Anyone have the two-piece AP Racing 14.25" big brake kit from Stillen? Where did you get them? How much did you pay? Any installation issues? Do they work much better than stock? Are they worth the investment/expense? Please kindly advise. Thanks.

'03 G35 5AT Sedan, Garnet Fire/Willow
18x8 SSR GT1/Bridgestone S03/Eibach

 

Get the wilwwods! Cheaper too!

 

I appreciate your reply, but please provide more actionable information, if you can. Surely there must be more reasons than "they're cheaper" to buy [Wilwoods]...?

'03 G35 5AT Sedan, Garnet Fire/Willow
18x8 SSR GT1/Bridgestone S03/Eibach

 

A little help, here...?

'03 G35 5AT Sedan, Garnet Fire/Willow
18x8 SSR GT1/Bridgestone S03/Eibach

 

the AP kit is very good but the wilwood ones are less exspensive and will provide just as good breaking. either kit is good i dont think you would be able to tell the difference. Both would be good for tracking the car and just because the wilwood is smaller and less exspencive does not mean its not as good infact its probaly better suited for tracking. If ur looking for an amazing kit i would get the Alcon breaks they are the ones greddy is using on there turbo 350z. they are super light and fowerfull. A lot of people forget the rotors are also rotinal mass.

 

I heard that the Wilwoods require more attention as they were designed for the track and will need to be rebuilt more often - apparently they don't have dust seals on the pistons. Not positive, but that's what I think I read somewhere.

 

You are right about the Wilwoods. I have them on my 2003 cobra. They are great brakes, but they have no exterior piston dust boots. Not good for every day use. Especially in dusty areas. Also, they use a Billet Aluminum construction. This is not as rigid as a forged construction, and therefore, is not one of the best caliper designs. Good for the price, though.

'03.5 Brilliant Silver Sedan
Premium, Aero Kit/Package, Sport, Winter
Stillen Air Box, Z pipe, Clear Corners, Alum Pedals

 

You all are correct about the Wilwoods not having dust boots, however it is an 'urban legend' that this means they are not appropriate for the street. I've been selling my Wilwood based kits for 3+ years now (started with 300zx kits) and have yet to have a customer need to rebuild a caliper. I have over 3 years with this kit on my 300tt.... A little diligence when changing pads is all that is necessary. Just spray the exposed part of the piston with cleaner, wipe off and push them back into the caliper. Oh, and I've only changed pads 2x in that time period and I've done many a track event (mainly because the pads are nearly an inch thick!)..Now, if you are fording rivers and plowing snow, dust boots are definately appropriate. Just be aware that you WILL melt the dust boots the first time you do a driving event and really heat them up. Not a slam against AP, just the reality of dust boots. Pros and cons to everything.

Obviously I am highly biased to the kit I sell, but to give some input into the original question. Yes the Stillen AP 14" kit is a good kit. It will shorten your stopping distances over stock and it will set you back ~ $2,600 plus install. 18" rims minimum are required.

If you are interested in my kit, feel free to ask any questions. In a nut shell, it was designed for the performance focused person (ie track events), to fit under stock 17" rims (since race tires for 17" rims have greater availability are less expensive and many times work better on the track than 18" tires), and to withstand years of abuse without costing an arm and a leg for new pads and rotors. Be sure to compare the ongoing costs of pads and rotors on the AP kit...

BTW, just to be clear the AP calipers used in this kit are cast alum. not forged and even though khsonic03's statement is technically accurate (that billet is not AS strong as forged), this does not mean that Wilwood calipers are not rigid. They are extremely rigid. In the real world (on the car), many times caliper flex is due to a poor mounting bracket, regardless of how the caliper was manufactured.

03 Sedan-Auto-Ivory-Willow-Prem-Sport-BodyKit-Aero-(www.G35brakes.com)
93 300ZX TT
95 SpecMiata

 

SO how much can these wilwoods be had for. Available for rear wheels?

Gurgen

 

You can check out www.G35brakes.com for all the details. I am currently running a special for $1,850 for the front kit. The rear kit is still not completely finished (the rotor and the rotor hat with integrated parking drum are finished), I am waiting for Wilwood to release a caliper with a new mounting design. No definate eta yet.

03 Sedan-Auto-Ivory-Willow-Prem-Sport-BodyKit-Aero-(www.G35brakes.com)
93 300ZX TT
95 SpecMiata

 

Thanks for the replies. Anybody here actually have them on their G...? Any first hand accounts would be appreciated.

Thanks again.

'03 G35 5AT Sedan, Garnet Fire/Willow
18x8 SSR GT1/Bridgestone S03/Eibach

 

Well, i did tell you to get the Wilwoods for a reason. I do have them on my sedan courtesy of RussellDallas. Its actually a really nice brake system. I enjoy taking it to the track. I've only taken it once and it was a blast. i could brake a lot quicker than the stock ones. I installed it myself. It was great with the instructions he gave me. I have pictures of my install if you would like them.

I like it how it fits my 17s since i don't think i am going to go up to 18s. Everyone comments on how I have a Big Brake kit. Its not really that eye catching as the other brakes but its a 6 piston brake kit! Very helpful on the freeway!

I went with this because it was cheaper than the other ones and plus it FITS 17s. Close(real close) but still fits! I like those. I am probably going to get the rear ones when they COME OUT!! Make them go faster Russell. My rears are going to die SOON!!!!!!

Gurgen you should get em. Tell russell i sent ya!

 

Thanks very much for your reply. I'm glad to know you have the Wilwoods, and that you are happy with them. They must be way better than stock for you to give them such a glowing recommendation. OK. I have a testamonial for the Wilwood set. Is there anybody out there who has Stealin's Big Brake Kit on their car (14.25" AP 2-pc)?

I appreciate the help.

'03 G35 5AT Sedan, Garnet Fire/Willow
18x8 SSR GT1/Bridgestone S03/Eibach

 

G35Lin,
Did you get Front and Rear or just Front?
Did the amount of brake dust increase?
Are the calipers all black? Sorry for all the questions.
$1850 seems like a pretty good deal.

 

Wilwood sells a ceramic street pad called Polymatrix "Q". This emits less brake dust than most factory pads. All of Wilwood's billet calipers are anodized black. They haven't made a rear kit for the G35 yet. I wouldn't hold your breath, either, because I have been waiting for a rear kit for my Cobra for a year.

'03.5 Brilliant Silver Sedan
Premium, Aero Kit/Package, Sport, Winter
Stillen Air Box, Z pipe, Clear Corners, Alum Pedals
Polk Tweeters