VE35GT

OK folks results live from the track... After four sessions at Wakefield Park Raceway, I've been able to reduce my best laptime by .8 second to 1:13.2 (street tyres, 1/2-1/3 tank fuel), and I know there's an easy 1:12.xx there, once I finally work out how to get traction out of the the final turn (those who have run Wakefield will know what I'm talking about!). But the ability to now run 8 or more consistent hot laps is the best bit, I'm able to string a set of 1:13's together and actually work on my lines and braking points. Where as with the stock calipers and rotors I used to basically get an outlap, one or two hot laps and then the brakes were so hot and spongy I was guessing how much braking I had left... so I was constantly overcooking it into corners all over the track (I was running Proj Mu HC+ pads, so they were as hi-temp as I could go and still be street drivable). As for the ABS kicking in, yes it does feel like it comes in a bit earlier and with less pedal input, especially on the track, I could feel the brakes now comfortably winning the adhesion tussle with the tyres... So I was rarely at full brakes... though all in all, it's relative and they aren't so responsive that it makes driving uncomfortable. To be honest it feels like my the '07 Mazada 3 MPS my Old Man had, which I think has some decent AP calipers and they grab very quickly... So I'm just adjusting my pressure on brake pedal at first contact! I'd take the confidence of knowing that the car is going to stop any day, over the occasional activation of ABS! The ABS still releases the brakes as it is mean to, so you don't "lock" the wheel like say a V8 supercar does (they don't have ABS). In fact with new confidence in the brakes, I was on the loud pedal longer down the straight today... I'm now running 178km/h peak speed vs my previous peaks of 170km/h (racechrono measured, so take actual km/h with a grain of salt, but for comparison sake, an 8km/h increase is decent when you're covering nearly 50m/s). I really do have no idea how anyone could criticise these brakes so badly in the WCOTY... unless the Brembos are that much better (I haven't tracked a Brembo shod 350Z/Skyline so I can only compare to what I had)? Maybe if I was driving a big HP Turbo/SuperCharged it might be different... but having taken the Akebono's to the limit of my driving ability, they still had plenty in reserve... no fade, and I know I was still braking too early on a couple of corners, hence the better times thay are to be had! I am using Hawk pads and good quality high temp fluid, but even still I can't image that would make so much difference that I would call them a great upgrade and the journos and industry experts would single them out for criticism? Maybe they were all testing the 370 after getting out of the R35 GTR... or just a case of 'each to their own'?

Thanks Rianto, I have been considering investing in a set of forged 18's for the track (apparently they are lighter than the stock 19's and semi slicks are easier to come by for 18's) but the cost vs weight saving always made me baulk... But I'll look into the springs for sure (was thinking it was time to drop it a few cm's anyway, sounds like the perfect excuse)!

I'm pretty sure they are the same. On the specs sheet from the nissan website it says the 370z gets 355x32mm fronts rotors and 350x20mm rears. But there is a model of the 370z in the US call the "Journey" which has smaller brakes. I'm not sure it's sold here, maybe someone knows for sure?

In case ppl were thinking of a Brake Upgrade for the V35 I thought I would share my thoughts on the Akebono BBK available for the V35/350Z. I got this kit after a long research process to upgrade the '05 brakes, which just weren't cutting it on the track and felt too sloppy on the street (a common complaint, there must be half a dozen threads on it on G35Driver). If you don't know what I'm talking about, this kit is the "Sport Brake Kit" option on the ADM 370Z, and the USDM G37 (and I think some of the last of the G35's) with an adapter to fit the 03-06 V35. I got it through Concept Z Performance, but Riverside Infiniti sell them and I think a couple of other places do as well. Specs: 14" Slotted StopTech Front Rotors - 4 spot Akebono Calipers 13.8" Slotted StopTech Rear Rotors - 2 spot Akebono Calipers First thoughts on Performance: (Haven't got to the track yet, it's been too wet on the open days! So this is just street performance). The initial bite is almost 'savage' compared to the very gentle braking take up of the '05 calipers (apparently the soft braking of the '05 this was to reduce rotor wear issues associated with the 03-04... but it just made the car feel underbraked IMO!). There's about half the pedal travel of the old brakes and it gives you a lot of confidence when you need to slow up in a hurry. It now stops like a sports car, in fact with Bridgestone RE050A's it is probably now the best stopping car I've been in, easily comparable to an '00 911 Carerra I had a chance to test. Positives: It's easily the best "Bang for your Buck" BBK out there at ~$AUD2700 landed with slotted rotors and Hawk Pads it's about half the cost of the next cheapest option. (If you talk to Coz at Concept Z he also helps minimise the Customs/GST on import). Performance is day and night compared to the stock '05 brakes! It really pulls up well, the shorter pedal travel and initial bit would save you maybe even meters when stopping hard from 110km/h, not to mention no fade if you need to do it repeatedly. The Infiniti kit is a genuine factory item so repairs and aftermarket parts will always be available. And there are already 2 or 3 manufacturers who have high performance street and AutoX pads available and I'm sure it won't take long for others to join in. Because it's Infiniti/Nissan parts, it didn't mess my insurance up! It keeps the stock park brake and stock brake lines, and didn't need a bigger brake master cylinder. I think they look pretty good and the Calipers are BIG!! It's pretty easy to fit and is almost 'bolt on', if you are savvy you could DIY. The kit should fit inside the stock 18" rims (I have the '05 19" rims and there is about 2cm+ gap) Negatives: The calipers and the rotors are HEAVY! The whole package was about 70kg from the US and the 20kg+ of extra unsprung weight does slow the car, it now feels almost like I have a passenger or the difference between a full tank of fuel and an empty tank, when I'm accelerating from the lights. But lightweight rotors will help this (not yet available tho!) Not everyone is going to like the Silver Infiniti Colour or Logo. You can order the 'Nissan Blue' colour and logo, but it's $USD200 extra (or you can paint over the Infiniti silver in high temp paint or powdercoat and you can have any colour you like!) It's not a big "bling" kit... If you want a kit that's going to dazzle under your rims, then probably better to dig a little deeper in your pockets at get the cheapest 370-380mm kit you can... or keep digging, sell a kidney and take a second mortgage, to get a kit from Rotara, StopTech, Project Mu, Endless etc. The options I seriously considered: 350Z/V35 Brembos (rarer than the proverbial Hen's teeth and seemed I was looking at around $2k for a decent condition set, depending on whether I needed to ship it or not. It just didn't add up to me when new and bigger brakes were only $600 more and I didn't have to wait!) Alliance BBK (which is ~$USD4K+ and excellent value for lightweight 380mm rotors, 8/6 Calipers and V.Tough looks) but they are a new player and I wanted a product with proven quality seeing "support" was a long way away in the US! K-Sport/D2 (Also good value at about $AUD4.5K-5K fitted for lightweight 355/325mm rotors 6/4 Calipers and Aussie Dealers), but the Infiniti option came in cheaper for comparable product and I'm still waiting to see some more ppl give feedback on K-Sport for track work, which was my main reason for the upgrade. I also looked at kits from the "bigger names" but they started at $USD5k+ which IMO was overcapitalisation for my purposes as I've decided not to go down F.I. path. There was also a 2nd hand R35 GTR kit for sale on Ebay for about $USD5k...

Good to hear both sides of the options. I might have to do some more reading before I head down the Haltech path too then!

You could try cough... Cryodon Motorsport... cough (I know there are some out there that don't like their work) but I was quoted $1400 for a drive-in, drive-out deal of a Haltech Platinum Interceptor (the Piggy Back one), wiring loom and tune. Which seemed reasonable when I costed the other options. They said they had done a couple of V's and were getting peak gains of 10-15rwkw and much better bottom-end and midrange. These were on stock cars and some with Cat back exhaust and Cold Air intakes. I'm told by my mechanic that if you are thinking Forced Induction later on, go with the Haltech because it has enough functionality to handle the F.I. and the E-Manage doesn't, though others who have FI might have a different opinion but I'm just adding that incase it's part of your decision process. If you go for the E-Manage (which I was going to do when a friend was parting out his car), just be mindful that the loom can be $300-$400 and most places want anything up to $600 for a tune (if they aren't selling you the whole package), so it can work out more expensive and with no warranty coverage. If you do want to go with the E-Manage, I'd say you could also try Just Engine Management (J.E.M.) at Ingleburn (SW Sydney), they have done a few R33's with the E-Manage and the owners were happy.

Yeah I've talked with a few of the guys with 350z's and Brembo's lapping the same days as me, and none of them have complained of brake fade issues. I've learnt the '05 just has grossly inadequate brakes for the track (with no Brembo option offered in 05/06). I did try some QFM A1RM's and the RDA Slotted rotors last track day and got them so hot I literally melted the pad material from the backing plate (no good for rotor longevity)! I'm just trying to find some footage of me badly missing an apex or taking a run across the kitty litter to post on Youtube... though I fear vanity may have meant I destroyed the evidence! But the '05 Brakes are plenty adequate for street driving and a decent set of pads will easily have your braking needs covered for a blast through some mountain twisties... just found some footage of me demsontrating that point through some of Tasmania's national parks. OK needs a quick edit and it should be up soon.

Here's a pic from a track day before I got the TopSpeed Pro1 Exhaust fitted... (which seemed to decrease the economy further, or it might have been that I got more confident with the track and was pushing harder in subsequent days?)

7.8Km/L for urban driving seems average from what I've read in this section... I get about 8-9km/L around town, though I never drive in any form of 'peak hour traffic'. On the highway it's usually about 11-12km/L, my best was a Christmas day trip last year Syd to Melbourne, I got about 13.5Km/L for the trip and nearly made it to Melb on one tank! (For the first time I can remember I was glad for all the Police presence keeping me to the speed limit... I discovered how much better economy you get sitting on only 100-110kmh, go figure?!). Oh and I get about 2.8-3.1km/L on the track (assuming the trip computer calculates correctly) and that's giving it as much loud pedal as the circuit allows! Not sure if MT vs AT is something to consider in this discussion? Mine is MT

Great vid... made me feel better about my efforts on the track too! It was almost satisfying to see a pro struggle to get the '05 hooked up out of the tighter corners, and I was feeling his frustration with the 2 lap ponies they call "brakes" on the 05/06... brake fade by lap 3 is par for the course for those without Brembos! A brake upgrade is a definite for any regular track day V-warrior and even if it's your track debut, my advice for those without Brembos is to put in the highest temp rated pads you can afford, they'll at least give you a couple more laps before your brake pedal feels like it's pushing on marshmellow!

Comparable to mine (paid it in Dec). It was $438 with QBE (31yo, priv use, located South-East Syd) for the '05 Coupe.

BP 98+ or Mobile 8000 when I'm going for a decent drive or to the track, V-Power for the rest of the time. Just bugs me that around my area BP 98+ is usually about 15c a litre more than V-Power (plus another 4c if I have a fuel discount coupons from Coles/Shell) and no Mobil stations with 8000 (98RON). Because the V35 definitely 'feels better' using BP/Mobil and gave about 1.1 - 1.2km/l better fuel economy on my Syd to Melb trips according to the 'green leaf-o-meter'... though I probably not advise you take those results as science!

Pretty sure the s2 V35 has a different Front caliper to the s1 V35 Non-Brembo and the 350z Touring. Coz a while ago my mech ordered some pads for my 05 Coupe that were apparently for the 350z Touring/s1 V35 Non-Brembo, but had to send the front pads back because they didn't fit (I think he said the pads were quite a bit too small). I have attached a chapter on the Braking system from the S2 G/V35 Workshop manual I found on G35Driver.com that might help you, if you haven't found it in your searching already. If you get stuck for the rebuilt kit you could always try emailing Riverside Infiniti to ask whether they have a rebuild kit suitable for your car. They've helped me with a few qns about the unusual brakes on the s2 V35's. br.pdf

Price looks good, I have no idea about performance improvement though... but performance has to be better than the stock 05/06 'Nissan' brakes which in my experience struggle badly on the track (not to mention the chew through pads on the track... and I've tried the best from just about every manufacturer that actually makes a performance pad for the 05/06 brake set-up, which unfortunately is very limited i.e. Lucas, Hawk, QFM and Project Mu. Nismo may also make one, but I havent investigated, I am happy with Project Mu HC+ until I upgrade the entire setup, but Proj Mu HC+ are relatively expensive at $340-380 an axle, depending on the exchange $AUD/Yen) For price comparison on the brake kit, I've been quoted around $4,500 including installation for the K-Sport 356mm-F/330mm-R from A&B Motorsport and also JustJap (both in Sydney) and $1700 for a second hand set of 350z/V35 Brembos from Hills Motorsport (but that depended on them getting a set in, which I've waited 6months and they still haven't!). I'm sure you will have seen other BBK Kits advertised on the internet, but in my search I've seen they tend to start at $6-8k and head north, which is more than I'm willing to spend when there are so many other things on my mods list!

Didn't notice a real difference (well that was once I got over 'testing' whether it really did breath better near the redline... I think we all know what happens to the VQ's fuel consumption figures when the needle is making frequent trips to the Right Hand Side of the tacho)

After reading a lot of reviews on G35 driver and 350zTech, I went with a JWT Clutch and Flywheel combo (14lb flywheel) from Concept Z Performance (ebay store) and would say there has been minimal increase in grinding/chatter noise (maybe 20% louder at idle and about the same if <2000rpm and the engine is under load e.g. climbing a hill, but no noise once above that rpm range). There was a 'slight' loss of torque (although we are talking about driving a manual, so if an extra gear change up a hill is going to be a deal breaker... well?). I can't comment on the effects on fuel economy as the car is a weekend/track only car and rarely travels the same route often enough to compare. Positives are noticably quicker acceleration (VDC wants to kick in more often now when getting away from traffic lights, even when just trying for just a usual to moderate takeoff) and much easier heel /toe down changes (easier to match the revs, and no more forward lurches if you get the revs wrong going down through the gears). I think this alone really makes the car feel more performance oriented and more enjoyable to drive especially on a twisty road. If you are thinking about the JWT clutch as well, I would say the clutch it's about 30% stiffer than stock (probably to the point that if you have a daily drive and do "bumper to bumper" traffic it's going to get a bit uncomfortable, but if you just weekend/cruise/joyride/track, then it's fine). But if you do the cafe/latte scene, then you might need to practice reverse parking once or twice before hitting the Mini Cooper sized parking spots, as the clutch has about half the 'slip' of the stock one and let's face it, there's no more inglorious arrival then finding that perfect spot out the front and then stalling your car while parking infront of your soy, decaf, doubleshot, extra hot, extra froth, organic, fairtrade expresso bean 'clique'! I would say that the clutch really comes into it's own on the track; where it's a vast improvement to the stock set, with really solid connection after each gear change and no sign of slip even after a 15+ hot laps. Would I buy both of them again? Definately yes for the flywheel, and yes for the clutch as long as the car never becomes a daily commuter in traffic!