Upgraded Brakes From Base to Sport, Pics
 

Well guys I finally got my base brakes upgraded to the Akebono/ Nissan sport brakes. They look alot better behind my 19'' wheels. According to my dad (due to I'm color blind) the calipers are the same color as my wheels. Took me about 5 hours to install. Due to I had to grind the dust sheilds, replaced brake lines to SS, and bleed the system several times. Pretty straight foward install IMO. Any questions are welcome.

I want to thank my dad for helping me as always. Now I have to let him take it for a couple laps on the track. :icon17: I'd also like to thank Spencer at Z1 Motorsports for giving me such a great deal on this upgraded kit. And for answering all my questions and giving advice here and there. They truely have the best pricing on these period. Z1 offers these kits with several option such as slotted rotor, SS brake lines, and many pads of your choice. I went with the Hawks HP+ pads. There great for track and street use. I also upgraded to the ATE super blue brake fluid. So hopefully this setup should be perfect for what I'm looking for. Shortly I'll have some two piece rotors coming. So below are some before and after pics. Hope you guys enjoy.

BEFORE

http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/...rts/BBK002.jpghttp://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/...rts/BBK001.jpg

http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/...rts/BBK004.jpghttp://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/...rts/BBK003.jpg

http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/...rts/BBK007.jpghttp://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/...rts/BBK010.jpg

http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/...rts/BBK009.jpghttp://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/...rts/BBK006.jpg

http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/...rts/BBK021.jpghttp://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/...rts/BBK019.jpg

http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/...rts/BBK018.jpghttp://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/...rts/BBK024.jpg

Nice, I will be doing the same thing really soon....

a few questions... could you use your stock brake lines from the base brakes with these? And do you notice a big improvement in braking over the base brakes ? The looks alone are worth it though.

Looks great man!

I don't think you could. But you mite as well just upgrade to the SS lines for it's only like $90 bucks more. There different due to the sports brake calipers come with a different hard line that runs from the caliper around the control arm to a fitting as seen here.
http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/...rts/BBK010.jpg

With the original base caliper there is a shorter hard line with another added rubber line that routes to the other side. Hope this makes sense. See with the base model there is a three piece line and with the sport theres only one line. But it almost seems you could. I'm having a hard time recalling if it could work with the new hard lines. But like I said it's in your best interest to just upgrade to the SS lines.

I haven't had a chance yet to test them yet. I just got done bedding them in. But more than sure with the pad type I choose it will be alot better. Even better than original sport brakes.

That is awesome Spohn, that is exactly what I want to do some day. Thanks for the pictures, I didn't know you were color blind! Can you see any color at all?

Looks so nice with a rotor filling up those wheels. Good work

Wow Chris,

Nice.

You know we really apprecaite you shopping with us, and I am really glad to see the install went well.

Can't wait to see it on track.

And you know I hope we get to hang if you can make it to that thing in May....

Thanks.

I'm 50% color blind. I just have a hard time with lots of different pigments. Especially purple, green and blues.
Can't wait to get there. I'm trying to set up something for May as we speak. :tup:

Very nice Spohn! the sport brakes match your rims PERFECTLY. You know.... you could have avoided all this hassle by just getting the sport package!!! :stirthepot: soon you'll just need to upgrade to SRM!!! hehe :stirthepot:

I kid I kid.

Yea I know. But everything I wanted in the SP I was planning on doing away with. At least my brakes are a little better than the original SB's . And the big kicker is the OS Giken LSD that's getting install Monday:yum: Alot better than the VLSD by leaps and bounds. Plus I plan to get a wing later this year. So I had a reason. No biggie though. And as far as the SRM, I like the old fashion way.:tup: Keeps you honest.

Looks good:tup:

Looks like mine:ughdance:

Should have got the sport package:stirthepot:


:roflpuke2::roflpuke2::roflpuke2::roflpuke2:

:bowrofl: Thanks.

At least mine has wheels.:stirthepot: :roflpuke2:

touche:tiphat:

Not touche. Joke for joke. To bad were not drinking a beer.

Ah, I was thinking about how you ended up with a grey car with grey wheels and grey brakes but didn't want to come across as making fun of you haha. :rofl2:

I think this is the best way to build up a Z: the sport package is $3,000 roughly. So, you get a real LSD and sport package brakes for less than that, plus new wheels and tires which most people installing brakes and LSDs would be inclined to do anyway. You end up with a better package than the regular sport package, at least that is my thinking and why I got a base+touring.

I never thought of it like that. Funny.

Update
 

I got to drive here this morning and defiantly love my new setup. Obvious there's a good bit of dust. But I can live with that. But I have to tell you the initially bite of the new Hawks HP+ pads are awesome. Especially when cold. I can tell these are going to be great. Even though in the long run my rotors will play havoc. But that's part of the game till I get my better two piece setup. I'll just have to come to understand the amount of heat this puppies can handle and not pushing it passed that point.

The ultimate goal for myself was a solution that gives me as much feel/confidence you can get while staying under budget level. My overall car is based on this.

The back dust shield lip has to be cut off, anything need to be done to the front dust sheilds? Also are the base caliper mounting bolt reused to mount the akebono calipers.

I have ordered red 40th anniversary calipers and pads, but still looking around for rotor and brake line options for my base/touring.

Nothing had to be done to the front dust shields. And yes you reuse the bolts off the original calipers. Sorry so short for I'm on my iPhone.

Thanks this thread helps out alot.:tup:

great setup!!! im gonna be upgrading mine to the sport BBK soon too thru z1. but im gonna be getting the calipers 40th anniversary red!! cant wait!!

Quick question. I assume the stock 18's will have no fitment issues with the sport brakes? This may be somewhere in another thread, but I couldn't find it.

Yes they fit with the 18's. But the base model spare tire won't work up front. But you could always move your rear to the front and put spare on the rear if a flat occurs. You'll also have to remove the stub mounted on the front hub. That's there to stop you from mounting the rear on the front. But will be ok for this purpose if it ever occurs.

You can sell half the stuff from the sport package and get more than $2000 for it. I don't know why people would waste time modding the brakes and LSD if they didn't purchase the package to begin with. I can only think of the following reasons.

#1 Impulse buy, bought the one that was available and didn't wait
#2 You couldn't afford the sport package
#3 You are really bad at math
#4 Car is a dedicated race car
#5 You have too much money

I had made the same mistake before.....

Thanks man. Figured it wouldn't be an issue, just wanted to make sure.

Nvm, got all the answers on page 2

Looks good man, congrats :tup:

I hope to do this same upgrade one day. If you don't mind, how much did it cost you all together. I won't be doing it for a while, but just trying to get an idea of how much it might be.

I wish I had gotten the sports package, but sadly I fell into category # 2 :(

Now I have to save up and rebuild it piece by piece.

good job! :tup:

nice work!

do you think you could put together a list of necessities of what is needed to upgrade from base to sport? i'm pretty sure there's others out there (like myself) that will source other parts instead of buying a complete upgrade kit.

obviously sport calipers (nissan or infiniti), rotors, and pads.
-Sport specific SS lines? or no difference between base and sport?
-mounting? clips? etc...

thanks in advance.

OEM part #'s and quantity needed

1. 41001-1EA4A right front caliper 40th anniversary
1. 41011-1EA4A left front caliper 40th anniversary
1. 44001-1EA4A right rear caliper 40th anniversary
1. 44011-1EA4A left rear caliper 40th anniversary

2. 40206-JL00A front rotor
2. 43206-JL00A rear rotor

1. D1060-JL00J kit brake pads front
1. D4060-JL00J kit brake pads rear

4. 41217-JL00A pins for caliper to hold pads
4. 44217-JL00A pins for caliper to hold pads

1. 46246-JK60B left front caliper hard line
1. 46245-JK60B right front caliper hard line
1. 46315-JL00A right rear caliper hard line
1. 46316-JL00A left rear caliper hard line

1. 55286-1MA0A right rear hard brake line caliper mounting bracket
1. 55287-1MA0A left rear hard brake line caliper mounting bracket
4. 01121-04761 bolt for mounting rear caliper bracket

I don't have OEM front and rear sport brake hose part #s but they are different than the base brake hoses. I installed aftermarket braided stainless lines.

You are better off just ordering the kit from Z1 it will be cheaper and you have different rotor and brake pad options. You can also get the cheaper Infiniti calipers with their kit and have them sent to Mike the powdercoater for a custom color.

Hope this helps. :tiphat:

looks awesome!

thanks! great reference... i probably will go with Z1, you just never know what other deals you may come across on these forums though.

rep for you! :)

There are also four cotter pins needed that hold the pins in place after installation. I believe Nissan sells those for the ridiculous price of $7 bux each.

Here's more detail on an install and another way to cut the rear shield without grinding it off:

Install Akebono Big Brake Kit on 370z or 350z

^Cotter pins came with brake pad kits from nissan.

Ah, makes since as we used Project mu pads. Nissan/Infiniti wanted 7 bux each for the cotter pins I hear. We found another source.

old thread sorry, BUT, I just have a question, The fronts look like a direct swap once going with ss braided line. My question is the back. Do I still have to go to Nissan and buy the brakeline hold down bracket (55286-1MA0A right rear hard brake line caliper mounting bracket & 55287-1MA0A left rear hard brake line caliper mounting bracket)? or does the new ss braided line have a tab to mount it? this is like my only confusion lol

The answer is NO, if you go ss lines you dont need to buy the brackets.

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