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I've been looking to upgrade my brake kit for a big kit. Unfortunately, my budget does not allow me to spend 3-5k on a new kit, so i've been looking around for either used brembo or Akebono, which are still fairly pricey after you get rotors, pads, etc (about 2-2.5k)
I have been looking online for used kits and found some brembo and Akebonos used (calipers only) for about 700-1000. Is this a good price for used Calipers?
Specifically speaking, I found a used set of brembos in pretty good condition (visually) for $750, and a NEW set of Akebonos for $999 - this is caliper only, no rotors or any other hardware.
Which kit do you guys recommend? The brembo supposedly comes off a 04 G35 with about 60k miles.
And before any one asks what I want the brakes for, I do not plan on racing or tracking the car, but i have been having too many problems with my brakes (already have 2 bad calipers), and they keep eating the pads and grinding the rotors, so i just want to upgrade to a good reliable set that also looks nice, but without having to spend so much money either (I know, bbk and cheap don't go together), but i'm trying to find altenatives/options.
Any thoughts/comments/advice?
Thanks in advance!
btw, my Z is an 05 with tiny and already rusty brakes
I've been looking to upgrade my brake kit for a big kit. Unfortunately, my budget does not allow me to spend 3-5k on a new kit, so i've been looking around for either used brembo or Akebono, which are still fairly pricey after you get rotors, pads, etc (about 2-2.5k)
I have been looking online for used kits and found some brembo and Akebonos used (calipers only) for about 700-1000. Is this a good price for used Calipers?
Specifically speaking, I found a used set of brembos in pretty good condition (visually) for $750, and a NEW set of Akebonos for $999 - this is caliper only, no rotors or any other hardware.
Which kit do you guys recommend? The brembo supposedly comes off a 04 G35 with about 60k miles.
And before any one asks what I want the brakes for, I do not plan on racing or tracking the car, but i have been having too many problems with my brakes (already have 2 bad calipers), and they keep eating the pads and grinding the rotors, so i just want to upgrade to a good reliable set that also looks nice, but without having to spend so much money either (I know, bbk and cheap don't go together), but i'm trying to find altenatives/options.
Any thoughts/comments/advice?
Thanks in advance!
btw, my Z is an 05 with tiny and already rusty brakes
Ill tell you what my plan is, although it doesn't involve a BBK...
Get a pad-rotor kit like the one at Z1 https://www.z1motorsports.com/brakes...ge-p-2240.html or the hawk sector 27 package... Get new calipers from car-quest... Maybe replace my emergency brake hardware and pads... Call it a day... The hawk kit is supposedly going to be available at tire rack in mid april...
Haven't pulled the trigger on eather one yet though.
Last edited by dboyzalter; Mar 29, 2016 at 09:42 AM.
I have considered the Akebono. They were the first option actually.
Few noob questions about the Akebono kit, because i am not car-tech-savvy whatsoever.
Is the difference between the Stoptech and Centric rotor worth the price difference?
Do i need to get the lines or can I use my stock ones? whats the difference?
I see the Infinity Gray caliper is the cheapest one, the other ones are $300 more... I guess I'd need to get the Infinity one and powder coat them
I think the infinity ones are more readily available because they sold more of them... Some people will pay the extra for Nissan because they are high rollers...
And im guessing if your going through the expense of a BBK you might want to upgrade to ss lines so you wont have pedal fade for all the time on the track...
I have considered the Akebono. They were the first option actually.
Few noob questions about the Akebono kit, because i am not car-tech-savvy whatsoever.
Is the difference between the Stoptech and Centric rotor worth the price difference?
Do i need to get the lines or can I use my stock ones? whats the difference?
I see the Infinity Gray caliper is the cheapest one, the other ones are $300 more... I guess I'd need to get the Infinity one and powder coat them
Centric owns StopTech and makes both lines of rotors. StopTech rotors are pretty much all high carbon (better for performance use due to higher heat tolerance/dissipation properties) but the Centric - whether blanks or high carbon D/S (drilled/slotted) - are absolutely fine for non-race/street usage.
I run Centric slotted with varied pads for street/mountain use on my standard brakes and never had any problems with excessive fade (I've cooked 'em before but never to the point of warpage or pending failure.)
So, worthwhile? Sure, if you are hard on brakes or do track your car. Elsewise, save the money.
Brake lines... well, the stainless braided, shielded lines are less prone to expansion/flex giving you an arguably better pedal feel. My take is they're not worth the upgrade IF that's all you're doing and expecting better performing brakes.
However, since you have to crack the lines to replace the calipers, do them when you upgrade the brake system. My philosophy is "your original rubber lines will need replacing at some point anyhow so do them while the system's apart." Avoid future labor/labor charges to just re-do the lines later. Plus you know they're there and when they were put on.
It makes sense about the brake lines, so I will just get them when I upgrade the kit.
As for the powder coat, I only said it because I would be getting the cheaper Infinity gray brakes, unless you can remove the Infinity sticker? (not even sure if thats a sticker or not), but I would not want to have Infinity logo on my Z brakes.
Again, thanks to everyone who have provided very useful feedback. I have decided to go for new Akebono instead of used Brembo as I would be spending almost as much $$$ on both kits, and better to just go for something completely new!
Im pretty sure the only difference between the infinity ones and the Nissan ones are the name.. However I think they are a raised structure on the calipers (I could be wrong someone confirm) the Nissan ones cost more because they are not as common and just cost the cpmpany more to get. Call z1 im sure they would give you the low down.
It makes sense about the brake lines, so I will just get them when I upgrade the kit.
As for the powder coat, I only said it because I would be getting the cheaper Infinity gray brakes, unless you can remove the Infinity sticker? (not even sure if thats a sticker or not), but I would not want to have Infinity logo on my Z brakes.
Again, thanks to everyone who have provided very useful feedback. I have decided to go for new Akebono instead of used Brembo as I would be spending almost as much $$$ on both kits, and better to just go for something completely new!
Cheers!
One final word of advice.... MAKE SURE YOUR WHEELS CLEAR BEFORE ORDERING (else you may need to run spacers). Will not work with all wheels. There's a thread here somewhere that has specific OEM wheels it will fit. Aftermarket, not sure which will fit, hence the templates below.
@dboyzalter - I'm only thinking about logo, i do believe the calipers are the same. I've seen some really nice Akebonos with the "Akebono logo", they look very nice!
@MicVelo - Definately. I currently have Axis Shine 20" rims. I do believe they clear, but will double make sure
Im pretty sure the only difference between the infinity ones and the Nissan ones are the name.. However I think they are a raised structure on the calipers (I could be wrong someone confirm)
The Akebonos have the name painted on them - its not a sticker and its not raised metal. If the look bothers you then just buy the Akebono Infiniti grey units and repaint them. They are the exact same OEM parts as the Nissan black or red versions. Just be warned they are HUGE and heavy parts, check wheel clearance for sure. They barely clear the OEM Touring V1 and V2 wheels and your spare will not clear them.
I track my car and use the Centric rotors, they are holding up fine with only occasional vibrations due to pad deposits which might be more related to pad choice then rotor composition. There is not special about rotor brands unless you move to the light weight two piece versions. Pads compounds are more critical in brake application choices.
BBK upgrade from non-BBK oem 05Z
