I am a new Z owner and have put about 4000 miles on the car now with a few hundred of those in the twisties. I love the throttle response, steering feel and getting to know the balance of the car. My only disappointment is the sloppy brake feel (non-brembo). Is this just me having this problem with lack of feedback from the brake, really hard to tell how close I am to the limit with these?

Is the problem with the hydraulic system design, calipers.....

 

Get yourself some bigger brakes. That will take care of it.

 

The breaks are working just fine and just questioning the lack of feedback in comparison to other sports cars.

As far as bigger brakes, thats not the issue.

 

I was much happier with a set of Hawk pads and upgraded rotors.......

pads can make a big difference in bite and feel....
-J

 

Are you on stock 225 wide tires up front? Its probably more of a tire issue than a brake issue.

 

Not sure what you are asking... You say the brakes work fine - which means no problems.. right? But you don't feel feedback.. Other than stopping, what kind of feedback do you want?

 

you sir may be the perfect candidate for SS brake lines...

 

That's what I am thinking about. Just wondering how much of the current brake mushiness is due to the lines versus the design of the master cylinder and other components. I'll have to do some more research and hunt for a good deal.

 

Do you have a problem with the system's brake feel or mushy pedal. Is it possible you just don't like the way the power assist feels... or are you pushing them to the point of expanding the lines. Also I guess there is a possibilty that there may be some moisture in the lines as well.

 

brake pads make a huge difference with feedback

 

I also don't like the mushiness of the brakes. Changing to SS lines did help a bit, but it still isn't that good.

Has anyone tried something like: http://www.stillen.com/product.asp?i...SAN&model=350Z

 

Thats what I had gathered from reading some threads. I think I will just go with better pads (they are about the same as the SS lines)

 

What kinda cars are you two comparing the brakes to? Not to say the base brakes are great, but I never felt they were all that bad.

 

For me, it's not that the brakes are bad. The pedal feedback is kind of soft (not very linear in feel through pedal travel). The brakes on other cars I have had (mostly hondas/acuras) seem to engage as soon as I touch the pedal. It is possible that I just don't like the way the power assist feels or it's just different from what I was used to. I've been driving the car for a while now, so I don't even notice it anymore. But this thread reminded me of what I initially thought 5 years ago.

 

1. when was the last time the fluid was flushed?
2. what pads?

these are the 2 biggest factors in overall brake feel

 

Interesting, I have the base brakes as well and come from the Honda/Acura cars and completely loved the feel of the brakes when I got the car. Having driven a Brembo brake car before I know it can be better but I never saw it that far off, fade notwithstanding. My only problem right now is my laziness to flush out the system and bleed it properly to get the quick and almost touchy feel back.

 

I just hit 10,000 miles, so its all stock and should no need a flush.

 

Sorry Makopolo, I'm at a loss. I'm not sure if you have a problem or don't like the assisted brake pedal feel. But one thing I can say, is I thought the brakes felt stronger than any Integra or Civic I've driven. So if yours don't feel like that you may have a problem. However they do heat up fairly quickly if you use them hard, this could be a prime example of a need for SS lines. That would take away two questions marks, help with fade and flushing lines.

 

Mileage has little to do with the need to flush the fluid...time does. Brake fluid is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs water over time. As it does, it's boiling point decreases rapidly, as it is not able to deal with heat very well. Fade rears its head earlier and earlier and performance goes out the window in short order. Moisture in the system also degrades other components as well, so it's good preventative maintenance to have fresh fluid in there. In addition, as moisture is absorbed, the compressibility of the fluid increases, meaning the pedal gets softer and softer as it becomes easier to push the fluid (the water acts like a thinner to the brake fluid). Cheap fluids are affected by moisture to a greater extent that more performance oriented fluids, both in terms of boiling point and compressibility. These two things are the absolute enemies of consistent, safe brake system operation. To maintain ideal performance, it should be fully flushed once per year. It's inexpensive, easy to do, and keeps things in tip top shape.