Brake upgrade for 04-sedan
#1
Join Date: May 2009
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Brake upgrade for 04-sedan
You all have helped so many times, I figured I would give it another shot. I have been looking to upgrade the crap brakes that my 04 came with, and found some Akebono's.
They are a "Big Brake" kit, and I intend to drive my g in both winter and summer, therefore I will be switching my wheels and tires to the stockies during the winter. I need to make sure this will "fit". I also want to make sure I am getting a DECENT brake kit, front and rears!
Heres a link..
http://www.conceptzperformance.com/C...20100424175659
I hope these are good and I hope they fit. Let me know if they will clear the stock wheels. I found a template that will help size them out, but I can't understand the instructions. Please give me a hand guys!
Any input is welcome!
They are a "Big Brake" kit, and I intend to drive my g in both winter and summer, therefore I will be switching my wheels and tires to the stockies during the winter. I need to make sure this will "fit". I also want to make sure I am getting a DECENT brake kit, front and rears!
Heres a link..
http://www.conceptzperformance.com/C...20100424175659
I hope these are good and I hope they fit. Let me know if they will clear the stock wheels. I found a template that will help size them out, but I can't understand the instructions. Please give me a hand guys!
Any input is welcome!
#2
They won't fit under stock 17" wheels. I wanted the Akebono's too, but I also run my 17's as a winter setup, and they aren't big enough. The biggest you can go is about 13", not 14". The best, cheapest upgrade for a 2004 is to get an OEM 05+ setup. It's a direct bolt on replacement. Fronts are 2-piston with 12.6" rotors, rears are the same single piston with a larger, 12.1" rotor. Same great stopping power as the 03-04, but the larger pads generate significantly less dust. You'll pay about $350-$400 for a complete front/rear setup. Check out the Marketplace.
The next best option for an OEM 03-04 setup might be Racing Brake's upgrade package. http://www.racingbrake.com/G35_non_B...70-211-0-1.htm This gives you a 13" rotor while using your stock caliper. There's a rear setup as well. You can then upgrade to this http://www.racingbrake.com/G35_4_pot...cpadbp-g35.htm later on. They have a rear setup like the first link, but do not have a similar rear setup for the second link. Don't know why.
The next best option for an OEM 03-04 setup might be Racing Brake's upgrade package. http://www.racingbrake.com/G35_non_B...70-211-0-1.htm This gives you a 13" rotor while using your stock caliper. There's a rear setup as well. You can then upgrade to this http://www.racingbrake.com/G35_4_pot...cpadbp-g35.htm later on. They have a rear setup like the first link, but do not have a similar rear setup for the second link. Don't know why.
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#5
why not get a bigger set of rims for winter? like 18"? im not sure if it will work with 18"'s eather but i would rather have a set of nice akebonos and pay some more for a set of rims then sacrifice brakes just so that i can run a cheaper rim/tire....im not sure all i said makes sense since i am almost done with this case of beer.....
#7
I don't think there's anything out there that can match the Akebono's for price and quality. That's the only reason I considered them. My 2005 AWD has the same brake setup as the 03-04, so if I was going to be spending upwards of $700 or so on my brakes, I might go up to $2K and get the Akebono's. Since I don't track my car, there's no real reason to get a BBK. It's like the slotted/corss-drilled rotor question, unless you track your car, a BBK is just an appearance mod since there's no improvement in every day braking performance.
The Racing Brake option I mentioned comes to about $2K if you get the front and rear upgrades to the rotors and then get the front caliper upgrade. You'd still have the smaller rear caliper, and there might be questions about braking balance (too much towards the front).
The cheapest option, if you have to have a nice looking setup, might be to upgrade your winter wheels to 18's and get the Akebono's. Since they're only winter wheels, you could get some Coupe or Sedan 18's that aren't in perfect shape for about $350 or so.
The Racing Brake option I mentioned comes to about $2K if you get the front and rear upgrades to the rotors and then get the front caliper upgrade. You'd still have the smaller rear caliper, and there might be questions about braking balance (too much towards the front).
The cheapest option, if you have to have a nice looking setup, might be to upgrade your winter wheels to 18's and get the Akebono's. Since they're only winter wheels, you could get some Coupe or Sedan 18's that aren't in perfect shape for about $350 or so.
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#8
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IMO, it really depends on the driving you're going to be doing. The 03/04 brakes have exceptional daily driving stopping power (speeds below 80mph) and those brakes consistently out performed the larger 05 brakes in 60-0 braking (only talking a few feet though). If the dust bothers you a lot, then get the 05s. If you're actually going to be doing road racing (not auto-X) then get a quality big brake kit. Just keep in mind that most big brake kits have worse 70-0 stopping power, but instead much better 120mph+ to 50mph stopping and are more resistant to fade. When it comes to brakes, you really need to research it and figure out what's best for the car. Just because race cars use big brakes doesn't mean it's the best performing for a daily driver.
#13
IMO, it really depends on the driving you're going to be doing. The 03/04 brakes have exceptional daily driving stopping power (speeds below 80mph) and those brakes consistently out performed the larger 05 brakes in 60-0 braking (only talking a few feet though). If the dust bothers you a lot, then get the 05s. If you're actually going to be doing road racing (not auto-X) then get a quality big brake kit. Just keep in mind that most big brake kits have worse 70-0 stopping power, but instead much better 120mph+ to 50mph stopping and are more resistant to fade. When it comes to brakes, you really need to research it and figure out what's best for the car. Just because race cars use big brakes doesn't mean it's the best performing for a daily driver.
#14
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So, I have some mixed reviews here!
To be honest Dave, I am looking to do this a purely a cosmetic enhancment. Is there then a better, drilled slotted rotor? OR some cool calipers that say infiniti on them haha, I must sound like a newb, but I like the look is all...Not so much the price of a BBK+ a new winter setup...
Help?
To be honest Dave, I am looking to do this a purely a cosmetic enhancment. Is there then a better, drilled slotted rotor? OR some cool calipers that say infiniti on them haha, I must sound like a newb, but I like the look is all...Not so much the price of a BBK+ a new winter setup...
Help?