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Big Brake Kit

STILLEN® Debuts the New Infiniti Parts for the Q60 3.0t Redsport 400 at SEMA 2017

Nov 1, 2017

STILLEN INFINITI Q60 REDSPORT 400 SEMA 2017

STILLEN is excited to announce the launch of our complete line up of products for the 2018 INFINITI Q60 at the 2017 SEMA show.

The INFINITI Q60 redsport is a very exciting car as it brings performance back to the INFINITI marque. Featuring a potent 400 horsepower twin turbo V6 badged the “VR30.” This car offers the driver an exhilarating experience and inspires the driver to push the car aggressively.

STILLEN has been involved in performance parts for off-road trucks, supercars and street performance cars of a variety and makes and models, but STILLEN is perhaps best known for our experience in tuning NISSAN/INFINITI vehicles… we’ve been involved with developing performance parts for Nissan (and later Infiniti) for over 30 years now. When the opportunity came to work with Infiniti on this platform, we jumped at the chance and let our engineers run wild.

INTAKE

To kick things off, we took a look at how we could beef up the car’s performance. Our engineering team immediately began dissecting the air intake system to study it and determine how we could optimize airflow. While the engineering team was busy with figuring out how to get every last pony out of the intake, our fabrication team were hard at work under the car, reviewing the exhaust routing, tube diameter, configuration of the system and the construction of its muffler, all in order to see what gains could be made.

After going through more than 20 prototype intakes trying to achieve our goals, our induction specialists produced a Q60 Intake design that yielded a huge gain of over 20 horsepower at the wheels, and that’s without the need for further tuning or any modifications to the vehicle. Not every ‘high flow’ intake on the market works with the OEM ECU map, so making sure our intakes benefit the car with the stock tune is a high priority for our design team. The end result is what you see above – the urethane airboxes offer a significant advantage over an exposed conical filter, as the airboxes ensure that the intakes are drawing in only cool, outside air, rather than sucking in hot air from inside the engine bay (which robs you of power). Designed as a complete solution, the STILLEN Cold Air Intake for 2017 Infiniti Q60 comes complete with silicone couplers, CNC machined and tig welded aluminum MAF tubes as well as poly-urethane air boxes to keep the engine fed with cooler air, helping to deliver maximum power output.

EXHAUST

Turbo V6 engines are notoriously difficult to get the sound “just right.” In the end, our team was not satisfied with any of the common mufflers we could source “off the shelf.” The only option was to build our own. So, we engineered our own mufflers, manufactured them in house, and pack them with a high temperature ceramic wool. These tuned mufflers truly allow the heartbeat of the car to be experienced. The final exhaust design was selected after 15 different prototype systems were rigorously tested on our Dynojet chassis dyno. It took quite a while to determine what the engine wanted in order to produce the most power across the entire powerband. The end result is a tuned Y-Pipe, leading to a single Mid-Pipe which branches back into a dual outlet exit.

BODYSTYLING

With the performance parts development underway, now it was time to address the exterior styling. The Q60 is a fantastic looking car straight out of the factory, but like a nice tailored suit, it can look even better with the addition of the right accessories. To bring out the car’s flowing lines, we opted to wrap the car with a red chrome wrap. The brilliant luster of the red chrome accentuates all of the angles and curves of the body of the car and truly ‘makes it pop’. The Q60 has a very organic, free flowing design, and the hyperreflective red chrome shows off these daring curves and deep creases exceptionally well. Like any car, we felt it could be a bit more aggressive and could do with some aero styling to really accentuate the curves the car comes with. The STILLEN design team then set to work shaping a Front Bumper Splitter featuring STILLEN Front Bumper Splitter for 2017 Infiniti Q60 – (with Winglet Extensions). With the front end spiced up to our satisfaction, we shifted our attention over to to the rear of the car, the STILLEN craftsmen then created a set of side splitters and rear spats to suit the aggressive feel we were going for. Both of these parts were custom fabricated exclusively for the STILLEN Q60.

Finishing off the ground effects package, STILLEN designed a Rear Diffuser for the Red Sport V36 Infiniti Q60 with a set of aggressive air channels and openings for a larger-than-stock dual exhaust. The STILLEN diffuser for Infiniti Q60 is no “one off” for a show car – this part is a production item you can purchase and install on your own Q60, along with the rest of the aero suite, including the STILLEN front splitter and winglets. While these days the majority of aftermarket manufacturing seems to be done overseas, but at STILLEN, we make all of our products right here in the USA. Every single STILLEN aero or appearance upgrade, intake and exhaust system is designed and manufactured in the USA, right here at STILLEN headquarters in Costa Mesa, California. Not everyone realizes that here at STILLEN we fabricate pretty much everything in-house, exterior parts, intakes, exhausts, suspension bits — our CNC machines, benders, welders and a team of experienced and talented craftsman makes it possible to do everything here. Now that we had the ground effects completed, the team still felt like our Q was still missing something. The rear end still lacked something, so next, the STILLEN artists then turned their attention to the rear spoiler. The initial idea was a simple, clean spoiler that would added a bit of height to the deck lid. After a few design studies, the team decided to step it up and came up with something that would compliment the dynamic lines of the Q60’s design, and created a custom hand crafted rear wing that completes the car and ties in beautifully with the overall design concept.

SUSPENSION

With the power and exterior styling completed it was time to focus on supporting all of that extra power and downforce. To do so, the STILLEN team partnered with RSR suspension, who used the STILLEN Q60 to develop and prototype a set of coil overs that are truly incredible. One difference that sets STILLEN builds apart from other SEMA showcars is that our cars are built to be driven. Our Q60 Redsport is no trailer queen – this car was driven to the show and then driven home. Since this car would be seeing hundreds of miles of actual road use between STILLEN HQ in Costa Mesa and Las Vegas, it was vital that the car not only look good, but could also retain its handling performance. The team at RSR hit another home run with the RSR Coilovers for 2017+ Infiniti Q60 we had fitted to the car – we really enjoyed these dynamic coil overs. The ride quality is fantastic when cruising on the freeways and the car carves through the canyons with ease.

To make sure that the alignment was correct after the coil over installation and subsequent ride height lowering, SPC suspension provided a complete set of adjustable suspension including front upper control arms and SPC Suspension Rear Camber, Toe and Setback links for 2017 Infiniti Q60. By installing the adjustable SPC suspension the STILLEN technicians were able to precisely dial in the alignment ensuring excellent handling characteristics

No car would be complete without the right wheel and tire package. Wheels are one of those items that can make or break a car. For years STILLEN has chosen VOSSEN Wheels for 2015+ Infiniti Q50 / Q60 and NITTO tires for their vehicles. On this car though they wanted something a little different. To accomplish this the STILLEN team selected the Vossen X Work line of wheels. Particularly, the VWS-1. Work wheels is a leading Japanese manufacturer of high end wheels and the collaboration between Vossen and Work has resulted in a melding of Japanese technology with American style. These two piece wheels feature a high luster polished lip with a matte gunmetal center and polished anodized barrel.

NITTO tires have been the preferred tire for STILLEN for many years. Offering a wide range of tire selections for everything from race cars to passenger cars and even offroad vehicles. For the STILLEN Q60 project STILLEN selected the INVO series of tires. INVO tires are designed specifically for the luxury sports car enthusiast. They offer excellent performance and grip without sacrificing comfort.

We’re thrilled with the end result of how our 2017 SEMA project came out – the team here at STILLEN feels that the Q60 we put together strikes the perfect balance between high end street luxury, with design inspired by our race-winning heritage tempered with elegant style.

STILLEN Vice President Kyle Millen had this to say of the project:
“The STILLEN Infiniti Q60 project car is one of my favorite cars out of the many projects we have created. The team at STILLEN did an amazing job and made a car that is truly one of a kind. From the work of the body craftsmen, the engineers and fabricators working tirelessly on the performance parts, I am extremely proud of the effort put into this car and the end result.”

If you have any questions about the Infiniti Q60 3.0t or any STILLEN products for the Infiniti Q60 on our website, give us a call at (866) 250-5542, email sales@stillen.com, or message us on our Live Chat!

Best Brake Systems 401: Bigger Calipers Clamp Speed

Mar 22, 2017

Best Brake Systems 401: Bigger Calipers Clamp Speed

By Richard Fong

It’s no secret that brakes serve an important role from the standpoint of both performance as well as safety. After all, the typical street vehicle (cars, motorcycles, etc.) generates approximately 80-percent of stopping power from its front brakes. In Brake Systems 101, we covered some of the basics of braking, focusing on pads and rotors. Brake Systems 201 put emphasis on two-piece rotors as well as stainless-steel braided lines and higher performance brake fluids. The third installment, Brake Systems 301, introduced one component of the Big Brake System, larger rotors, which increases the heat capacity and friction surface area relative to stock. Now we’re going to look at the visual and functional star of the big brake kit, the brake caliper.

Applying Pressure

Brake calipers serve one purpose, to squeeze the pads against the rotor to generate friction, shave speed and eventually bring the vehicle to a stop. Calipers come in a variety of types, configurations and sizes. One of the most common factory caliper types is the sliding caliper, where one or more pistons press against the inboard brake pad, while the brake caliper housing slides inward, pulling on the outer pad to equalize the pressure to both sides of the rotor. Automakers often favor this type of caliper for its low cost and satisfactory stopping performance on the street. Unfortunately, these calipers suffer from excessive deflection under performance conditions and contribute to less than ideal braking performance. By contrast, fixed or opposed calipers, as the name implies, do not slide or move. There are an equal number of pistons that press on the pads isometrically to ensure equal pressure is applied to both sides for even wear.

Bigger Rotors, Bigger Calipers

Increasing the heat capacity and the friction surface area by way of larger rotors prompts the use of correspondingly larger calipers. Upgrading to larger brake calipers and the use of larger brake pads make best use of the increased area availed by larger rotors for improved stopping performance. Larger calipers also tend to employ multiple pistons to ensure even application of pressure to the backing plate of the larger pads as they generate friction with the rotor surface.

Pumped Up Pistons

The number and size of the pistons that a caliper employs is typically an indicator of the size of the calipers, pads and rotors. As rotors and pads get larger, so do the size of the calipers necessary to make use of the available friction surface. In order to evenly apply pressure to all of the available friction surface area, it becomes necessary to increase the number of pistons pressing on the pads. Sliding calipers employ a single, dual or even triple piston configuration, while fixed calipers feature an even number of pistons in an opposed configuration (pressing toward each other.)

Best Brake Systems 401: Bigger Calipers Clamp Speed 3R1A9695_edited

In an opposed, multi-piston caliper, the caliper body stays in a fixed location while the hydraulic fluid builds pressure behind the pistons and forces them to squeeze the pads to the rotor surface.

Cast, Forged, One Piece, Two Piece

Calipers are not only defined by their size but also their construction. Calipers are included among the components of unsprung weight and are subjected to a variety of conditions such as extreme temperatures and pressures. Thus, caliper design must take several variables into consideration.

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In the case of a single piston sliding caliper, the piston (red arrow) pushes on the inboard brake pad onto the rotor. The caliper body moves the opposite direction from the piston (green arrows) and pulls the outboard brake pad (blue arrows) onto the rotor surface.

The least sophisticated is the cast sliding caliper. Sliding calipers strike a balance of cost, weight and performance for the average streetcar. However, these calipers suffer from deflection and inadequate pressure under performance conditions, resulting in less than satisfactory results: Best Brake Systems 401: Bigger Calipers Clamp Speed.

The cast two-piece caliper features an opposed piston configuration that resists deflection while offering improved application of pressure to the brake pads. An even stiffer solution is the forged two-piece caliper. This fixed caliper shares similar design traits to its cast cousin, but benefits from being forged for greater strength and stiffness.

The stiffest and lightest solution, which also happens to be the most expensive, is the fixed, forged one-piece monoblock caliper. These tend to be machined from a forging of aluminum for strength and light weight. While offering the greatest performance, the cost to manufacture this type of brake caliper becomes cost prohibitive for all but the most well-funded of individuals or teams.

Best Brake Systems 401: Bigger Calipers Clamp Speed 3R1A9729_edited

Racing calipers are massive, stiff and look really cool. But they’re not for street use. Racing calipers must be rebuilt on a regular basis throughout the racing season. As you can see, they do not have dust boots covering the pistons. This could lead to failure if debris or other contaminants damage the seals. Street calipers do not require the same maintenance schedule as racing applications, making them ideal for street driven vehicles.

Piston Power

As mentioned earlier, calipers feature a greater number of pistons based on the size of the pads and the rotor. When increasing the pad and rotor size, applying equal pressure across the entire pad surface becomes essential for even application of pressure for optimal generation of friction. This can be achieved (up to a point) by way of larger pistons. When the caliper design calls for a lower profile to fit within the barrel of certain wheel sizes, adequate pad coverage can also be accomplished by way of additional pistons. Typical multi-piston configurations can range from four to six pistons with some designs employing up to as many as twelve pistons.

Bigger isn’t always Better

So, when four is good, six is better and twelve is fantastic, right? Not necessarily so. Optimizing your brake system depends on a myriad of variables, including purpose, vehicle weight and power output, to name a few. There is such a thing as overkill, and overkill on brakes could actually compromise other aspects of performance like handling and feel. Brakes fall under the category of unsprung weight, which has a direct effect on responsiveness and overall feel. This is why a smaller and lighter vehicle like a first generation (NA) Mazda Miata that weighs in at just over 2,000 pounds would not benefit from the massive factory six-piston, forged monoblock brakes engineered for the 3,800 pound Nissan R35 GT-R. Not only would the Miata have to run much larger wheels just to fit this brake system, it would be far too much brake for the fly-weight Miata. The nimble feel of the NA would also be lost due to unsprung weight gained at each corner. Conversely, the much heavier R35 GT-R would brake as if it were in the vacuum of space while trying to stop with the NA Miata’s diminutive braking system. Exaggerated examples aside, a properly sized brake upgrade can lend greatly to vehicle performance. The right combination can improve feel, heat capacity and longevity while mitigating detrimental side effects related to unsprung weight. Ultimately, the right brake system upgrade for your ride will complement the overall build as well as its appearance.

Sized Up: Brake Master Cylinder

Brake systems function on the mechanics of hydraulics, which is the use of fluid to perform mechanical force. In this case, the movement of the piston(s) in the calipers to apply pressure to the brake pads by displacing the pistons with brake fluid. The brake master cylinder forces fluid through the brake lines to each caliper to apply pressure to the pads. Since the amount of fluid displaced depends on the size and number of pistons, properly sizing the brake system includes evaluating the size of the brake master cylinder. When upgrading to a larger brake system, it is necessary to measure the displacement of the system to ensure that the brake master cylinder displaces enough fluid to deploy the pistons to press the pads against the rotor surface. Small bore brake master cylinders produce high pressure, while larger bore master cylinders deliver more volume.

Automakers go to painstaking lengths to properly size the brake master cylinder to the brake calipers they equip the vehicles with to ensure a balance of pedal feel and brake system performance. Properly sized, bolt-on brake systems should be designed to work with the factory master cylinder. If upgrading to significantly larger brakes, it is sometimes necessary to increase the size of the brake master cylinder to ensure that the feel and performance is not thrown out of balance.

Science of Stopping

Properly-engineered brake system improvements ranging from the most basic pad and rotor upgrades to full Big Brake Kits will enhance the feel from behind the wheel while delivering longer sessions on twisty highways or quicker lap times. While horsepower will make your car faster, balancing that horsepower out with improved braking performance will help you navigate the streets and the track safely and, in record time.

Find out what STILLEN has to offer to improve your brake system! Check out www.stillen.com and click through to the brake section.

Best Brake Systems 401: Bigger Calipers Clamp Speed

Got questions or ready to upgrade your brake system? Reach out to STILLEN at 866-250-5542, by email at sales@stillen.com, or via Live Chat at stillen.com!

Best Brake Systems 301: Torque Friction Surface Area

Mar 8, 2017

Best Brake Systems 301: Torque Friction Surface Area

By Richard Fong

Best Brake Systems 301: Torque Friction Surface Area Practice and experience lend to improving your driving skills. As you go faster and quicker, you will inevitably uncover more limitations of your vehicle’s hardware setup. In Brake Systems 101 and 201, we explored the basic bolt-on upgrades that help to improve initial bite, heat capacity and feel while retaining the stock calipers and rotor dimensions. However, even aftermarket upgrades have their limitations, especially when it comes to heat capacity, which leads to brake fade. This is where upgrading to a big brake kit could prove an effective solution.

Understanding Big Brake Kits

As had been mentioned before, the factory equipment on most vehicles are selected as a compromise of cost versus performance – meaning that the vehicle manufacturer will offer you a safely adequate braking system necessary for your vehicle within their targeted budget. This opens the door to aftermarket improvements, and a big brake kit usually rides high on the list of upgrades. However, contrary to popular belief, upgrading to a big brake kit is not for the sole purpose of shortening stopping distances. Its greater merit is increasing the heat capacity of the braking system. Best Brake Systems 301: Torque Friction Surface Area increases the heat capacity of a braking system by incorporating larger rotors, larger pads and larger calipers. The increased surface area lends to greater heat capacity and an increased friction surface. (NOTE: Before investing in a big brake kit, consider the wheel size you are running, as some kits might require specific wheel sizing and offset to clear the rotor diameter and the larger brake calipers. Contact STILLEN for more information.)

Physics of Braking

Braking is the conversion of kinetic energy (motion) into heat (and stopping power) by way of friction generated between the brake pads and the brake rotor surface. Put simply, the greater the friction produced, the greater the stopping power. However, with more friction comes more heat. While certain pad compounds thrive in specific operating temperature ranges, the collective brake system also has particular temperature requirements. Individual systems begin to fall short once their optimal temperature range has been exceeded. Increasing the temperature capacity by way of fluid upgrades and rotor cooling strategies are logical first steps. To take upgrades a step further, increasing the heat capacity by way of larger rotors and correspondingly larger calipers and pads add to the available rotor surface area and the size of the pads that can be used to generate friction.

Best Brake Systems 301: Torque Friction Surface Area art_shop_v2

A Big Brake Kit not only benefits from increased friction surface area and greater heat capacity, it also benefits from a greater moment of torque.

Get More Torque From Your Brake System

Increasing the heat capacity and applying more friction are just two of the benefits that a big brake kit offers. Another important benefit comes in the form of increased torque. The application of torque is a matter of leverage. In the same way that increasing the amount of leverage by way of a breaker bar (torque arm) helps to increase the torque applied (moment of torque) to a bolt or nut, the same principle applies when increasing the rotor diameter and caliper size. Increasing the diameter of the rotor increases the torque arm and subsequently increases the moment of torque for braking. This is one of the significant advantages that a big brake kit has over a factory brake system.

Rotor Designs

Most vehicles come equipped with vented rotors up front, which help to facilitate cooling of the rotors in order to mitigate the potential for brake fade. A variety of vent types (radial, pillar and directional) have been developed in the pursuit of efficient rotor cooling.

Best Brake Systems 301: Torque Friction Surface Area KP_STRAIGHT

The Disc Brakes Australia proprietary “Kangaroo Paw” pillar design (left) compared to a typical radial vent design (right).

As mentioned in Brake Systems 101, the various brake pad compounds deliver varying levels of endurance, initial bite and resistance to heat. Pads designed for the street require little warm up and offer great initial bite, but sacrifice braking performance (reduction in friction under conditions of excessive braking and heat build up) when subjected to an endurance or heavy use situation. By contrast, an endurance race pad can take a lot of heat while maintaining optimal friction, but they must be heated to racing temperatures before becoming effective, which is unlikely to be achieved during normal street driving. Somewhere in between, there are pads that offer a balance of performance and endurance that suit a wider variety of driving situations.

Exotic Materials – STILLEN CCM-X Brake Upgrade

Technology and space-age materials have enhanced our world in many ways. When it comes to stopping, STILLEN and AP Racing have worked together to improve on the heavy yet nimble, Nissan R35 GT-R. Their efforts led to the development of the high thermal capacity (HTC) Carbon Ceramic Matrix brake rotor (CCM-X) that offers superior heat capacity compared to its iron counterpart. Once found only in the world’s most exotic sportscars, this is the first CCM rotor offering for a production tuner vehicle. In addition, STILLEN worked with Pagid to formulate its RSX1 pad material to offer easy bedding and greater performance for both street and track applications. During extreme performance testing at Auto Club Speedway, the HTC CCM-X rotors and RSX1 pads proved to run 142F cooler than previous generations of CCM rotors (1,346F vs. 1,488F), which validated the test results recorded on the brake dyno at AP Racing’s facilities in Coventry, England.

At the Limit

At this point the question is, how do you know when you’ve reached your brake system’s heat capacity? Since the friction between the pads and the rotor generates heat, this heat transfers into the components of the brake system (rotors, pads, calipers and brake fluid.) If you’ve upgraded these basic brake system components with aftermarket components (as outlined in Brake Systems 101 and 201) and are still experiencing unresponsive braking and/or a spongy pedal feel after aggressive driving, you’ve likely reached the heat capacity of the brake system. This condition is referred to as brake fade.

Don’t Get Faded

Brake fade occurs because the heat generated by the friction between the pads and the rotor has built up to the point that the pads are no longer able to create friction with the rotors (unresponsive braking) or pockets of air have formed in the brake lines due to brake fluid boiling (spongy pedal feel.) In both situations, heat is the culprit, which drives home the value of cooling the brake system. While adding brake ducts that direct air to the calipers and rotors certainly helps to facilitate cooling, increasing the amount of surface area available offers greater heat capacity and an increased friction surface area for use with larger brake pads and calipers.

More Surface Area

Generally speaking, improving a brake system’s heat capacity typically requires more iron and thus, larger rotors. Larger rotors offer more material to absorb and dissipate heat, as well as a larger friction area for a larger brake pad to be employed. This is also why larger calipers are an integral part of the big brake kit (to be covered in Brake Systems 401). By increasing the amount of friction surface, more heat can be stored before reaching temperatures that cause fade. The increased heat capacity also increases the usable range brake pads have that would not have been practical on a lower heat capacity setup.

Mechanical Grip Improves Braking

While increasing the size of the brake calipers, pads and rotors inevitably improves the heat capacity and overall brake performance, a brake system is limited by another factor, mechanical grip. Mechanical grip refers to the tires, the only thing between your vehicle and the pavement, ground or terrain. In the case of road vehicles, the brake system’s ability to slow and stop a vehicle depends heavily on the tires. A vehicle with worn or inappropriate tires (i.e. endurance tires being used at a track day, rain tires when its dry, etc.) will not perform optimally compared to one fitted with tires suited to the purpose at hand.

Continuing on the subject of big brake kits, the next issue of STILLEN University, Brake Systems 401, will go into caliper sizing and selection along with the mechanics of how they work. Do you need a 4-piston or 6-piston caliper? Is bigger always better? Check back with us soon!

Check out some of the available Best Brake Systems 301: Torque Friction Surface Area brake rotor and pad upgrades available at www.stillen.com!

STILLEN Sport Brake Rotors

Disc Brakes Australia

AP Racing By STILLEN

STILLEN Brake Pads

Hawk Performance Brake Pads

Ferodo Brake Pads

Mintex Brake Pads

Pagid Brake Pads

Got questions or ready to upgrade your brake system? Reach out to STILLEN :
866-250-5542
sales@stillen.com
Live Chat
stillen.com!

Top Ten SEMA 2016: STILLEN

Nov 15, 2016

Top Ten SEMA 2016: STILLEN

#1 – AP Radi-CAL II and AP Racing by STILLEN

AP Racing by STILLEN introduced the World Radi-CAL II Braking System. These revolutionary Forged Calipers are the most advanced brakes on the market. Forging makes them Lighter and Stiffer than Casting. The Asymmetric Design allows for optimal strength while still using Sequential Sized Pistons for even pad wear. Quick Change Pads are as simple as removing the retaining pins. The calipers still feature High Temperature Double Sealed Pistons so they are safe for road use but will stand up to the high temperatures of track use. The AP Radi-CAL II are available in Red, Black or Silver Calipers (custom colors available – contact us for pricing). Top Ten SEMA 2016: STILLEN

Comparison: Radi-CAL I vs Radi-CAL II

4% Lighter than Radi-CAL I
Stiffer than Radi-CAL I (6-piston: 33% stiffer | 4-piston: 28% stiffer)
Incorporating iconic Radi-CAL Stiffening Band
6-Piston Radi-CAL II Caliper can effortlessly fit behind an 18-inch wheel with a 370mm rotor.

One of the best parts about Radi-CAL II is you can easily swap out Radi-CAL I Calipers for a Radi-CAL II upgrade! So if you already have our Radi-CAL I kit, you can simply swap out calipers to upgrade!

AP Radi-CAL II behind a HRE Flow Form FF15 18×9.5 in Satin Black Finish

#2 – Widebody Civic Sedan from Seibon (teamed with AP Racing and Mackin Industries)

The Honda Civic is still one of the most commonly modified cars of all time. The thing is, this isn’t a true statement for a lot of Honda’s post millenia change. Countless enthusiasts started out in the Honda scene and many have moved on to different platforms because of the void of performance potential left vacant by Honda with the early-to-mid-2000’s Civic. Perhaps not on purpose, but certainly to our delight, the Civic now comes with a turbo motor available. While the 10th generation Civic is still developing in the market, it is exciting to see what is already available.

This wide body Civic Sedan kit produced by Seibon Carbon was inspired by the Type-R concept to give the sedan an aggressive look and stance. This kit also allows for you to run wider wheels and tires for the performance minded. We assume we will see these kits on the turbo model sedans mainly as we have already seen impressive results from bolt-ons and tuning. This kit will be available exclusively through STILLEN. If you would like more information on the Seibon wide body kit please give us a call or email sales@stillen.com.

This build featured some of the best names in the industry with AP Racing by STILLEN creating a prototype Radi-CAL Brake Kit, Rays Performance Wheels, Cusco Suspension, Pioneer Audio, Razo Lighting, and Continental Tires. After seeing this kind of effort put into the new Civic we can only imagine what kind of resurgence we will see in the Honda scene.

#3 – Honda Civic Type-R Concept & the Honda Civic Variants

The Civic Type R Prototype is all kinds of crazy and we love it. The visual differences are instantly obvious, but the most impressive part of this car is it is all functional. The wider fenders accommodate a larger tire for additional grip while the splitters and diffuser aid in down force and overall aerodynamic efficiency. The 3 tail pipes are all completely functional as is the hood scoop to feed the 2.0L Turbo motor. Numbers haven’t been officially released but the European Type-R makes 306 horsepower and there are rumors that there may be a 340 horsepower version.

#4 – Vossen Wheels

Vossen Wheels has been an industry leader for years in the aftermarket wheel industry. STILLEN has been privileged enough to work with them on several projects and are always blown away with how they are always innovating. This SEMA Show they debuted their new 3-piece forged series which blew us away. The detail and options available are amazing!

We also love the Vossen X Work wheels. The collaboration of the two companies produced some beautiful 2-piece wheels that appeal to a wide variety of owners. We have seen them on a lot of Nissan & Infiniti builds that we have greatly admired.

Vossen also debuted their “Wheel Configurator” which allows users to preview every Vossen wheel available on their car. It includes options such as Lowering, Camber, Vehicle Color, Wheel Color, Tire Size, etc. You can try it out from yourself – http://www.vossen3d.com/

#5 – Garrett Turbo Systems

Honeywell Garrett has been a leader in the Turbo industry for decades. While STILLEN has shied away from Turbos in recent history, the introduction of factory turbo cars from so many manufactures has allowed us to get back in the turbo game without violating EPA or CARB policies. Now Garrett is the manufacturer of the turbos in the new VR30 DDTT motor found in the Infiniti Q50 and Q60.

Knowing what some of their systems are capable of, maybe we will get the opportunity to work on some CARB EXEMPT Turbo Upgrades in the future.

#6 – NITTO Tire’s Drifting Huracan

Nitto recently worked with stunt driver Stina Hübinette to bring us the drifting Huracan. It’s not everyday you get to see an exotic driven like this. Check out the video on youtube: The Hübinettes Star in #HuracánDrift

#7 – Mazda Miata RF Kuro

The Mazda Miata has been the best selling two-seater convertible in the world since it’s release in 1989. Mazda debuted their Miata RF Kuro concept as their foray into the sport compact coupe segment. While nothing is certain about production plans, the RF Kuro gives drivers a glimpse of what a coupe could be like and gives the Miata a new look that we are sure everyone is going to love.

#8 – Ford Booth

Ford is always known to have quite the display at SEMA. 2016 was an exciting year for them and their booth definitely showed it. Showcasing cars like the new Ford GT Racecar, the Focus RS (which is proving to be quite the little beast), and even a wide body Fiesta ST. Ford is definitely making their presence felt in the performance world and we look forward to seeing more amazing cars from them.

#9 – Lexus LC500 F-Sport Concept

We have all seen the Lexus LC500 in the media and at auto shows. However, we had the opportunity to see the F-Sport concept version in the Lexus booth. Aside from the bright yellow paint, this car really makes a bold statement. Lexus is definitely doing a lot to shape their image in a more “sporty” light. We didn’t get many details, but we liked what we saw.

#10 – Ferrari-powered Scion FRS/Toyota 86

When someone puts a Ferrari motor in anything it’s bound to grab some attention. This Ferrari-powered FR-S is absolutely nuts!

That wraps up our Top Ten SEMA 2016: STILLEN. Stay tuned for our upcoming SEMA 2016 gallery…

How To Upgrade Your Brake Rotors, Brake Pads & Brake Fluid

Installation & DIY Articles

Jun 9, 2016

You might be wondering… When it’s time to replace your brake rotors, should you upgrade your brake rotors or just replace them with identical OEM rotors? One tip the STILLEN brake experts offer: consider how you use your car.

Is it a daily driver used for commuting and errands? Are you an enthusiast who lives for the open road and canyon carving? Or maybe you participate in autocross or track days.

Regardless, there are many choices in rotors, and one way to shop for replacement brake rotors, as well as brake pads and brake fluid is with a Good- Better – Best approach.

For more info about this approach, check out this how-to video from STILLEN expert Mark.

Brake Rotor Upgrade Level: GOOD

Drivers seeking a good rotor that offers a performance and durability upgrade from OEM rotors should consider upgrading to STILLEN OEM replacement brake rotors. They are well suited for aggressive driving and the occasional track day.

Features include straight cut vanes, zinc coating, chamfered slots and precision ground friction surfaces. Multiple machining options are available, from slotted to cross drilled to the popular hook slot hybrid finish.

Available for virtually any passenger vehicle on the road today, STILLEN sport rotors are proudly Made in USA.

Brake Rotor Upgrade Level: BETTER

For hard core enthusiasts and track day fans concerned with high temperature heat management, a better option might be the DBA 4000 series brake rotors. These discs offer more sophisticated metallurgy for longer life.

They also feature DBA Kangaroo Paw vane technology. These vanes are multi-directional, meaning they draw cooling air in from any direction.

This improves heat dissipation and also permits the rotors to be mounted on both driver and passenger side hubs. Another stylish touch is the available gold rotor vanes and hats.

Brake Rotor Upgrade Level: BEST

The ultimate brake rotor upgrade could be the DBA 5000 series. Suitable for frequent track use, these rotors offer the Kangaroo paw vane technology and improved metallurgy of the 4000 series, but add a two piece design.

The rotor hat is a separate assembly that is bolted to the brake rotor. This helps isolate the wheel hub bearings from excess heat, reduces brake vibration caused by rotor warping under heavy use, and offers weight savings as well.

One indicator the DBA 5000 series are meant for serious drivers is the brake temperature paint applied to the rotor edges. These indicators help drivers ascertain the temperature range their brake system is operating in.

This in turn helps determine proper brake pad and brake fluid selection for track use.

Brake Pad Replacement and Upgrades

It’s always advisable to replace brake pads when mounting new rotors. STILLEN Metal Matrix brake pads offer a nice blend of bite and power along with reduced dust and noise. This makes them ideal for street and occasional track use.

Other brake pads might be better suited for full-on track use, such as the Hawk HPS 5.0s or Ferodo DS2500 HP.

Brake Fluid Replacement

When you’re considering brake system upgrades, it’s essential to include brake fluid replacement in the thought process.

One popular opinion is that it’s best to upgrade to racing brake fluid.

As STILLEN brake expert and all-around good guy Mark explains, this is a common misconception.

While your OEM brake fluid does have a limited heat capacity, so does your OEM brake system. Upgrading your rotors and pads does give you a higher threshold, but your calipers still have a limit.

If you upgrade your brake fluid past what the calipers can handle, you could exceed your brake systems operating envelope without knowing it. Should it occur, brake fluid boiling is an indicator that your brake system is overheating.

Going with a little bit of an upgrade is fine, but you don’t need to go with a full-on race brake fluid.

While shooting the how to video for brake upgrades, Mark installed the DBA 4000 series rotors and STILLEN Metal Matrix brake pads on his Subaru BRZ and had the following to report:

“After we finished the install on the brakes, we moved onto the bed-in procedure then onto our test drive and you could really feel the difference. Our stopping distances were much shorter, our initial bite was much better and brake fade was much less apparent as the brakes heated up so this is an awesome upgrade for the BRZ or for any vehicle. You can really improve your driving experience.”

Questions About Brake Rotors?

Our brake experts are standing by and will stop at nothing to help you in quest for better braking. Take a brake from whatever you’re doing and call them at 866-250-5542!

Upgraded Infiniti G37x – Supercharged, Enhanced Suspension & More!

Mar 31, 2014

Every so often we get a car come through the performance shop that is BIG news here at STILLEN and that happened just a few weeks ago with an Infiniti G37x. It all started a few months ago when one of our performance specialists took a call from a potential customer about a supercharger for a G37x. Over the course of a few months, the performance specialist worked with the customer making suggestions and answering questions until the customer was completely confident in his purchase. By this time, this car had transformed from a very nice G37x into many employees’ dream car.

Infiniti G37x Customized with STILLEN Parts

The Infiniti G37x Wish List

This customer is a professional mountain bike racer, who also manufactures mountain bike and motorcycle performance parts. He wanted to make sure that he could modify a G37x to handle and perform as close to a GT-R as possible. To achieve his dream, he was looking to combine GT-R performance with the luxury and practicality of a sedan. Therefore, speed, handling and braking were of utmost importance to him. This car needed to be able to perform and handle the way everyone dreams a sports car will handle, but also be reliable so that the customer could drive on a variety of services with confidence. That meant that he was looking to upgrade the car’s power, suspension, braking and also had to make sure he had all of the other performance upgrades necessary to ensure the other aspects of the car were ready for the modifications that were being made.

Infiniti G37x in the STILLEN Performance Shop

Performance Upgrades

Supercharger

Infiniti G37x with STILLEN Supercharger

Parts: STILLEN 407730 Supercharger System, STILLEN 400338 STD Crank Pulley

Since additional horsepower was what had originally drawn the customer to STILLEN, we wanted to make sure we got him set up with the perfect blower for his car. We recommended the STILLEN Supercharger for Infiniti G37, which comes in a polished or satin finish. This customer elected for the satin finish. While we haven’t dyno tested this customer’s car, this blower has previously been tested during development to output over 500 horsepower.

Cooling Kits

G37x with STILLEN Supercharger and Cooling Kits

Parts: STILLEN 400740 Transmission Cooler, STILLEN 400632 Gold Oil Cooler

While power is important, so is longevity. Since this was also one of the customer’s concerns, we recommended he add a STILLEN transmission cooler and STILLEN oil cooler to the car. The transmission cooler will help preserve the car and help with power during hill climbs. The oil cooler will help keep the oil at the right temperature to make the supercharger last.

Coilover Shocks

Infiniti G37x with Aftermarket Coilover Shocks

Part: BC Racing BCRV-08U BR Serues Coilover Shocks*

Since this customer’s vehicle is all wheel drive (AWD), our shock selection was admittedly slim. That being said, we found a solid option in the BC Racing coilover shocks. With their swift spring upgrade, it allowed the customer to get a higher quality shock with a more consistent spring rate. These coilover shocks also feature less coils per spring rate, which allow for a larger spoke and better travel.

*Note: These coilover shocks are not available online. Please call 866-250-5542 for more information.

Sway Bar

Part: STILLEN 304375 Adjustable Sway Bar Kit

Being an experienced driver that wants to enjoy a thrill when he drives, this customer was looking for a bit more oversteer than the stock sway bar could provide. With that in mind, we recommended that the stock sway bar be replaced with a STILLEN adjustable sway bar for G37X. This sway bar is made from high strength aircraft grade steel and is specially designed to reduce body roll and improve cornering.

Grounding Kit

Part: STILLEN 606358R Grounding Kit

With all of the upgrades being made to the car, we wanted to make sure that the electrical components were as optimized as possible and the customer agreed. To do this the sales representative recommended a grounding kit be added to the vehicle. By adding this feature, it will allow the electrical system to work better, allowing the customer to enjoy all the performance benefits of the upgrades he had made.

Cat-Back Exhaust

Infiniti G37x with STILLEN Cat-Back Exhaust

Part: STILLEN 504377 Cat-Back Exhaust

The STILLEN cat-back exhaust was added for performance gains and sound improvement. Like our other STILLEN exhausts, it features a mandrel bent 304 stainless steel construction and boasts the trademark STILLEN sound that is mild while cruising, but becomes more aggressive as you accelerate.

Big Brake Kit

Infiniti G37x with Big Brake Kit

Parts: AP AP5700R Front Brake System, AP AP3752R Rear Brake System

When your car packs as much power as this Infiniti G37, it’s important to make sure that it has the necessary stopping power to safely slow the car down. In this case, stock brakes just weren’t going to cut it. That’s why we recommended the cross drilled and slotted AP Racing Brake Kit, which are known for being the top big brake kit manufacturer in the industry.

Wheels

G37x Aftermarket Wheels

Parts: TSW 1985NUR455114S76 Nurburgring Wheel, TSW 1995NUR415114S76 Nurburgring Wheel*

To complete the makeover, we suggested the customer go with a set of TSW wheels. This was because the customer’s existing wheels would not fit the big break kit that was installed and because he wanted a sportier look with better functionality. Additionally, these wheels have a rotary forged design, which maintains strength and durability, while being light weight.

*Note: These wheels are not available online. Please call 866-250-5542 for more information.

The Results

STILLEN upgraded 2013 G37x

After the dust settled from all the upgrades were made, the customer was extremely happy with the power and performance he’s now getting from the car. As you can imagine, his car has plenty of power and torque to meet his goal of turning his G37 into a four-door GT-R. He’s also loved the suspension adjustments that were made with the sway bar and coilover shocks – it’s handling wonderfully for him. Plus, he gets to enjoy the stealth factor when street driving. Other drivers have no idea how fast his car can go until he chooses to leave them in the dust!

Check out the slide show below to see the full transformation this car made!

Next Steps

If you have any questions about the Infiniti G37 parts above or want to explore upgrading your car, please contact one of our performance specialists at 866-250-5542. We will be happy to answer any questions you have about our parts, make suggestions of upgrades to make to get the most out of your vehicle.

AP Racing Rear Big Brake Kit FX35 & FX45

Jun 18, 2008

AP Racing Rear Big Brake Kit FX35 & FX45

STILLEN Brake Pros are proud to introduce the AP Racing Rear Big Brake Kit for the 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 or FX45. This kit utilizes AP Racing 4-Piston Calipers, 15?(378mm) 2-Piece Cross Drilled & Slotted Rotors, high performance Mintex Xtreme brake pads, stainless steel brake lines, and all necessary brackets and hardware. The factory parking brake is also retained.

This kit is expected to begin shipping by Mid-September (update 9/16 – Now Shipping!).

When combined with our 6-Piston AP Racing Front Big Brake Kit, this is a perfect upgrade for anyone looking for additional braking performance for spirited driving. The combination of a 4-Piston Caliper, dramatically improved Brake Pads, and Stainless Steel lines will ensure a firm pedal, zero brake fade, and improved stopping distances.

Upgrading to this kit from your stock 1-piston OEM calipers offers uniform clamping to the pads, increased clamping pressure, more leverage via the new caliper mounting point and the included larger rotors.

Mintex Xtreme Brake Pads are very high performance street pads that can handle temperatures from cold to over 1300°F, and are linear and predictable under all conditions. These pads have excellent grip, but retain important features like lower brake dust, moderate wear rates, and are much more rotor-friendly compared to other high performance compounds.

AP5550 and AP5550R Big Brake Kit Specifications

AP Racing 4-Piston Calipers (Black or Red Caliper)
15? (378mm x 26mm) 2-Piece Cross-Drilled & Slotted Rotors
High Performance Mintex Xtreme Brake Pads
Stainless Steel Braided Brake Lines (DOT Compliant)
All necessary brackets, hardware and instructions are included
Fits both 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45

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