc is obsessed with them, while BMW runs 1 piston setups and can easily match Mercs 6 7 8 or whatever they are up to now piston cars.

 

More pistons is better for heat transfer because of larger area of contact and better brake force distribution. 1 piston setups are not so good for tracking, whatever the manufacturer.

If you want your car to be drag car, then you dont need the fade resistant brakes. But if you road track the Z, then you need good fade resistant brakes.

 

Jason,

I've been perusing upgrades (coil overs, etc) and seeing 'Non-VDC' only. I want better handling and better brakes due to power upgrades going on the car. Is there a good Brembo upgrade (including calipers frt & bk) for the Z? Or can I just turn of VDC and just upgrade the grand roadster if possible?

 

ignore the Non-VDC thing... that is something NISMO put on products at first to cover their butts...

You can put any coil over / spring / sway / brake setup on a car with VDC...

they only thing you cant do is put incorrect tire diamater stagger...

 

Thanks Jason for your response on the VDC thing. But, if I do get a touring and want Brembos on it, is the rear caliper available (in red even)? Been looking on the net and I haven't found it. BTW - saw a guy with mod 350Z with Brembos frt & rear. Noticed it as I was leaving so did not speak w/ him. I think he had some frts on his rears (what folks have said is so wrong for so many reasons.....)