J Ritt

iTrader: (4)

Hi everyone,
It just dawned on me that we have a number of products that many of you may not be aware of. I've included product descriptions below.

Stage 1 Brake Kit- Non-Track model 350Z
Stage 1 brake upgrade kit for 2003-2004 Nissan 350Z except Track Model. Includes front and rear Hawk HPS brake pads, front and rear StopTech SS brake lines, and three 500mL bottles of Motul RBF600 DOT 4 synthetic brake fluid. FITS STOCK CALIPERS.

$299 - Item No. 86-646-01410

Stage 1 Brake Kit- Track model 350Z

$349 - Item No. 86-646-02410

Stage 2 Slotted Brake Kit-Non Track Model 350Z's
Stage 2 slotted brake upgrade kit for 2003-2004 Nissan 350Z except Track Model. Includes front and rear Hawk HPS brake pads, front and rear StopTech SS brake lines, three 500mL bottles of Motul RBF600 DOT 4 synthetic brake fluid, and pair of front and rear stock sized StopTech slotted brake rotors. FITS STOCK CALIPERS.

$649 - Item No. 86-646-01414

This kit is also available with Drilled rotors for the same price.

$649 - Item No. 86-646-01415

You can get these products through any of our authorized resellers. A number of them frequent this board...Performance Nissan, Street Image, Zeckhausen Racing, N-Tech Engineering, Concept Z Performance, Z Car Garage, etc.

Below I've put together a more in-depth analysis of what you get with each of these packages. Typically we sell the Axxis Ultimate pads with our Stage kits, but for the Z they are NOT available. Therefore, we substitute the Hawk HPS pad, which is very comparable. That's why you will see references to the Ultimates in the description below. When reading, just substitute Hawk HPS for Axxis Ultimate...they behave very similarly.

StopTech has become a recognized leader in the field of brake technology. Our Balanced Brake UpgradesTM have proven themselves be the ultimate no-compromise system for street and racetrack use. However, many of our customers have requested lower-priced alternatives to satisfy their needs away from the road course, while still providing an improvement over their OEM spec parts. StopTech is now addressing these needs through a number of basic upgrade packages designed as a better performing alternative to costly OEM replacement equipment.

StopTech Stage I Kit: Street / AutoX / Drift / Drag
Some OEM brake systems do not provide the feel and consistency that the average automotive enthusiast demands. StopTech’s Stage I Kit is the first step towards addressing typical deficiencies of stock brake systems. StopTech’s front and rear stainless steel lines are bolt-on replacements of the stock flexible rubber lines. These lines improve pedal feel and reduce the amount of time between applied pedal pressure and actual deceleration. Axxis Ultimate front and rear brake pads provide higher resistance to fade, higher maximum operating temperature, and better initial bite to allow more consistent deep braking into corners. To top off the package, three bottles of Motul RBF600 brake fluid are included to increase both wet and dry boiling points, and virtually prevent boiling even under the most severe operating conditions. While the Stage I Kit provides benefits beyond the capabilities of the stock system, StopTech does not recommend using Stage I on a road course. The Axxis pads are designed for street, autoX, drift, and drag use, but do not have the max operating temperature required for repeated heavy use on a road course.

StopTech Stage II Kit: Street / AutoX / Drift / Drag
An excellent choice for the enthusiast whose rotors are nearing the end of their service life, StopTech Stage II Kit includes all of the components of the Stage I Kit, but adds value with the addition of SportStop direct replacement rotors. For customers interested in aggressive aesthetics, we offer cross-drilled rotors that prevent glazing of the pads, and improve wet and dry braking performance. Alternatively, for the more performance-minded enthusiast, StopTech recommends slotted rotors. They retain the eye-catching looks and performance benefits of drilled rotors, but are less likely to crack under repeated severe use.

StopTech Stainless Steel Brake Lines
In addition to offering stainless steel brake lines in our Stage I and II, StopTech also sells these lines separately for many applications. StopTech Stainless Steel Brake Lines provide quicker pedal response, maintain consistent line pressure, and allow for precision brake modulation. All StopTech Stainless Steel Brake Lines are DOT compliant and 100% tested to a pressure of 4500 psi. StopTech brake lines consist of a Teflon® inner line that is covered with a layer of stainless steel woven braid. The Teflon tube is very resistant to expansion under pressure and will not degrade from exposure to brake fluid. The stainless steel braid provides support for the Teflon, and the weave is extremely durable against incidental impact and abrasion. StopTech brake lines also feature a clear abrasion resistant cover for maximum protection against
chaffing.

J Ritt

iTrader: (4)

Important Notes on Basic Upgrades
Pad Choice
Many of our customers ask us, "Which brake pads are best for my vehicle?" Unfortunately, there is no single clear-cut answer. Different driving conditions require different types of friction, as there is no single pad that works optimally under all conditions. There will always be a compromise in at least one area of operation. You need to ask yourself which of the following issues are most important to your particular driving style.

1.COLD STOPPING PERFORMANCE. How well does the pad grip on the first stop when the system is at ambient temperature?
2.HOT STOPPING PERFORMANCE. How does the pad react at higher temperatures, such as on a road course? Rotor and pad temperatures typically exceed 1000 F on road course
3.PAD LIFE. How long will the pads last in a given driving environment?
4.ROTOR LIFE. How aggressive is the pad on the rotor, and will it groove the surface?
5.NOISE. Does the pad squeal? High performance pads will always have some noise.
6.DUST. How much dust does the pad generate, and how easy is it to clean?
7.COST. Is the pad affordable compared to how it performs?

StopTech has addressed all of the above issues and has selected various pads that offer a good compromise depending on the application. For our Stage I and II, StopTech's default pad of choice is the Axxis Ultimate. When the Ultimate is not available, we use the Hawk HPS pad, which has very similar characteristics overall. The Ultimate/HPS is an excellent choice for street, autoX, drag, and drift use on the front and rear of most vehicles. However, exceeding the MOT (Maximum Operating Temp.) with the Ultimate (or any street pad) can cause uneven pad deposition, which is often misinterpreted as a warped rotor. Medium dust, low noise, and excellent rotor and pad life characterize the Ultimate. For vehicles that do not have the Axxis Ultimate as an option, StopTech substitutes the Hawk HPS or the Centric Posiquiet. The HPS does not have quite the initial bite of the Axxis Ultimate, but it is a comparable low dust, low noise, low rotor wear, high performance street pad. HPS has an MOT of 825 F. Posiquiet is the ideal choice for light trucks.

Street Pads vs. Race Pads
If you must run one pad on both the street and road course, you will have to compromise performance in one way or another on all of the variables in the list above. Road course and street use place different demands on the friction material of any brake system, and you should choose accordingly. A pad that is designated as a "street pad" is typically composed of materials designed to work cold, and inherent in this pad composition is a limited temperature range. Due to the less aggressive composition, a street pad does not wear a rotor as quickly, makes less noise, and tends to cost less than a race pad. On the other hand, a "race" or "track" pad may never reach its optimal temperature range during street use, which may compromise cold stopping distances. The typically high metal content in a race pad wears rotors more quickly, generates noise and dust, and usually costs more than a street pad. Therefore, StopTech recommends swapping street pads in favor of race pads before each road course event. The system will need to be bed-in after a race pad is swapped in, and again when the street pads are re-installed. Please check our website at www.StopTech.com for bedding instructions, availability, and pricing on various street and race pad compounds for your vehicle. Click here for more details, pricing, and availability of the various race compound pads for your vehicle

Rotor Size and Brake Bias
Many of StopTech's competitors offer big rotor packages that require the relocation of the stock caliper. The reality is that these so-called 'upgrades' can actually hurt braking performance. Rotor diameter is one of three primary factors that determine the amount of brake torque applied to a given corner of the car (the other two are pad coefficient of friction, and the diameter of the pistons within the caliper). All else held equal (as is the case with these 'upgrades'), increasing the diameter of the rotor increases the amount of brake torque applied to that corner. Additionally, many of these packages include a pad option with a higher coefficient of friction vs. stock, and the majority of these kits are only being applied to the front end of the vehicle. The net effect can be a significant increase in brake torque on the front end of the vehicle, or in other words, increased front brake bias. Stopping distances vs. stock can actually be lengthened because the rear wheels aren't contributing as much towards braking as they were in stock configuration. For an in-depth analysis and explanation of brake bias, please visit our website to read Brake Bias and Performance by Tom McCready and James Walker, Jr.

Cadmium Plated Rotors
StopTech does not condone or recommend the use of Cadmium plated rotors. Cadmium is a toxic carcinogen produced through smelting for other metals such as copper or zinc. In addition to the negative environmental effects, StopTech has actually found Cad plating to be a hindrance to properly bedding-in brake rotors. The Cad plating on the swept surface of the rotor needs to be burned off before a proper pad layer can be transferred to the rotor. During the bed-in period, while the Cad is still rubbing off, stopping distances can be substantially longer. When Cad plated rotors are used on the track, all of the Cad plating burns off of the rotor, and the corrosion protection is lost.

High Performance Brake Fluid
While most enthusiasts frequently change their engine oil, they often neglect their brake fluid. When brake fluid is fresh it is virtually incompressible, and the system works as well as its mechanical and hydraulic design allows. When overheated however, brake fluid can (and will) boil in the caliper. Boiling produces compressible gas bubbles, which result in a "soft" brake pedal with long travel. In extreme cases, overheated brake fluid necessitates "pumping the brake pedal" in order to get any pedal at all. Another issue with brake fluid is that it is hygroscopic, which means that it absorbs water over time. As water is absorbed into the system, the temperature at which the fluid will boil lowers dramatically. Therefore, it is important to maintain a fresh supply of brake fluid in the system, particularly under heavy use where the potential to boil the fluid exists. Depending on the boiling point, The Department Of Transportation assigns a DOT rating to each fluid. Generally speaking, to achieve a certain DOT number, the fluid must possess a minimum boiling point. Unless otherwise specified by the original equipment manufacturer, StopTech only recommends and sells DOT 4 and DOT 5.1 fluids for high performance applications. The Motul RBF 600 fluid included in all StopTech Stage kits is a top of the line DOT 4 fluid with superior performance at a reasonable price. For a more in-depth analysis of brake fluid, please read Brake Fluid 1A by Carroll Smith and James Walker, Jr. of scR motorsports (http://www.teamscR.com).

[B]All technical articles referenced above can be found here: http://www.stoptech.com/technical/ If you read and comprehend every article on this page, you will know more about brake systems than 90% of the people out there!

flynnibus

Thanks for finally putting this together! Too bad its a lil late for me. Suprisingly finding a good supplier of pad choices and fluid isn't that easy! These types of racing fluids aren't easily found on most 'online shopping' cart places.

Good prices, not stellar I think. I got ATE Superblue instead of motul (couldn't find the 500 anywhere) but basically the same package.

Stoptech lines - ~$155
Hawk HPS+ $108
ATE $10 for a bottle (liter)

So depending on shipping, etc.

tig488

iTrader: (18)

so, these Stage II rotors are direct bolt on replacement of the OEM rotors, they fit the brembo calipers?

if so thats awesome, im gonna have to get some of those!

J Ritt

iTrader: (4)

Please reread...we only have a Stage I for the track model Z at this time, which does not include rotors. We are coming out with fully floating 2 piece AeroRotors for the Track model this summer. Prototypes are already being tested.

tig488

iTrader: (18)

awh damn, my bad!