Big Brake kits and Coilovers
 

We all know that modding our Z's is a sick, disgusting, and contagious habit. And to make matters worse, it's lightening the weight in our wallets quicker than adding it. However, one may state that it is better than loosing all of your teeth, alienating yourself from society, working at a truck stop for spare change, and being found purple in a ditch.

So, in efforts to keep feeding this mod-bug I am looking to both add a big break kit and coilover suspension to my money pit. Below I have narrowed down a list of brands to suit both my desire for a quality product and my greenbacks spending limits. My driving will consist of mainly casual street 60%, spirited street 35% and the occasional track day 5% (once the AT can handle the force-fed power of the TT). I would want the wheels to be tucked nicely, but not hidden.

With that in mind, I would like something close to or smoother to the stock ride on the street and easily adjustable to firm-up for spirited driving. Is this even possible???....

*Big Brake Kits: 6 or 8pot front/ 4 rear:
-AP racing
-Wilwood
-StopTech

*Coilovers:
-HKS III
-KW V3
-Tein Monoflex
-Tein Flex

Will anyone please shed some light on the pro's and con's from personal experience of each? Where should I buy the components? What other suspension mods/components to complement the 255's up front and the 305's in the back? BTW, on 20's. Spring rates? What meat should I use in the calipers?

Anything else? Opinions/ questions related to helping this brainstorming process are greatly appreciated!!

Pm me about the bbk and coilovers I may have a deal for you ;)

Mike

Kw v3 coilovers From my understanding there best for like street and occasional track. I'll be putting mine in soon so I will let you know

You will need front camber kits and rear camber kits so don't forget to add them on your list because when you lower the car your alignment will be off. On are cars front camber is not adjustable and rear is barely

Sway bars. I went with the stillen ones since the front and rears are adjustable. I am going to do a review on them since there a new product. Old ones only rear was adjustable. Was going to go with the hotchkis but after reading alot of people who had them I wasn't pleased with what they were saying.

I would get that stuff done first the the bbk

Hope this helps
Frank

As far as components go this really depends on what you want for your ride. I have HKS and I kick myself in the butt all the rime for not going kw!!! Just pm me your questions and I will take care of you bro!

Questions are pretty much out in the OP.

Looking more towards the Tein due to the in-car adjustability. As far as the BBK, meh, any of those would do. I would just like to have some real life experience comments/ suggestions....especially on the pads. I will not reach the potential of the BBK on the street or track for that matter, but want the added security for my new-found power. Quality is a must as I only want to do this once.

I do, however, know what works best for me when it comes to 186mph track bikes!!

Thanks Frank& Mike!

BTW Frank, Hills Garage is spot on!!!

Hey my track R1 is still for sale hehehe got a full World SBK Racetech suspension on it ;)

The teins are ok and the only adjustability your getting out of them inside the car is rebound... which is only have of the adjustment so your not really getting what your thinking. I asked Tein owners when I first wanted it thinking "shoot I can adjust compression and rebound in the car on the fly... Im SOLD!!!" but thats not the case... sooo.... you can choose from a bouncy config to a less bouncy config with the edfc... this is what others have told me what their experiences with tein and edfc were. Plus with KW's you will get them cheaper than your whole EDFC Tein setup and save you money for your BBK...

You come from the bike world like me so you know the most important parts on the car are the suspension and brakes. I would without a doubt put KW first on the list followed by HKS then Tein... If your looking for good brakes I have the Alliance BBK that we will be offering shortly. I have worked with alliance to make a potent kit for our cars. I know its not a big name brand but it works and for half the cost...

I have tested the alliance kit and we have gotten our 60-0 down to under 70ft... Semtex and jeremy (first TT Nismo) were there with me for the tests. With just lines and pads and brake fluids I think Ben had some ungodly stopping power on sport brakes like around 70~75ft. Ben got into the 60's once then brake fade came into play I did about 2 dozen more runs just fine... we then ventured to disable the abs to see how that affected everything and the rear brakes locked up immediately with the 6 piston setup... so we are opting for a less aggressive rear pad to combat rear wheel lock and its worked great so far.

If your going to add other components I would reccomend hotchkis sways they really settled down my HKS bounce problem and has allowed me to work on the suspension dynamics alot.

It is pretty hard to beat AP Racing brake systems for their history, technology and, in this case, vast experience with the 370Z (since before the car's launch). If you have any specific questions or would like help in determining which rotor and pad arrangement to select with your kit, contact Stillen for assistance.

KW V3 an AP BBK is my suggestion for your particular case. Its similar to mine and that's the direction I took as well. Don't have the BBK yet, but its coming later.

After trying, installing, using, street and track testing, etc. all of the brake kits and coilovers mentioned, as well as several not mentioned....

My suggestion is custom RA valved and spec'd BC Racing ER series double adjustable coilovers with light weight, accurate Swift linear springs, all custom tailored to fit your precise needs..... are hands down the way to go in that price range (I guarantee it). And out of the list of brake kits you have there..., AP Racing.

Hey Scott, mind pming me about those buddy club racing coilovers? I am currently considering tein...

Sure thing, PM sent...... But just an FYI, BC Racing Suspension coilovers are not, nor have anything to do with the company Buddy Club ;)


Here is a picture of one of the few members (here on this forum) Relentless Autosports custom valved and spec'd BC Racing Suspension double adjustable, remote reservoir ER series coilovers.....
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a12...cture002-3.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a12...cture007-2.jpg

Scott, what is you honest opinion on the BR series?

The coilovers look sharp, however there is no pricing on your site. Sure if they are "customized" I understand that the cost may vary slightly, but at least a "costs starting at $xyz" would install some confidence to the consumer.....

How exactly do you guarantee the product and its custom set-up?

Hey, were/are you on any 350Z forums?

Don't the ER start around $1800 msrp?