I purchased the complete akebono brake kit from Z1 for my 2004 Infiniti g35 coupe. Install was smooth and the parts were complete. After install, brakes felt amazing. Had an issue where one of my brake lines started to leak internally and Z1 was quick to address and replace that issue. Now that the brakes are starting to wear in, they started to feel light. Almost as if I had air in the lines. So I bled the brakes (twice) and still had the same feeling under hard braking. I took a closer look at the brakes. Upon inspection I noticed my FRONT pads where sitting 1/8"-1/4" above the rotor! The rotor started to dig into the pad leaving untouched surface area on the pads top corners. The rotor edges were actually rounded off on top as well. I took the pins out and dropped the pads to its lowest point on the caliper and the pad was still above the rotor... Which led me to believe the bracket geometry is off. I searched the forums and found a thread inwhich someone had the same issue back on 2011. Z1 sent him the new revised aluminum brackets. I currently have the aluminum brackets. I called Z1 and provided them with pictures. I was told, and quote...

" Yes that looks normal. The pad contact is not the exact same on the conversion. We have been running this for several years on several cars here at the shop without problems. The pads will wear down on the bottom and leave the lip at the top but the lip won't hurt anything. If it gets to be too much you can grind down the top of the pad for relief. "

I had another set of pads with the same amount of meat as mine and were not cut into. I tried those out and the car felt great once again. After a few miles under the new pads, they started to cut into the rotor as well and my braking issues re-appeared. Considering these are stated on their site as "the most even pad sweep", I find their remedy of having to grind my pads down for relief... Under par for a bracket being on the costlier side compared to other brackets. I'm just wondering, has anyone else noticed this issue?

 

Post pictures.

 

This is the only image I have on my phone. As you can see the pad is sitting above the rotor even after I took out the pins and pushed the pad down as far as I can. You can see where the pin hole is... I will get pics of the pad tonight

 

did you get resolution to this? I'm considering buy this for my 03 (I already have 05 brakes). That's a pretty weak claim that it's no big deal (for them).

 

I had pad overhang on a BBK I made for my old maxima. Because the 300z brackets were made for a 12.3" rotor but were installed on a 13" rotor, there was no way to get the brake pad to touch 100%. But the pad overhang was only as bad as your picture with the pins OUT. I only had a really tiny amount of pad that wouldn't get swept and would never wear. But it never affected my brake feel.

If the pad overhang is about 1/4" with the pin in, I'd worry.

Tim, unless you go for the 2pc rotors, you'll have to put up with rotors that are ~10-15lbs heavier than your stockers.

 

well... I worry. it's what I do. you'd think after 15 years, you'd know that about me.

 

I was happy with the performance of my 05 upgrade to the sedan. Basically the same w/o the massive dust and extreme rotor wear. I never tracked it so oem pads were just fine. And the 05 rotor weight wasn't that much more. Just a few lbs at most.

And you'll have to run some wheels like the Z track edition 18s or coupe 19s at the very least. Or up to the 370z 19s. Then there's winter wheels/tires to think about.

 

ALL THESE FACTS AND CONSIDERATIONS!

I'm actually kinda happy with the 05's. just need rotors I suppose. Spending this much on a car worth 8k (to the dealer and insurance) just doesnt make much sense. and with that, I guess you can look for my next post in about 3 years. lol