Jump to content
SAU Community

Recommended Posts

Hi all,

I hope this isn't frowned upon, but I am looking at upgrading brakes on my S15 mainly for the looks. I will obviously take whatever performance gains come with the upgrade as a bonus.

What I think looks good is large diameter rotors (around 350mm front and at least 330mm rear) and large calipers.

What do people think are the best option out there value for money wise?

Options I'm currently considering:

  • Attkd from Just Jap - Will cost about $5700 for everything
  • Evo Brembo's - Will cost maybe around $4500 depending on the caliper cost and condition

Others options are Akebono's with the kit from Concept Z Performance in the USA or CTS-V calipers (don't know much about this option and not sure if there is a kit for the rears).

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/484717-best-brake-upgrade-for-looks/
Share on other sites

14 minutes ago, GTSBoy said:

Full brake delete. You'll get many more admiring looks from doing that than any other upgrade.

Hi. Thanks for the helpful comment! Not sure if I should bother...... but:

  1. I'm doing it because I like the look, not to impress anyone else.
  2. Wouldn't a brake delete be the opposite of what I'm after? Maybe try harder?
23 minutes ago, waggat said:

Hi all,

I hope this isn't frowned upon, but I am looking at upgrading brakes on my S15 mainly for the looks. I will obviously take whatever performance gains come with the upgrade as a bonus.

What I think looks good is large diameter rotors (around 350mm front and at least 330mm rear) and large calipers.

What do people think are the best option out there value for money wise?

Options I'm currently considering:

  • Attkd from Just Jap - Will cost about $5700 for everything
  • Evo Brembo's - Will cost maybe around $4500 depending on the caliper cost and condition

Others options are Akebono's with the kit from Concept Z Performance in the USA or CTS-V calipers (don't know much about this option and not sure if there is a kit for the rears).

Yeah I don't recommend doing this unless you need more thermal capacity. If your heart is set on doing this anyways I don't recommend random unknown brands for this stuff. Akebono or Brembo is fine though. Alpha Omega racing seems to like the Falcon FPV Brembos or Evo Brembos as you already mentioned. The fact that they're thinking about issues like pad knockback, suspension knuckle rigidity, brake bias, dust shield/piston dust boot retention, etc... is a good sign IMO.

I understand that by looks you just mean larger and new looking, so just grab whatever you can find cheapest in 350mm, any half credible brand will be adequate stopping wise. If you go the evo brembos you probably have to consider the cost of having them stripped, powder coated, rebuilt, re-stickered.

Personally I'd stay away from any home made kits as you won't know the quality of the caliper adapters which could be dangerous

  • Thanks 1

R35 GTR brakes with carbon ceramic rotors look the best for sure. 

https://www.alphaomegaracing.com/product/r35-gt-r-brembo-adapters/

https://www.amsperformance.com/product/alpha-performance-r35-gt-r-carbon-ceramic-brake-package/

Some say you can't put a price on looks. Others say that you can and it's about $35,000. But think of the value because really, the looks are priceless. 

  • Like 2
4 minutes ago, Murray_Calavera said:

R35 GTR brakes with carbon ceramic rotors look the best for sure. 

https://www.alphaomegaracing.com/product/r35-gt-r-brembo-adapters/

https://www.amsperformance.com/product/alpha-performance-r35-gt-r-carbon-ceramic-brake-package/

Some say you can't put a price on looks. Others say that you can and it's about $35,000. But think of the value because really, the looks are priceless. 

Saw someone on FB Marketplace post full kits for ~10k. Not sure if I consider that the best value for money compared to the Attkd kits for $5700.

2 minutes ago, waggat said:

Saw someone on FB Marketplace post full kits for ~10k. Not sure if I consider that the best value for money compared to the Attkd kits for $5700.

Sounds like they were just selling their R35 brakes. The big bucks are in the carbon ceramic rotors, those are about $20,000.

When you're going for max looks, gotta have those carbon ceramic brakes. I don't see Attkd selling a carbon ceramic option, so do you really have any other choice then the R35 kit at this point?

1 minute ago, Murray_Calavera said:

Sounds like they were just selling their R35 brakes. The big bucks are in the carbon ceramic rotors, those are about $20,000.

When you're going for max looks, gotta have those carbon ceramic brakes. I don't see Attkd selling a carbon ceramic option, so do you really have any other choice then the R35 kit at this point?

Meh.... Another comedian!!

  • Like 2
2 minutes ago, robbo_rb180 said:

Best value...........

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/165900019651?hash=item26a06967c3:g:6qEAAOSwSOdjqVhv&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA8C%2BdCsusVox3XxUhK3ZiFvts0Iy55uejoqdGDtbN3KFBlyCJ0Iw4j7sYBjppoq5%2B75RTWHeDLJoGT76cJNyYGgmiwFrHXMJ4M%2Fn4vkA8VO90YnBfBql2IhQnc5wmbNXQrnwFpLm6FLuSsbFC6BnXaSa%2FwVbXEB8hmMs9jk52ycwVMNQ5L%2Fxlc1q0UhKZuAhTalsCpmXv9aCGYDc2UCgnZ8FalU9wP%2FC%2F5Ut4YNQGTxnxahXiQgDixf5U73w8pWGNLnx0t2UJWtrC%2BDJfR7KTivVsocucxrdOwioWSO%2FcHhtSDLqhm6eIPFLDF0Q5VcsccQ%3D%3D|tkp%3ABFBMvOePnY1i


I have a EVO brembo setup and its around $6k with quality rotors, pads and refurb. Will only fit behind certain 17s so recommend 18 inch wheel with big brake clearance faces.

Any brake setup will also require a BMC upgrade, possible new lines, may have ABS issues and a possible hand/park brake relocation.

Hey mate, thanks for the response. Yeah I'm aware of most of those potential issues.

Is there any downside to running bigger brakes when done right? Or is it that people cut corners when it's just for looks and it compromises on a major safety component?

Genuine question as I'm not sure where the hate comes from. Big brakes certainly look amazing.

1 minute ago, soviet_merlin said:

Big brakes certainly look amazing.

This is true. And then you've spent $3k or $5k or $10k or $35k (if you've done it the best way) and you have something that looks good but doesn't actually do anything useful.

I'd rather spend $10k on the suspension. Black arms of course, because I give no f**ks for the looks.

18 minutes ago, GTSBoy said:

This is true. And then you've spent $3k or $5k or $10k or $35k (if you've done it the best way) and you have something that looks good but doesn't actually do anything useful.

I'd rather spend $10k on the suspension. Black arms of course, because I give no f**ks for the looks.

I wonder what wheels you've got...... I assume steelies in your desired diameter, width and offset.... f**k looks hey!!!!

7 minutes ago, waggat said:

I wonder what wheels you've got...... I assume steelies in your desired diameter, width and offset.... f**k looks hey!!!!

No, of course not. Now you are really showing that you don't know what I'm on about. Steel wheels are heavier than the very light RPF1s that I have. Why do I have RPF1s? Because they are very light. Are they the best looking wheel? Hell no. Are they close to the optimum of light & affordable & not ugly. Yes. Yes they are.

Oh. And they are black.

Oh, and so are my calipers.

And the hats on the brakes.

Edited by GTSBoy
2 minutes ago, GTSBoy said:

No, of course not. Now you are really showing that you don't know what I'm on about. Steel wheels are heavier than the very light RPF1s that I have. Why do I have RPF1s? Because they are very light. Are they the best looking wheel? Hell no. Are they close to the optimum of light & affordable & not ugly. Yes. Yes they are.

Ok. So you have your preferences. Why the f**k come into my thread and try and downplay my preferences? Does it hurt your ego that I don't give a f**k about your little performance requirements????

  • Like 1
41 minutes ago, soviet_merlin said:

Is there any downside to running bigger brakes when done right? Or is it that people cut corners when it's just for looks and it compromises on a major safety component?

Genuine question as I'm not sure where the hate comes from. Big brakes certainly look amazing.

No difference in use with "street" pads (ie pads that work from cold). It can be a problem with things like rally use where you might start sub zero but do a 30 min stage flat out so you need to deal with a very wide range of brake temps.

Really the only issue with big brakes on the street is they are expensive to buy, might need larger wheels (also expensive) and discs and pads will be more expensive at replacement time too.

  • Thanks 1

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now



  • Similar Content

  • Latest Posts

    • I had 3 counts over the last couple of weeks once where i got stranded at a jdm paint yard booking in some work. 2nd time was moving the car into the drive way for the inspection and the 3rd was during the inspection for the co2 leak test. Fix: 1st, car off for a hour and half disconnected battery 10mins 4th try car started 2nd, 5th try started 3rd, countless time starting disconnected battery dude was under the hood listening to the starting sequence fuel pump ect.   
    • This. As for your options - I suggest remote mounting the Nissan sensor further away on a length of steel tube. That tube to have a loop in it to handle vibration, etc etc. You will need to either put a tee and a bleed fitting near the sensor, or crack the fitting at the sensor to bleed it full of oil when you first set it up, otherwise you won't get the line filled. But this is a small problem. Just needs enough access to get it done.
    • The time is always correct. Only the date is wrong. It currently thinks it is January 19. Tomorrow it will say it is January 20. The date and time are ( should be ! ) retrieved from the GPS navigation system.
    • Buy yourself a set of easy outs. See if they will get a good bite in and unthread it.   Very very lucky the whole sender didn't let go while on the track and cost you a motor!
    • Well GTSBoy, prepare yourself further. I did a track day with 1/2 a day prep on Friday, inpromptu. The good news is that I got home, and didn't drive the car into a wall. Everything seemed mostly okay. The car was even a little faster than it was last time. I also got to get some good datalog data too. I also noticed a tiny bit of knock which was (luckily?) recorded. All I know is the knock sensors got recalibrated.... and are notorious for false knock. So I don't know if they are too sensitive, not sensitive enough... or some other third option. But I reduced timing anyway. It wasn't every pull through the session either. Think along the lines of -1 degree of timing for say, three instances while at the top of 4th in a 20 minute all-hot-lap session. Unfortunately at the end of session 2... I noticed a little oil. I borrowed some jack stands and a jack and took a look under there, but as is often the case, messing around with it kinda half cleaned it up, it was not conclusive where it was coming from. I decided to give it another go and see how it was. The amount of oil was maybe one/two small drops. I did another 20 minute session and car went well, and I was just starting to get into it and not be terrified of driving on track. I pulled over and checked in the pits and saw this: This is where I called it, packed up and went home as I live ~20 min from the track with a VERY VERY CLOSE EYE on Oil Pressure on the way home. The volume wasn't much but you never know. I checked it today when I had my own space/tools/time to find out what was going on, wanted to clean it up, run the car and see if any of the fittings from around the oil filter were causing it. I have like.. 5 fittings there, so I suspected one was (hopefully?) the culprit. It became immediately apparent as soon as I looked around more closely. 795d266d-a034-4b8c-89c9-d83860f5d00a.mp4       This is the R34 GTT oil sender connected via an adapter to an oil cooler block I have installed which runs AN lines to my cooler (and back). There's also an oil temp sensor on top.  Just after that video, I attempted to unthread the sensor to see if it's loose/worn and it disintegrated in my hand. So yes. I am glad I noticed that oil because it would appear that complete and utter catastrophic engine failure was about 1 second of engine runtime away. I did try to drill the fitting out, and only succeeded in drilling the middle hole much larger and now there's a... smooth hole in there with what looks like a damn sleeve still incredibly tight in there. Not really sure how to proceed from here. My options: 1) Find someone who can remove the stuck fitting, and use a steel adapter so it won't fatigue? (Female BSPT for the R34 sender to 1/8NPT male - HARD to find). IF it isn't possible to remove - Buy a new block ($320) and have someone tap a new 1/8NPT in the top of it ($????) and hope the steel adapter works better. 2) Buy a new block and give up on the OEM pressure sender for the dash entirely, and use the supplied 1/8 NPT for the oil temp sender. Having the oil pressure read 0 in the dash with the warning lamp will give me a lot of anxiety driving around. I do have the actual GM sensor/sender working, but it needs OBD2 as a gauge. If I'm datalogging I don't actually have a readout of what the gauge is currently displaying. 3) Other? Find a new location for the OEM sender? Though I don't know of anywhere that will work. I also don't know if a steel adapter is actually functionally smart here. It's clearly leveraged itself through vibration of the motor and snapped in half. This doesn't seem like a setup a smart person would replicate given the weight of the OEM sender. Still pretty happy being lucky for once and seeing this at the absolute last moment before bye bye motor in a big way, even if an adapter is apparently 6 weeks+ delivery and I have no way to free the current stuck/potentially destroyed threads in the current oil block.
×
×
  • Create New...