AP Racing Big Brake Kit Installed!

travisjb · 08-09-2009, 02:46 AM

For those of you that know AP Racing brakes, I think you will be excited to hear that I have successfully fit and tested their new kit for the 370z! Includes a 14.25" 6-pot front and 4-pot rear kit. For those of you that haven't heard of them, let's quickly cover their credentials... example apps:

Ultima GTR which has world record for 0 to 100 to 0, 0.5 sec faster than the Veyron
most of Formula 1, LeMans, ALMS, Grand Am, NASCAR, WRC and Champ Car
cars 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the Top Gear TV show fastest lap chart AP Racing Limited Edition Competition Gray Calipers Are Here! : STILLEN
and now my humble 370z!

Why I decided to make this upgrade... If you read my build journal and some of the other threads from folks that track this car, you'll notice that even with the Akebono sport package brakes, high temp fluids and track pads, people are experiencing significant degradation in braking performance during track sessions with hairpins and other intense braking zones. At first I thought I could resolve this with more airflow, different pads, etc, but after playing around with all that I just wasn't able to get consistent stopping performance on the OE setup. Why take chances with your brakes?! I bought this kit in order to get 99.99% confidence that I will stop predictably every time. In addition, as I move to stickier tires, I suspect that this car is going to need a lot more than the stock setup could offer. Larger surface area of contact between pads + rotors = more thermal capacity... Some more discussion here: Sport Pkg brakes up to track use? and here 370Z Brakes?

Installation: I had the kit professionally installed by Redline Motorsports of Tempe, AZ. They primarily work on Porsche and Ferrari. They are a Brembo dealer but were seriously impressed with this kit. Install was reportedly straightforward "virtually bolt ons" - only downside noted was that there was trimming required to the OEM backing plates. Nothing a DIY'er can't handle with a grinder and sawzall. We are using DOT5.1 fluid. As for servicability in the future, one thing you'll notice about these is the huge opening for pads... swapping pads is drop-in, unlike some other BBK's

What's in the kit: Choice of slotted, drilled or slotted/drilled rotors, calipers, stainless steel brake lines, mintex extreme metallic high-temp pads, all the hardware you need for install. I elected the slotted rotors. Cross-drilled are for looks. Slotted are for heat dissipation and performance.

Testing and impressions: I am just getting started with testing, but first impressions... flawless! First and most importantly, I have experienced ZERO fade issues throughout the hot summer months here in the southwest. Including time at tracks in AZ and Utah. I have braked the car from 150+mph with some intensity and it was supremely stable and confidence inspiring. Stopping G's have increased and distances reduced. And to be honest, I am still exploring the limits of these brakes. You will see from a chart I post later that I am not yet fully exploiting these brakes. Why? Because I continue to underestimate how much stopping power is on reserve... It takes bravery and time to adjust to fully exploit a set of brakes like this, and well I'm still working on it!

Where to get: Stillen : AP Racing AP Racing 6-Piston Big Brake Kits You may be worried about how much they cost but I offer this up for you: 1) if you act while your z is new'ish, you can probably sell your existing brakes for about $1K - lots of interested "G" owners, 2) you're going to spend a significant portion of this on quality rotors and still not have as reliable and powerful a setup, 3) they may save your ***! 4) One of the things you are paying for with these brakes is support. Since purchasing these, I've had all the access I need to Stillen's technical people to talk about brake pad options, servicing, etc. The responsiveness and technical skill of the folks I've interacted with at Stillen/Brake Pros has been 10x what I've gotten from Nissan for the car itself.

I will continue to test different pads during the upcoming season and will update this thread occasionally with results. Questions and comments welcomed!

UPDATED LINKS

travisjb · 08-09-2009, 02:48 AM

BLING

travisjb · 08-09-2009, 02:53 AM

The pics above will be updated once I get my new Forgestar wheels... and by the way, obviously these fit with the sport 19 wheels... I am not sure about OEM 18s... I have also confirmed that they DO fit with the 18" Forgestars offered by Mike at DDM.

So, this morning I was at Firebird International Raceway West Track here in Phoenix. I pulled some data off my Traqmate to illustrate these brakes. Have a look.

travisjb · 08-09-2009, 02:58 AM

You'll notice that I have no trouble getting to 1.0g decel on street tires. I think there is more on tap, but as I said I'm still getting acclimated to these brakes. In fact, you can see that I did not consistently use all the brakes. You will also notice that there are no abrupt fall offs that would be indicative of brake fade. Another thing you may notice is that around 500-900 feet, I am using the brakes ~10-15% around a 1.0g right hand sweeper. I had a driving instructor that once told me 'the accelerator is an on/off switch, use it that way (gradually applied of course)... but the brake is not... the brake pedal has infinite positions' With these brakes and the s/s lines that come included, I find I am better able to dial in exactly the brake pressure I desire... that means more controlled and predictable trail braking. This will only get better as I move to sticky tires.

That's all for now!

Brazilbro · 08-09-2009, 04:08 AM

I'm scared to ask the price

Dee@Amplified · 08-09-2009, 05:22 AM

Props to you for getting some of the best products out there and building an amazing car man... Doesnt get much higher than AP Racing Brakes, you got an awesome set there.

-Steven @ Amplified

travisjb · 08-09-2009, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brazilbro

I'm scared to ask the price

The Stillen link in my OP has the prices. This is an exclusive Stillen kit. Stillen engineering designed the kit in collaboration with AP Racing. Prices are marked down from list, which should help a little. One option for anyone whose budget is tight is to do the front and save rears for future date.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AMPLIFIED

Props to you for getting some of the best products out there and building an amazing car man... Doesnt get much higher than AP Racing Brakes, you got an awesome set there.

-Steven @ Amplified

Thanks Steven! Now if I can work out the fuel starvation issue I've been having at the track recently, will be ready to rock!

LiquidZ · 08-09-2009, 11:22 AM

Very nice brakes.

I can't wait to see the 18" Forgestars. I hope they get to you soon. If you don't mind me asking, but what tire sizes will you be using?

Mike · 08-09-2009, 12:00 PM

awesome brakes!

travisjb · 08-09-2009, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiquidZ

Very nice brakes.

I can't wait to see the 18" Forgestars. I hope they get to you soon. If you don't mind me asking, but what tire sizes will you be using?

Thanks. The matte black forgestars should set off the brakes nicely... and the overall combo will be much lighter. I am currently thinking 285 front 305 rear... but may adjust that depending on classing

ChrisSlicks · 08-09-2009, 01:35 PM

Thanks for the writeup Travis. I think this might be on the cards for me next year, a little pricy but fixes the fatal flaw that exists in this car.

travisjb · 08-09-2009, 03:59 PM

Sure thing, Chris

I'd urge folks to think about doing this sooner rather than later, so you get a good price when you re-sell your OEM brakes. I got a grand for mine, but I sold to the first guy that came along. You can prob do better than that.

OnCallZ · 08-09-2009, 04:34 PM

Would you say these brakes are too aggressive for street use?, I only do an occasional track day maybe once per year.

travisjb · 08-09-2009, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnCallZ

Would you say these brakes are too aggressive for street use?, I only do an occasional track day maybe once per year.

Great question, I should have mentioned that before... when you use these brakes with a reasonably 'soft' pad like the mintex extreme that comes with the kit, they are PERFECTLY SUITED for the street... no joke, a lot less bite and jerkiness than I had with my stock brakes combined with hawk HP+ pads... having said that, you do not need these brakes for the street... I know you realize that... the benefit for you would be once per year and bragging rights in between events!

ChrisSlicks · 08-09-2009, 06:18 PM

Only the front backing plates require modification correct? The rear rotors look like they are smaller than stock.

08-09-2009, 02:46 AM	#1 (permalink)
travisjb A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: GSO Posts: 2,803 Drives: VIR Rep Power: 188	AP Racing Big Brake Kit Installed! For those of you that know AP Racing brakes, I think you will be excited to hear that I have successfully fit and tested their new kit for the 370z! Includes a 14.25" 6-pot front and 4-pot rear kit. For those of you that haven't heard of them, let's quickly cover their credentials... example apps: Ultima GTR which has world record for 0 to 100 to 0, 0.5 sec faster than the Veyron most of Formula 1, LeMans, ALMS, Grand Am, NASCAR, WRC and Champ Car cars 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the Top Gear TV show fastest lap chart AP Racing Limited Edition Competition Gray Calipers Are Here! : STILLEN and now my humble 370z! Why I decided to make this upgrade... If you read my build journal and some of the other threads from folks that track this car, you'll notice that even with the Akebono sport package brakes, high temp fluids and track pads, people are experiencing significant degradation in braking performance during track sessions with hairpins and other intense braking zones. At first I thought I could resolve this with more airflow, different pads, etc, but after playing around with all that I just wasn't able to get consistent stopping performance on the OE setup. Why take chances with your brakes?! I bought this kit in order to get 99.99% confidence that I will stop predictably every time. In addition, as I move to stickier tires, I suspect that this car is going to need a lot more than the stock setup could offer. Larger surface area of contact between pads + rotors = more thermal capacity... Some more discussion here: Sport Pkg brakes up to track use? and here 370Z Brakes? Installation: I had the kit professionally installed by Redline Motorsports of Tempe, AZ. They primarily work on Porsche and Ferrari. They are a Brembo dealer but were seriously impressed with this kit. Install was reportedly straightforward "virtually bolt ons" - only downside noted was that there was trimming required to the OEM backing plates. Nothing a DIY'er can't handle with a grinder and sawzall. We are using DOT5.1 fluid. As for servicability in the future, one thing you'll notice about these is the huge opening for pads... swapping pads is drop-in, unlike some other BBK's What's in the kit: Choice of slotted, drilled or slotted/drilled rotors, calipers, stainless steel brake lines, mintex extreme metallic high-temp pads, all the hardware you need for install. I elected the slotted rotors. Cross-drilled are for looks. Slotted are for heat dissipation and performance. Testing and impressions: I am just getting started with testing, but first impressions... flawless! First and most importantly, I have experienced ZERO fade issues throughout the hot summer months here in the southwest. Including time at tracks in AZ and Utah. I have braked the car from 150+mph with some intensity and it was supremely stable and confidence inspiring. Stopping G's have increased and distances reduced. And to be honest, I am still exploring the limits of these brakes. You will see from a chart I post later that I am not yet fully exploiting these brakes. Why? Because I continue to underestimate how much stopping power is on reserve... It takes bravery and time to adjust to fully exploit a set of brakes like this, and well I'm still working on it! Where to get: Stillen : AP Racing AP Racing 6-Piston Big Brake Kits You may be worried about how much they cost but I offer this up for you: 1) if you act while your z is new'ish, you can probably sell your existing brakes for about $1K - lots of interested "G" owners, 2) you're going to spend a significant portion of this on quality rotors and still not have as reliable and powerful a setup, 3) they may save your **! 4) One of the things you are paying for with these brakes is support. Since purchasing these, I've had all the access I need to Stillen's technical people to talk about brake pad options, servicing, etc. The responsiveness and technical skill of the folks I've interacted with at Stillen/Brake Pros has been 10x what I've gotten from Nissan for the car itself. I will continue to test different pads during the upcoming season and will update this thread occasionally with results. Questions and comments welcomed! UPDATED LINKS __________________ 2009 370Z #104 For Sale* Last edited by travisjb; 08-09-2009 at 03:16 AM.

08-09-2009, 02:48 AM	#2 (permalink)
travisjb A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: GSO Posts: 2,803 Drives: VIR Rep Power: 188	BLING __________________ 2009 370Z #104 For Sale

08-09-2009, 02:53 AM	#3 (permalink)
travisjb A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: GSO Posts: 2,803 Drives: VIR Rep Power: 188	The pics above will be updated once I get my new Forgestar wheels... and by the way, obviously these fit with the sport 19 wheels... I am not sure about OEM 18s... I have also confirmed that they DO fit with the 18" Forgestars offered by Mike at DDM. So, this morning I was at Firebird International Raceway West Track here in Phoenix. I pulled some data off my Traqmate to illustrate these brakes. Have a look. __________________ 2009 370Z #104 For Sale

08-09-2009, 02:58 AM	#4 (permalink)
travisjb A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: GSO Posts: 2,803 Drives: VIR Rep Power: 188	You'll notice that I have no trouble getting to 1.0g decel on street tires. I think there is more on tap, but as I said I'm still getting acclimated to these brakes. In fact, you can see that I did not consistently use all the brakes. You will also notice that there are no abrupt fall offs that would be indicative of brake fade. Another thing you may notice is that around 500-900 feet, I am using the brakes ~10-15% around a 1.0g right hand sweeper. I had a driving instructor that once told me 'the accelerator is an on/off switch, use it that way (gradually applied of course)... but the brake is not... the brake pedal has infinite positions' With these brakes and the s/s lines that come included, I find I am better able to dial in exactly the brake pressure I desire... that means more controlled and predictable trail braking. This will only get better as I move to sticky tires. That's all for now! __________________ 2009 370Z #104 For Sale

08-09-2009, 11:22 AM	#8 (permalink)
LiquidZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 1,940 Drives: Mag. Black 2009 370Z Rep Power: 705	Very nice brakes. I can't wait to see the 18" Forgestars. I hope they get to you soon. If you don't mind me asking, but what tire sizes will you be using? __________________

08-09-2009, 04:08 AM	#5 (permalink)
Brazilbro A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 1,131 Drives: Juke/240Z Rep Power: 848	I'm scared to ask the price

08-09-2009, 05:22 AM	#6 (permalink)
Dee@Amplified Banned Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: CA Posts: 118 Drives: MB Base 6MT w/Sport Rep Power: 0	Props to you for getting some of the best products out there and building an amazing car man... Doesnt get much higher than AP Racing Brakes, you got an awesome set there. -Steven @ Amplified

08-09-2009, 12:00 PM	#9 (permalink)
Mike The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Loganville, GA Posts: 5,944 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 2186	awesome brakes! __________________ NISSAN: 75 280Z / 86 300ZX GLL /87 Sentra SE / 03 350Z / 23 Z Porsche: 93 968 / 23 Macan GTS / 93 968

08-09-2009, 01:35 PM	#11 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 653	Thanks for the writeup Travis. I think this might be on the cards for me next year, a little pricy but fixes the fatal flaw that exists in this car.

08-09-2009, 03:59 PM	#12 (permalink)
travisjb A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: GSO Posts: 2,803 Drives: VIR Rep Power: 188	Sure thing, Chris I'd urge folks to think about doing this sooner rather than later, so you get a good price when you re-sell your OEM brakes. I got a grand for mine, but I sold to the first guy that came along. You can prob do better than that. __________________ 2009 370Z #104 For Sale

08-09-2009, 04:34 PM	#13 (permalink)
OnCallZ Base Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 108 Drives: g37 Rep Power: 16	Would you say these brakes are too aggressive for street use?, I only do an occasional track day maybe once per year.

08-09-2009, 06:18 PM	#15 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 653	Only the front backing plates require modification correct? The rear rotors look like they are smaller than stock.

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