As some of you know, I'm (slowly) building my 350Z with the BSP ruleset in mind. I had every intention of building a diff this spring, but my budget got slashed in half for this year. So, instead of an LSD (they're pricey on Zs... $1400 or so, and I wouldn't trust myself to do anything more than pull out the pumpkin.), diff bushings and manual final drive ratio.... I have to do something else.
It looks like my top options are
1. SS brake lines and StopTech or Hawk pads
2. Maybe find an OEM Brembo setup and swap?? (Love to do it, not sure on availability/cost.) I don't see the benefit of a BBK on an AutoX course. I'd be able to get 2-piece rotors w/ the OEMs Brembo brakes down the road. The Brembos are lighter than base brakes anyway, and 2-piece rotors would be icing on the cake.
3. Adjustable front upper control arms. I'd finally get some adjustable camber in front.
Braking is certainly adequate at the moment. Feel could be a bit better, though. I'm always longing for more grip, though.
Opinions?
BTW, currently installed:
wider wheels/tires - good tread, will eventually replace wheels with lighter ones.
hotchkis anti-roll bars
In reply to scardeal:
Camber. Being able to adjust the suspension is a bigger benefit than anything else you listed.
If the motor is stock, just bumping up to some nicer (read: performance name brand) brake pads will have a good benefit/$ ratio, leaving you open to the camber suggestion, which I agree, would be best bang for the buck dodging cones.
Camber and the stickiest tires you can live with.
I've got Star Specs right now on the tires. R-Comps and motor build are way down on the list.
Local classes forego the ST classes and just have street tire variants of the SPs. I can build for TBSP, and when I'm ready, just jump to BSP proper with appropriate tires.
Build order is basically handling/power delivery, then brakes/weight, power and R-Comps. I'd prefer to do things right once, rather than buy cheap part then expensive part, etc.
Pads might be doable in addition to the camber arms. Hawk HPS and StopTech Street Performance pads seem to be my choices. Any thoughts?
On a 350Z, going purely by what I have heard about their issues with it, add some camber.
In reply to scardeal:
I don't thinks brakes are even a concern.
Camber and dont waste the cash on the Brembo oems. I had them, and they were not all that. Get some good pads and go.
Will
Dork
2/21/12 5:52 p.m.
There are some exceptions on a car by car basis, but big brakes are generally unnecessary for autocross. You just don't run long enough to get fade, so good fluid and pads are typically enough.
Cole_Trickle wrote:
Camber and dont waste the cash on the Brembo oems. I had them, and they were not all that. Get some good pads and go.
Honestly, the main reason I would go with the Brembo OEMs would be unsprung weight savings and possibly pad choice. In a world where I had megabucks, I'd find a forged caliper to replace the base caliper (with the same rotor size) and custom 2-piece rotors at the base rotor size. It wouldn't be any bigger, but it would be even lighter than the Brembo OEM setup.
But I think the people are right, it wouldn't provide much, if anything, in terms of improving braking capability. Feel, yes. Frankly, as I'm talking to myself about it, that should be fairly down the line in terms of the roadmap.
Apart from the truth linked by SupraWes, I'd also guess that the braided lines are a lot of bang for the buck in terms of brake feel.
I really don't like a soft pedal. If you're reasonably happy with brake feel, not such a big deal.
I have to defer to the folks who seem to know this particular car and recommend camber improvement.
