Thoughts on this one? Which is better? Is it a toss-up?
Right now, I'm thinking of getting some HUGE breaks (14inch kind).

Which one performs better? Which one is cheaper? etc?

 

In the July/Aug 2005 issue of Speed magazine, there was a big article on a 350z shootout. Anyway, to keep the long story short, when it came to braking, the best performing Z's in the braking category were the one's w/ stock brembo's.

Numbers are Braking from 60 and 80, respectively,

Axis 350z (stock brembo's): 110 ft, 195ft
Greddy 350z (Greddy GREX/Alcon 6-pistion F, Stock 2-pist. R): 121 ft, 213 ft
Stillen 350z (AP Racing 6-piston F, 4-pistion R): 107 ft, 205 ft
Vortech 350z (stock brembo's): 108 ft, 201ft

Notes made:
-350z equipped w/ factory brakes achieved shortest 80-0 distances.
-AP Racing brakes had great pedal feel but took 4 ft longer to stop, even w/ identical front tires.
-Modern ABS brake systems are very precisely tuned, so u gotta be careful with changing it.

 

stock brembos are very good in my opinion. AP racing has an insane BBK for i think porsches 20 FREAKIN GRAND! imagine that, cost of a car just for brakes. 12 pot if im not mistaken

 

Interesting. Did the article mention if the AP and Alcon brakes were 13” or 14”?

 

stoptech all THE way

 

Greddy GREX/Alcon 6-piston fronts were 335mm. (Rear were stocks)

AP Racing 6-piston were 14.3-in. in front and 13.5-in 4-piston rears. (Also had Stillen ducting system & master cylinder brace)

Remember, stock Brembo's are only 12.8-in up front and 12.7-in in the back. This really tells u somethin' eh? (hehe yes, i know i'm Canadian ) IMO, stock Brembo's are excellent and don't need upgrading, cuz with these tests it shows that "upgrading" this brake system is essentially downgrading in some circumstances. $20k for BBK? get a parachute and save some $$$!

 

So if I were to convert from whatever my stock brakes are to Brembos, what should I be prepared to spend?

 

^ big dollahs! just get stoptech's though if price is a major factor. they're hella cheaper than Brembo's.

 

And remember, the stock Non-Brembo's 05 stop about the same as the 03-04 Brembo's. I think the moral of the story here is, "what are you planning to do with the brakes"? If you do everyday driving, even the stock '05 brakes will perform just as good as the Brembo's without the extra costs (not to mention brake dust) to mantain. However, if you plan to go to the track with the car, then perhaps the BBK will be better (since you most likely will get slotted brakes) and will fade alot less over many hard brakings. I think people who put on APs (they are Stoptechs, I believe) or any other BBK and only do every day driving aren't doing much but making their car look nice This is the same as adding CAI: it makes the car sound better but most likly won't add much in terms of HP. Just my .02 worth. Although, when my brakes need replacing (rotors included), then upgrading to BBK (AP looks promising) will be a worth whiled investment.