gazofcorra

After a lot of chatting with ZMANALEX and telling him what i want from my car, he came up with a Hybrid brake setup for my Z and it consists of: 1. performance Friction discs (purchased from ZMANALEX) 2. DBA 4601s discs for the rear (purchasing 2, 3, 4 & 5 from CS) 3. Ferodo DS2500 pads 4. Hel braided lines 5.Motul RBF600 brake fluid All fitting will be done by the member CS If you want some expert advice on what brake components to buy you should contact ZMANALEX who can also supply brake parts at very good rates, CS can also supply and fit a wide range of performance parts for the Z, both members can be contacted on this forum.

I hope they are as i have just ordered a set for my Z....What pads are you using?

Sorry Mike i just wanted to make it easy to find

Hi Guys, You have got to watch this video, it is of a bloke who owns a Nissan GT-R who upgrades his brakes to performance Friction with some superb commentary and video footage. Better than watching Top Gear

Many thanks

Dixon i think the Dixcel brakes are great from all the reviews that i have read and the only reason i specified that i wanted a good disc that works with top rated pads, is because i thought you cannot pick up dixcel pads that easy compared with (ferodo, mintex, pagid etc) which are available everywhere, and as the dixcel discs only work with there pads, what if i could not get hold of the pads as you never know. And as you say "There are no such thing on the Market, disk/pad always design together to work at it's best performance" So my point is valid when spending around £1000 on a brake setup from a company that is not that well known or as well stocked here in the UK. And quite a few other manufacturers do not specify that you solely have to use there own pads, but give you a list of pads that work with there discs under different circumstances from normal road use to street race to track and because you can get the pads from hundreds of sources the price for the pad stays competative. If you could only buy your fuel from one source then it would cost a fortune, not that it is cheap at the moment. DBA, StopTech, EBC, K-Sport are a few companys that specify a few different pads to use with there discs. This is my only concern, nothing against Dixcel brakes but more of a concern about availability in the future.

Hi Stew, I think the Dixcel brakes are great from all the reviews that i have read and the only reason i specified that i wanted a good disc that works with top rated pads, is because i thought you cannot pick up dixcel pads that easy compared with (ferodo, mintex, pagid etc) which are available everywhere, and as the dixcel discs only work with there pads, what if i could not get hold of the pads as you never know. Dixon from DMS says "There are no such thing on the Market, disk/pad always design together to work at it's best performance" So my point is valid when spending around £1000 on a brake setup from a company that is not that well known or as well stocked here in the UK. As quite a few other manufacturers do not specify that you solely have to use there own pads, but give you a list of pads that work with there discs under different circumstances from normal road use to street race to track and because you can get the pads from hundreds of sources the price for the pad stays competative. If you could only buy your fuel from one source then it would cost a fortune, not that it is cheap at the moment. DBA, StopTech, EBC, K-Sport are a few companys that specify a few different pads to use with there discs. This is my only concern, nothing against Dixcel brakes but more of a concern about availability in the future.

Anyone tried StopTech discs and know how much they cost and where to get them from. Cheers

I was looking for some good rotors/discs that i could use with various makes of pads, so looks as if my search continues.

Guys been told some important info from Dixon at Dixcel brakes. Need to let you guys know our disk will not work on others pad, our disk are designed to use with carbon compound pad which give very high initial bite at low temperature plus it runs at very low temperature as carbon doesn't store as much heat like steel based brake pad like the others. So unless you stick to dixcel pads your ****'d basically, i myself was looking for some good rotors/discs that could be used with various types of pads so i could choose a pad i like. Back to square 1

Cheers that stopTech info is very good, many thanks.

Guys, I have done this thread to try and get as much info in one place, as i know there are a few threads with brake bedding in procedures scattered about the forum, but it takes me ages using the search and was hoping to get the users who supply discs and/or pads or people with more knowledge than most to put there views, methods and reasons on "How to actually bed brakes in correctly". We could here from people with extensive knowledge of the most popular brands EBC, Dixcel, BDA, Brembo, mintex, ferrodo etc etc... and there recommended methods of bedding in as some may vary slightly. The questions: 1. How to bed in discs and/or pads using normal day to day driving 2. How to bed in discs and/or pads on the track 3. How to prepare discs and/or pads that have been run in already, prior to doing a track day? If i have missed a relevent question let me know and i will add it to the list, also if those who do participate could specify which discs and/or pads they are refering to at the beginning of there post this would make things clearer and then comment to one, two or all of the 3 questions in order if you can. Example: Title or subject EBC turbo groove discs and EBC red stuff pads 1. blah blah blah 2. Do not know 3. Blah blah blah Or Title or subject Ferrodo DS2500 Pads 1. info 2. info 3. info You all get my drift i am sure but best to be clear from the start as it will make a better topic to read, hopefully Cheers guys and hope this helps.

As soon as i know if i need front and/or rear discs i can contact Dixon regarding the discs as they are on special until the end of Jan 2010 i will also get in touch with CS for the pads, hoses, fluid and fitting and then i can book my track day at Oulton Park in February 2010 for some much needed bonding. Happy new year to you all hope 2010 is a good one

Greekman have a good time in Paris i'm sure you will and glad you have got Nissan to take responsibility for the FUBAR to your brakes, i'm wondering if you can get Darren to do the same As soon as i know if i need front and/or rear discs i can contact Dixon regarding the discs as they are on special until the end of Jan 2010 i will also get in touch with CS for the pads, hoses, fluid and fitting and then i can book my track day at Oulton Park in February 2010 for some much needed bonding. Happy new year to you all hope 2010 is a good one

This has been a superb post, check mine out too http://www.350z-uk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=30819&p=452357#p452357 I am going to go and get my brakes checked out soon, so i know how much disc and pad is left before i need to buy my new set. I am going for Ferrodo DS2500 pads all round with Dixcel DAV FCR Carbon Slotted discs up front and either Dixcel or DBA for the rears, braided hoses all round and some good brake fluid to top it all off Merry Christmas and don't follow the old story:

This has been an interesting post and thanks to all who joined in, it would have been a bit better if we had more reviews off members and there setup's but probably all busy getting Xmas in order I am going to go and get my brakes checked out soon, so i know how much disc and pad is left before i need to buy my new set. I am going for Ferrodo DS2500 pads all round with Dixcel DAV FCR Carbon Slotted discs up front and either Dixcel or DBA for the rears, braided hoses all round and some good brake fluid to top it all off Merry Christmas and don't follow the old story:

David thanks for your post it took some reading but i get your drift. As you worked on the Ferrodo DS pads you know a lot more than most about that particular pad and from what i have read quite a few people like them also, can you give us the key points on the DS2500 pad and your honest opinion of it.

Can brake setups be mixed...Can you have different discs on the front/rear? Can you also have different pads front/rear? I have just looked at the K-Sport BBK 8 pot setup and you get calipers, rotors, bells, braided hoses & pads for under £800.00 that sounds good value but maybe to extreme for normal day to day driving, would be good to hear of anyone who has this setup.

Sorry about the chippy comment finding out your a dentist explains why you are (shall we say well off) no wonder he drives his car the way he does, being a dentist he must get bored shitless Darren are you mates with Greekman? have you done Oulton park? you also say that the dixcel discs are great but i take it that both of you think the pads are not up to much, what pads do you think would complement the dixcel pads?

WOW! What a post that lot was and very interesting indeed....This Greek Bloke sounds fun sounds to me he has that funny driving style "win it or bin it - if ya snooze ya lose - drive it like you stole it On a serious note i have a thread running about OEM brake Vs the rest and i have the Dixcel DAV FCR Carbon Slotted disks and the Dixcel Type Z Carbon pads in my short list and i would like to hear from other 350Z drivers who have the same Dixcel brake setup as these sound fantastic! Hey Greek Bloke (man) do u own a few chippy's ? and that's not mean't to be taking da weewee as i have a few mates who do and they are well loaded.

I thought there would be a huge difference between the 2 models of standard brakes as the 350Z performance model also has smaller disks too (quoting the article) and the difference between the 332mm big brake kit was not much better than the standard Brembo's. I have now decided that when it comes time to change my discs i will pick between Dixcel FCR Carbon Slotted disks or BDA 4000 series and for pads either Dixcel Type Z Carbon pads or Ferrodo DS2500 i would include the endless pads but i think there are 3 different types and i have not read any posts that rave about them for the money, but as more posts come in i will take all info on board. What else works & why, oh yes and £ how much..........

That to sounds a good setup that you have and it is always better to hear off people who have tried different brake setups, i did not realise that the OEM discs and pads were so expensive and the last thing i wanted to do was compromise my braking and as long as the replacements were as good as stock brembo OEM setup and capable of 1 or 2 trackdays per year then this is what i am looking out for as i will have to change mine early next year. I have only just bought my car and have covered only 500 miles as i use it as a second vehicle, it is a 2005 model with 70K and full nissan service history and was serviced 6 months ago, but so far i have had to change all the tyres and i reckon the brake discs are near to minimum so i need to get that all checked out. BTW i found an interesting article on the stock Vs modified brake setup on the nissan 350Z track model (Brembo) and the performance model (nissans single piston floating calipers) and Stoptech 332mm & 335mm big brake kits take a look: http://www.zeckhausen.com/Testing_Brakes.htm#Intro

Great replies so far guys and i have looked into the Dixcel discs and pads and also the DBA discs and as far as i can tell these are very good, i have read mixed reviews on the endless pads so some more reviews would be great. Chris i will be going to the track during 2010 as until you have done a track day you don't know what your missing, i have not ever tracked a car but when i was into my bikes i done plenty of them so i am looking forward to me and zee having some quality time so that rules out the EBC discs. I have now decided that the OEM setup is not suitable for me and i will have to go the uprated route especially as i am looking to do a few track days as well as some spirited fast road use as this is not my main car the zee is more like my MISTRESS, as i sneak out at certain times and she demands a good seeing too, which i obviously oblidge I would still like to hear from anyone if they have tried the Brembo discs & pads or it will be a combination of either: 1. Dixcel discs & dixcel Z pads all round 2. Dixcel discs and endless pads 3. DBA discs with endless pads 4. DBA discs and ferrodo DS2500 There are obviously loads more to choose from but from what i have read up to now these are used by lots of drivers of 350Z's and other fast performance cars with good results.

Hi all i thought i would post this topic after several hours of reading through the brake topics listed on this forum, now i know a few members sell various brake components at fair prices and this is not aimed at them but questions the products that they sell for the 350Z. Now driving styles vary for each owner but as you have bought this car and not the nissan micra this points to you enjoying a 2 seater RWD V6 and that equals some spirited driving at times, you might even take your car to a track day session to experience it at it's best in a controlled enviroment..... Oh Yeah 1. What is wrong with the OEM brake setup? not many reports of squealing or other complaints unlike some after market brake installations. 2. There seems to be divided reports on EBC red & yellow stuff as well as there discs too. 3. Brembo, EBC, Tarox, Ferrodo, Mintex blah blah blah I would rather hear from other Zee owners who have spent there hard earned money on brake parts and what they think works or does not work against the standard brake package the car came with. I have the brembo OEM brakes on my veHicle and i cannot comment how good or bad they are as i have only had my car a few weeks, but coming from a Skoda 2.0T VRS the brakes on the Zee seem superb at what they do and when mine need replacing i want what is best for my car and that should equal or better the standard OEM brakes package at a reasonable price as there is no point spending huge amounts of money unless you are a racer you may do 50% normal average driving with 30-40% spirited driving and the remaining 10-20% driving like the stig! I have checked my discs and the outer rotor has a slight ridge whilst the inner rotor has a bigger ridge, as i am not familiar with the thicknesses the discs should be before they are replaced i am not sure when mine will need changing but i may have to buy new discs and pads next year, the reason why wait until next year is that my Zee is my second car and only used on certain occasions, the reason for this is i live in a rural part of Shropshire and i am surrounded by hedge lined narrow lanes with no road markings as well as no street lamps and farms all over the place so for normal everyday things i use my old 4x4. When i do change my brakes i am not sure to stay with OEM or change to another manufacturer and this will depend on how good they are Vs the standards and the prices of both as well as the posts i get from other Zee owners on why & what they use. I would possibly buy Brembo discs and pads to go with my brembo calipers as we all know Brembo brakes are used on lots of performance vehicles as well as in motorsport so they are well proven to work, but this may not be the best route and that is why i have posted this topic. Gaz

Cheers guys.....R35LEE yhpm