Is it worth purchasing the akebono brake kit for your sedan?
Thread Starter
Registered Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 18
Likes: 2
From: Chicago
Is it worth purchasing the akebono brake kit for your sedan?
Im Looking to up my break kit and im not sure what the best way to go about it is, Ive been told that the coupe sport akebonos were solid and comparable to brembos . Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks! 
I currently own a 2011 G37xS and am looking to do some decent mods.
Im a noob open to constructive criticism.
Thanks in advance!
I currently own a 2011 G37xS and am looking to do some decent mods.
Im a noob open to constructive criticism.
Thanks in advance!
In my opinion, yes, but it depends on what you plan on doing to your car. If any performance mods are in your future, or track time, then yes. Though it's difficult to argue against good brakes, the stock brakes are good enough for most people.
For looks yes they are worth it, however keep in mind the 18" duckfeets do not expose the brakes well.
In terms of performance, your car will not stop any faster on the street, you are better off upgrading tires for that. The brake feel improves, the best way to explain is it's more linear. Feels more in control, more stopping power. This was my observation with the stock rubber lines.
In terms of performance, your car will not stop any faster on the street, you are better off upgrading tires for that. The brake feel improves, the best way to explain is it's more linear. Feels more in control, more stopping power. This was my observation with the stock rubber lines.
Here's a thread that will give you most of the details, and if you check classifieds here, craiglist, wrecking yards, you might find some used calipers for great deals.
https://www.myg37.com/forums/brakes-...the-cheap.html
https://www.myg37.com/forums/brakes-...the-cheap.html
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 726
Likes: 78
Only the xS coupe came with the akebono's, the sedan never came with them. I upgraded mine, mainly for looks, but will say that the brake feel is much better and the brakes are more linear as stated above. Worth every penny to me.
Trending Topics
If you're looking for jaw-braking performance (see what I did there? LOL), then no. For a daily driver, the non-sport setup stops the car just as well as the sport brakes.
If what you want is impressive looking hardware, then absolutely. The Akebono BBK that Nissan has been using for the last decade is some of the most attractive brakes on the market for an OEM car. The rotors are huge, and the calipers are so sexy. It's really quite a shock when you look at this understated sedan, and see that hardware. I love that my 6MT has it.
My advice would be to paint your non-sport calipers flat-black. Then buy aftermarket rims that don't showcase the brakes. A wheel with narrow 15-spokes, for example. Something elegant rather than aggressive, like this:
If what you want is impressive looking hardware, then absolutely. The Akebono BBK that Nissan has been using for the last decade is some of the most attractive brakes on the market for an OEM car. The rotors are huge, and the calipers are so sexy. It's really quite a shock when you look at this understated sedan, and see that hardware. I love that my 6MT has it.
My advice would be to paint your non-sport calipers flat-black. Then buy aftermarket rims that don't showcase the brakes. A wheel with narrow 15-spokes, for example. Something elegant rather than aggressive, like this:
I found this post from a recent Reddit discussion to be valuable when looking at a BBK from a performance standpoint.
Big brake kits don't help you stop faster. If your OEM brakes are capable of providing enough stopping power to lock up the wheels, upgrading your brake size will not shorten your stopping distance. Big brake kits provide more mass to help dissipate heat and minimize brake fade. In other words they just improve the consistency of your stopping distance during repeated hard braking. They also add unsprung mass which hurts your suspension performance and handling.
If you want brake upgrades do this:
1. Switch to high temp DOT 4 brake fluid. This will help later.
2. If you want to improve stopping distance, upgrade your tires. Many other benefits of this.
3. If you upgraded your tires and you can't lock up anymore or you experience brake fade at the track, switch to higher performance pads. Or do this anyway for the track. More often than not, this is sufficient even for higher than stock power.
4. Add brake cooling ducts if you can. You want to avoid adding unsprung mass if you don't have to.
5. If you have done all the above, and you still get fade at the track, now it's time for a big brake kit. Look for a complete kit including a matching master cylinder. Increasing the number or size of brake pistons changes the area ratios and available brake pressure. Without a matching master cylinder, often times you will find that your brake pedal travel increased and/or feels softer.
Big brake kits don't help you stop faster. If your OEM brakes are capable of providing enough stopping power to lock up the wheels, upgrading your brake size will not shorten your stopping distance. Big brake kits provide more mass to help dissipate heat and minimize brake fade. In other words they just improve the consistency of your stopping distance during repeated hard braking. They also add unsprung mass which hurts your suspension performance and handling.
If you want brake upgrades do this:
1. Switch to high temp DOT 4 brake fluid. This will help later.
2. If you want to improve stopping distance, upgrade your tires. Many other benefits of this.
3. If you upgraded your tires and you can't lock up anymore or you experience brake fade at the track, switch to higher performance pads. Or do this anyway for the track. More often than not, this is sufficient even for higher than stock power.
4. Add brake cooling ducts if you can. You want to avoid adding unsprung mass if you don't have to.
5. If you have done all the above, and you still get fade at the track, now it's time for a big brake kit. Look for a complete kit including a matching master cylinder. Increasing the number or size of brake pistons changes the area ratios and available brake pressure. Without a matching master cylinder, often times you will find that your brake pedal travel increased and/or feels softer.
Thread Starter
Registered Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 18
Likes: 2
From: Chicago
Thank you everyone for the swift responses. So are the breaks pretty much plug and play when you swap them or is more labor involved?
And im assumming the cheapest to find this kit is like $1600.
So are the breaks pretty much plug and play when you swap them or is more labor involved?And im assumming the cheapest to find this kit is like $1600.
Here's a thread that will give you most of the details, and if you check classifieds here, craiglist, wrecking yards, you might find some used calipers for great deals.
https://www.myg37.com/forums/brakes-...the-cheap.html
https://www.myg37.com/forums/brakes-...the-cheap.html
If you are just planning to use the car on the street, I would not worry about upgrading the brakes as they will really just be for looks. If looks are all you want you can get some of those ridiculous brake caliper covers that make it look like you have a big brake kit.
If you want better braking performance on the street, I agree about upgrading the tires. This will also improve your handling and acceleration. You can also upgrade your brake pads. For better braking feel, install stainless braided brake lines.
If you have not bled a brake system before, do not attempt it on your own. You do not want air in your brakes and you do not want brake fluid in your eyes. Trust me.
And if you follow that Akebono link that I posted you can put together a new Akebono kit for about $1100 (last I checked)
You know, those MGP Caliper Covers... I swear that's become an acceptable thing in the Mustang world. The only cars I've seen those things on are Mustangs. It's kind of weird. And they really are cheesy, what with those fake bolts and all.
Just paint the non-sport calipers satin black and call it a day.
