Case summary
The Nissan R35 GT-R utilizes an incredibly strong factory brake foundation. For this specific build, a caliper-first upgrade was unnecessary. The real objective was improving thermal consistency during repeated hard braking while enhancing the wheel-view appearance behind the spokes. The solution: retaining the OEM Brembo multi-piston calipers and upgrading the heavy iron discs to StopFlex carbon-ceramic rotors.
What usually becomes the limit on a Nissan R35 GT-R
The R35 GT-R is heavy—weighing around 1,740 kg (3,836 lbs)—and carries massive twin-turbo V6 power. The factory 6-piston front and 4-piston rear Brembo calipers provide plenty of initial clamping force. For most owners, the first bottleneck is not stopping power, but heat capacity.
- Street driving: Factory iron rotors generally handle normal conditions without issue.
- Fast mountain runs: Heat begins stacking rapidly in the iron rings, leading to inconsistent pedal feel.
- Repeated hard braking / track use: Heat saturation causes brake fade, drastically reducing driver confidence.
Beyond the thermal limits, aesthetics play a significant role. Many R35 owners are looking for a brighter, cleaner, and more premium wheel-view appearance. The stock iron rotors generate heavy brake dust and develop a dark, worn look over time, which detracts from the vehicle's stance.
Upgrade recommendation (Nissan R35 GT-R-specific)
For an R35 GT-R equipped with OEM steel rotors, the most efficient initial upgrade is carbon-ceramic rotors + matched pads, utilizing the factory Brembo calipers. This directly addresses heat saturation and unsprung mass, while immediately upgrading the wheel-view aesthetic.
What we changed and why
This upgrade targets the actual weak link in the R35's braking chain, avoiding the expense of replacing perfectly capable factory components.
- Kept OEM multi-piston calipers: The factory Brembo units offer excellent structural rigidity. There is no engineering need to replace them for this use case.
- Upgraded to StopFlex carbon-ceramic rotors: Swapped the heavy, heat-soaking iron discs for high-thermal-capacity carbon-ceramic units to address fade and lower unsprung mass.
- Matched pad compound: Installed CCB-specific pads formulated for the owner's specific street and canyon driving profile.
Note: This case outlines the upgrade path for R35 GT-Rs with OEM steel rotors. Cars equipped with factory carbon-ceramic brakes (e.g., late-model Nismo variants) require a direct CCB-to-CCB replacement path.
OEM steel vs StopFlex carbon-ceramic (case view)
Objective performance and visual differences based on component architecture.
| Item | OEM steel setup | StopFlex carbon-ceramic upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| Main bottleneck addressed | — | Rotor heat behavior + pad match |
| Brake feel when cool | Strong initial bite | Strong (with proper pad compound match) |
| Repeated hard braking | Pedal feel drifts as heat builds | Highly stable and repeatable (setup dependent) |
| Rotating / unsprung mass | Higher baseline weight | Significantly lower, aiding steering response |
| Wheel-view appearance | Darker iron look, produces heavy dust | Cleaner, premium technical visual presence |
| Disc surface finish (visual) | Standard iron rotor character | StopFlex proprietary coating formula improves smoothness and reflectivity (visual effect depends on wheel design, lighting, photo exposure) |
| Measured data status | Framework only. Measured weight / temp / repeat-braking data pending. | |
Customer Case Photos
FAQ
Can I keep the OEM front calipers on an R35 GT-R?
Yes. For R35s originally equipped with steel rotors, the first and most effective upgrade target is the rotor material and pad match, not a caliper swap. The factory Brembo calipers are highly capable.
Is this article for OEM steel-rotor R35 cars only?
Yes. If your car already has factory carbon-ceramic brakes (like specific Nismo trims), you should use the correct direct-replacement CCB path engineered for that factory package.
Will carbon-ceramic rotors alone fix brake fade?
No. While high-capacity rotors drastically raise the thermal ceiling, brake fluid, proper pad compound, cooling airflow, tire grip, and driving style all ultimately dictate the final fade resistance of the system.
Next step: compare fitment options and send your vehicle setup details before quoting.
