I’ve done a good amount of reading on the NSX/Legend brake upgrade, including the lengthy 23 page thread on g2ic. I’ve seen people save themselves some money and headache by simply using EBC slotted/dimple rotors with EBC green stuff pads, SS brake lines, DOT 4 brake fluid, and said they are quite happy with the results. Others have opted for the Legend/NSX brake upgrade.
I’d like an opinion on how much of a difference it is between the 2 setups.
Optional detail reading:
I was never happy with the stock brakes but never had awesome tires to back it up either. I felt a marginal difference with Hawk HPS pads. I never liked the fact that I’d have to prepare to swerve into the shoulder on the highway if I knew I wouldn’t brake in time, given the situation. I picked up a 370z this February and the car comes with 4 front/ 2 rear piston brakes on 14" rotors. I’d say the car stops on a dime. Instead of worrying if I’m going to stop in time from hitting the guy in front of me, it’s now worrying if the guy behind is going to hit me. So I’d like something like that without blowing big money on a bbk, and that’s led me wondering the difference between the upgrade rotors vs. legend/nsx brakes. thank you
[QUOTE=wdkwang;2230253]I’ve done a good amount of reading on the NSX/Legend brake upgrade, including the lengthy 23 page thread on g2ic. I’ve seen people save themselves some money and headache by simply using EBC slotted/dimple rotors with EBC green stuff pads, SS brake lines, DOT 4 brake fluid, and said they are quite happy with the results. Others have opted for the Legend/NSX brake upgrade.
I’d like an opinion on how much of a difference it is between the 2 setups.
Optional detail reading:
I was never happy with the stock brakes but never had awesome tires to back it up either. I felt a marginal difference with Hawk HPS pads. I never liked the fact that I’d have to prepare to swerve into the shoulder on the highway if I knew I wouldn’t brake in time, given the situation. I picked up a 370z this February and the car comes with 4 front/ 2 rear piston brakes on 14" rotors. I’d say the car stops on a dime. Instead of worrying if I’m going to stop in time from hitting the guy in front of me, it’s now worrying if the guy behind is going to hit me. So I’d like something like that without blowing big money on a bbk, and that’s led me wondering the difference between the upgrade rotors vs. legend/nsx brakes. thank you[/QUOTE]
I am doing both! SSBC Slotted and Drilled rotors for a 94 Prelude VTec, EBC Red Stuff Pads for a 94 Legend, Earl’s SS Brake Lines and Motul 5.1 Brake Fuild! Also I am doing an EP3 rear swap With more SSBC Slotted and Drilled rotors and EBC Red Stuff Pads! Overkill is under rated! Make stop good!
I have Brembo slotted and drilled with some unknown semi-metallic pads. I still have stock lines, but it’ll lock up my S-Drives pretty quick if I won’t watch it. (RS, so no ABS)
Personally, I always felt that, on a street car, just rotors, pads, lines, and fluid is going to be more than enough. It’s even plenty for light track use and Autocross. I think large, over sized brakes, with many pistons per caliper are either for large heavy cars/trucks that need that braking power, or it’s for people with money to blow to make their street car look like it’s fast when it’s sitting.
My DA is knocking on 450 whp, stopping is important, but the main reason I am doing the big brake upgrade with the slotted and drilled rotors is for looks. My DB1 is a DD it just got EBC green stuff pads on on GSR calipers. The DB1 is more of an Old School build, so I wanted to keep the 15" Steelies with the beauty rings! The is no room for legend brake under there. It depends on what you are doing with your build. The DA has done it all, it started as my dd in High school, became a race car and now getting geared for show (but no trailer queen). I like the way the turbo looks all polished and shiny!
It’s always a matter of opinion, i’ve had rotora slotted with hawks and oem pads. Definitely can tell the difference between pad make up. I always think the old saying of you can’t replace displacement, same goes for brakes, the more surface area you have the quicker it will stop. As far as the weight that is added on to the car, you’re replacing other parts in the car if you’re thinking of doing the legend/nsx setup and most of the time you’re replacing with lighter components anyway so the added weight becomes nullified due to other unsprung weight removed from the vehicle. I personally would like to go with NSX (because the pistons are in the correct position for rotation) along with rear EP3 setup but with solid rotors because of surface area, everything counts when you think about the other drivers on the road. just my 2¢.
I run the mini cooper rotors(Napa Golds) with legend calipers( single piston) hawk DTC-30 in front and stock rear brakes(Napa gold rotors) with HP Plus pads. I street drive the car and take it to the track (road coarse) and make around 280 hp (Dynojet), 225/50-16 tire Kuhmo V710 tires. The setup has work great for me with no major issues. I have also replaced the master cylinder, s/s brake lines, and Motul 600 fluid. Remember your brakes only work as good as your tires will stop you. Brakes are a complete system from calipers to tires, if you have any questions contact Andrew Racing they have help me and many others with our setups.
ive used both. I used to have brembo cross drilled rotors and green stuff pads back in the day and IMO there is a night and day difference between these^^^ and my current leggend 2 piston setup. All I can say is the brembo/EBC combo dosnt even come close in comparison to the legend setup. After heavy usage, you could always notcie the brake fading out. yet to have that problem with the legends but then again i havent had a chance to really put them to the test at the track only some good street usage…
I had brake fad with stock brakes(napa gold rotors, hawk hps) after one track day(4, 20 min sessions), I have not had that issue since I did the up grade. The only major problem I had was a warped rotor but I had used cheap rotors at first to try the setup out.
i know this maybe diffrent but my friend wen with a big brake in the front and this shit was not even he front was braking to much and the rear couldnt keep up so they would just lock up im just saying if your ganna do a big brake shit do all around and changeeverything
after reading up a lot, i’m going to go with the 4 piston wilwood bbk from fastbrakes.com. i currently have a 370z and it comes with a bbk all around, with 14" rotors. it stops much, much harder than a non bbk could ever hope to imo. even if the teg isn’t going to be on the track, it doesn’t change the fact that the bbk will stop harder than an aftermarket stock-sized rotor and stock caliper setup. the pedal feel, the bite, and stopping distance is worlds apart. it’s also for safety reasons too. it would also bother me to see dinky 10" rotors inside 16" rims. now i just need to figure out how to mount larger rotors in the rear on stock calipers.
i found out there’s a power slot plus big brake rotors kit for the front and rear, but i’ll only be getting the rear kit. its $340 (http://store.zeckhausen.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=9450) for the 11" rear rotors and brackets so the stock caliper can still be used. total should be $750+340=$1080.
i feel like it’s a lot but at least it’ll stop the car hard when i need it to. ill be running ~215-225mm dunlop star specs on 16x8 low offset wheels for some poke.
You are comparing apples to oranges! A sporty commuter car wont ever brake with the same authority as a full out sports car. It will with carefully chosen components. Brake balance is important so a proven system like an Integra Type R sized kit and REAL tires will make a huge difference. Just remember bigger isn’t always better. A 3500 pound 1st generation Infiniti G35 will stop with the same authority as your 370z. The G35 has 11.5in brakes with single piston calipers and the 370Z has 14in brakes with Akebono 4 pistons. Good choice with star specs and try playing around with more aggressive pads!
Thanks for the reply. But i do have to disagree on the g35 brakes though. I’ve driven my friend’s g35 and it does not brake with the same impact as the akebonos, but they are decent