Does your 370Z suffer badly from brake fade?

Zed123 · 05-23-2012, 05:36 AM

Hi

I'm close to purchasing a 370Z (auto trans with sports pack). I have tested a car and read a lot of reviews. I'm concerned about a 2011 370Z review by Car and Driver, they had big issues with brake fade on their test 370Z?

Quote:

And that braking feat comes with a caveat: The Z exhibited the worst fade in our standard five-stop, 70-to-0-mph braking test. Twenty-nine feet separated its shortest stops from the longest, and the Z’s brakes proved to be the car’s Achilles’ heel.

Even on the road drive, and despite the fitment of $580 NISMO brake pads and the $3030 Sport package, the Z’s brakes faded noticeably. We had to cool the stoppers repeatedly out of fear of failure. Then, while lapping Grattan, the engine-oil temperature reached roughly 290 degrees, and the car adopted a low-power mode for self-preservation. This required even more low-speed driving to cool things down. Not fun.

http://http://www.caranddriver.com/f...an-370z-page-4

Is this a common problem?

Thanks in advance.

Mike · 05-23-2012, 06:02 AM

on the track, yes, on the street no. just upgrade the fluid to Motul or the like and you will be fine on the street.

kenchan · 05-23-2012, 06:45 AM

As mike said, no. For street for me. I have sport brakes on mine.

spearfish25 · 05-23-2012, 07:56 AM

You should never have an issue on the street. If you do, you'll have bigger problems with law enforcement than your brakes. On track, you'll have to give the car a little TLC (pads and fluid change) before you can go out there and have at it.

edub370 · 05-23-2012, 08:04 AM

took me 6 laps at heartland park to get any fade.

SPOHN · 05-23-2012, 08:25 AM

Not really. I have Motul fluid, Carbotech pads, and brake ducts. So even at the track I go to I really never get fade. I've had very very little fade I can hardly tell threw the pedal. But everything seems to trap great.

osbornsm · 05-23-2012, 09:19 AM

Now with decent pads and fluid... is "Ice Mode" still an issue? I hear that's the vacuum assist issue.

cossie1600 · 05-23-2012, 10:39 AM

I think it is a programming issue

SPOHN · 05-23-2012, 10:46 AM

I still haven't seen ice mode. And I've done plenty of variations to trigger it and can't. So........

edub370 · 05-23-2012, 11:31 AM

wtf is ice mode?

Red__Zed · 05-23-2012, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edub370

wtf is ice mode?

the brakes will basically let up to about 30% of capacity under heavy braking on less-than-smooth surfaces. It is (most likely) a fault with the ABS controller

Mt Tam I am · 05-23-2012, 01:05 PM

I had stock pads for two years without any hint of brake fade. I also have been aware of it (fade) and do not like that thought in my brain while having fun. I am always in a lower gear to help mitigate brake fade too.

You can not be truly competitive at the track with the stock sport brakes. I had to coast into a turn vs standing on the brakes at the last moment.

It hurt racing times, but by managing my brakes the way I have done, no brake fade has occured. I also had about a third of my brakes left after 4 track sessions. After Leguna Seca I had brake material melted onto my rotors.

Now I have new pads and fluid and will try them out this Sunday at Leguna. I hope to be able to really get on it and gas it into the turns vs coasting.

Zed123 · 05-23-2012, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mt Tam I am

Now I have new pads and fluid and will try them out this Sunday at Leguna. I hope to be able to really get on it and gas it into the turns vs coasting.

Let us know how it goes if you can. Have a great day.

Thanks for the informative replies to all.

I want some track time so I'll have to closely monitor things.

christian370z · 05-24-2012, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red__Zed

the brakes will basically let up to about 30% of capacity under heavy braking on less-than-smooth surfaces. It is (most likely) a fault with the ABS controller

Yep, and it's not just an issue with the Z. There are issues on cars you'd never think of such as ice mode cases with certain years of the GT3 RS, Lotus Elise and Exige, Camaros, Caymans, well you get the picture. Specific events can trigger ice mode regardless of the car.

Oh, and I have base brakes and have only experienced the slightest of fade on the fast downhill section of Mulholland chasing a GTR and E90 M3. I am going to upgrade the pads and fluid soon, then I will have complete confidence in them.

Red__Zed · 05-24-2012, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandyD

stock non-sport ran fine just fine on aggressive dragon runs. fwiw

To be fair, the dragon isn't much of a test for brakes. There's really only a handful of spots where you are even dropping from 80.

Quote:

Originally Posted by christian370z

Yep, and it's not just an issue with the Z. There are issues on cars you'd never think of such as ice mode cases with certain years of the GT3 RS, Lotus Elise and Exige, Camaros, Caymans, well you get the picture. Specific events can trigger ice mode regardless of the car.

Oh, and I have base brakes and have only experienced the slightest of fade on the fast downhill section of Mulholland chasing a GTR and E90 M3. I am going to upgrade the pads and fluid soon, then I will have complete confidence in them.

yep, pretty common. IMO, it is a bit more pronounced in the Z (kinda comes on in more surprising situations), but it is nothing new.

05-23-2012, 06:02 AM	#2 (permalink)
Mike The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Loganville, GA Posts: 5,944 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 2187	on the track, yes, on the street no. just upgrade the fluid to Motul or the like and you will be fine on the street. __________________ NISSAN: 75 280Z / 86 300ZX GLL /87 Sentra SE / 03 350Z / 23 Z Porsche: 93 968 / 23 Macan GTS / 93 968

05-23-2012, 07:56 AM	#4 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1857	You should never have an issue on the street. If you do, you'll have bigger problems with law enforcement than your brakes. On track, you'll have to give the car a little TLC (pads and fluid change) before you can go out there and have at it. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

05-23-2012, 08:04 AM	#5 (permalink)
edub370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2011 Location: KCMO Posts: 3,458 Drives: 09 370z S/T 6MT Rep Power: 21	took me 6 laps at heartland park to get any fade. __________________ 09 370Z ST 6MT//Injen CAI//Greddy CBE//TP//TSW's//Swifts//Stillen lip//Whiteline sways 326whp/268tq

05-23-2012, 08:25 AM	#6 (permalink)
SPOHN A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Covington, GA Age: 46 Posts: 14,844 Drives: Waiting on next Z Rep Power: 222	Not really. I have Motul fluid, Carbotech pads, and brake ducts. So even at the track I go to I really never get fade. I've had very very little fade I can hardly tell threw the pedal. But everything seems to trap great. __________________

05-23-2012, 09:19 AM	#7 (permalink)
osbornsm A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: WHAT Posts: 2,551 Drives: 2018 Camaro SS 1LE Rep Power: 425	Now with decent pads and fluid... is "Ice Mode" still an issue? I hear that's the vacuum assist issue. __________________ 2018 Camaro SS 1LE (455hp) - 2011 Nissan 370z (333hp) - 2004 VW R32 (240hp) - 2000 Civic Si (160hp)

05-23-2012, 06:45 AM	#3 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	As mike said, no. For street for me. I have sport brakes on mine.

05-23-2012, 10:39 AM	#8 (permalink)
cossie1600 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: californee way Posts: 5,380 Drives: 370, Leaf Rep Power: 31	I think it is a programming issue

05-23-2012, 10:46 AM	#9 (permalink)
SPOHN A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Covington, GA Age: 46 Posts: 14,844 Drives: Waiting on next Z Rep Power: 222	I still haven't seen ice mode. And I've done plenty of variations to trigger it and can't. So........ __________________

05-23-2012, 11:31 AM	#10 (permalink)
edub370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2011 Location: KCMO Posts: 3,458 Drives: 09 370z S/T 6MT Rep Power: 21	wtf is ice mode? __________________ 09 370Z ST 6MT//Injen CAI//Greddy CBE//TP//TSW's//Swifts//Stillen lip//Whiteline sways 326whp/268tq

05-23-2012, 01:05 PM	#12 (permalink)
Mt Tam I am A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: California Posts: 10,709 Drives: 370Z T/S/N 6MT & XKE Rep Power: 3844	I had stock pads for two years without any hint of brake fade. I also have been aware of it (fade) and do not like that thought in my brain while having fun. I am always in a lower gear to help mitigate brake fade too. You can not be truly competitive at the track with the stock sport brakes. I had to coast into a turn vs standing on the brakes at the last moment. It hurt racing times, but by managing my brakes the way I have done, no brake fade has occured. I also had about a third of my brakes left after 4 track sessions. After Leguna Seca I had brake material melted onto my rotors. Now I have new pads and fluid and will try them out this Sunday at Leguna. I hope to be able to really get on it and gas it into the turns vs coasting. __________________ "Does the carpet match the drapes? NO!!! I don't date bald women." Nissan Motorsports 34R Oil Cooler. Stillen CBE. Hotchkis Sport Sway Bars. KW Variant 3 Coilover System. Stillen Gen3 CAI. Michelin Pilot Super Sport. Stillen Brake Ducts. Carbotech™ XP10/XP8 Pads. Z1 Front Rotors. Z1 Stainless Brake Lines. Two degrees of camber

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