Steel rotors on 370z?

Botaine

I think my brake pads and rotors will need to be replaced soon and wanted to find something good for the purpose I use the car for on the street. It is my understanding that a big brake kit only helps with repeated high speed stops (over 10). I don't track the car so I'm looking for some other kind of upgrade since my rotors probably need replacing soon anyway. Reducing the rotating weight (with lighter rotors for example) would probably improve things.

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Rusty

If you want to up grade the rotors. Up grade the calipers too. Most people with the base brakes go with the 'bono calipers with stainless lines.

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Botaine

In what way exactly do the akibono calipers improve braking? I think the braking distance will be the same because I can lock up the rotors already with stock calipers. Will it make high speed braking more stable or reduce judder? Or is it mainly to help keep the brakes cooler, to allow for more stops without losing braking distance?

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JARblue

That makes absolutely no sense

The sport package brakes have an extra piston in the calipers along with bigger pads and rotors vs the base brakes. The extra clamping force and larger pad contact surface area contribute to significantly improved braking capabilities.

Different tires and their wear condition can also significantly impact braking ability.

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Botaine

I'm guessing the improvement is only during high speed braking then, in situations where the rotor is rotating too fast for the calipers and pads to stop it completely. Once the calipers and pads are able to stop the rotor, it is up to the tires to stop the car.

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JARblue

If you're suggesting that the sport package brake setup with Akebonos does not provide greater braking capability than the base brakes at low speeds, that is incorrect.

The difference will be less at low speeds and greater at higher speeds. Whether that difference is worth the cost to upgrade is entirely up to you. But there is a difference. Simple physics at work here.

The tires and brakes work in tandem to stop the vehicle. Not one then the other as you have stated above. If the calipers stop the rotors before the vehicle stops, you're locking up the brakes which means they are not able to do their job as intended.

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DrBacon

No, bigger brakes does not exactly equate to better stopping distances. Pretty common misconception.

Your tires and even suspension is where that comes from. Having extra pistons on a caliper distributes the force on the pad and rotor which reduces heating for heavy brake use (many hard braking in a short time or lots of weight from a heavy car or towing something). As long as the brakes have the ability to overcome the traction of the tires then there is effectively no difference in a single emergency stop situation.

JARblue

Which is why this guy is fine with the base brakes. There's a lot of variables that go into braking, of course. I realize an earlier statement I made is not exactly clear - it was a response to a statement I misread.

The time that it takes smaller brakes to reach that threshold vs bigger brakes is quite small, I'll give you that. But in an emergency situation, that can mean the difference between an impact or not. All other things being equal, that is.

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cv129

Trying not to make assumptions here…..what exactly is your usage of this car?

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Botaine

Really just want some improvement in stopping ability and smoothness on the interstate. Daily driver but I drive fast sometimes.

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JARblue

Your brakes shouldn't be affecting "smoothness" Turn or replace your rotors if they are shuddering during braking.

Go full Akebono or just get some decent street pads. Your stock setup should be fine on the street as long as you're not an idiot. The Akebonos will give you better performance at fast speeds.

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cv129

Smoothness…..if you have judders during regular braking, you highly likely have pad deposits on your rotor. Be light on the brake pedals at stop light on hot days.

For commuting, you won’t feel shxt spending that money. For your use, objectively, at the most, I would switch out to a slightly sportier pad that has better bites and heat tolerance for that one-time emergency stop on the interstate (but will get way more brake dust thro).

Functionally, I don’t see the need for any upgrades.

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TobinH

pretty sure OP is asking about steel vs iron rotors in regards to reducing unsprung weight.

sort of an interesting subject if you want to do some reading, but irrelevant for the use case described here.

Rusty

If you weight lightweight. Get carbon/carbon brake set up. Hope you're a trust fund baby.

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