EBC Brakes for the Infiniti G35: Which Parts Fit

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

EBC pads and rotors fit the Infiniti G35, but which part fits depends on one thing before anything else: whether your car has the factory Brembo brakes or the standard brakes. On the early cars, Infiniti put Brembo brakes on the manual-transmission coupes, so a 2003-2004 G35 6-speed coupe and a 2003-2004 G35 automatic usually take different EBC part numbers. Check your calipers first, then pick the compound for how you drive.

Step One: Brembo or Standard Brakes on Your G35

Infiniti's own press kits spell out the split. For the 2003 G35 Sport Coupe, the standard brake system was 4-wheel ventilated discs with Brake Assist and Electronic Brake force Distribution, with front and rear Brembo brakes offered on models with the 6-speed manual transmission. For 2004, Infiniti tied the Brembo brakes specifically to the G35 Coupe Leather 6MT model. The 2003 G35 Sport Sedan press kit lists power-assisted 4-wheel vented disc brakes with a 4-channel, 4-sensor ABS, EBD and Brake Assist, and does not list Brembo brakes as part of the sedan package.

That matters because a Brembo caliper uses a different pad shape and a larger rotor than the standard floating caliper. A pad or rotor catalogued for one will not fit the other. The fastest way to tell is to look through the front wheel spokes:

• Brembo: a fixed caliper that straddles the rotor, with the Brembo name cast or painted on it. Pistons sit on both sides of the rotor.
• Standard: a sliding caliper with pistons on the inboard side only, mounted on a bracket with guide pins.

Do not go by badge or trim alone. Many G35s have been modified over the years, and a used car can easily have Brembo calipers on a model that did not come with them, or the reverse. The caliper on the car is what decides the part.

EBC Parts We Carry That Fit the G35

Every part below is listed for a specific G35 year range and brake setup. Match both before you order.

Notice the pattern: the EBC pads and the BSD rotor above are all listed for the manual car with Brembo brakes, and the USR7120 rotor is listed for the automatic. If you drive a 2003-2004 automatic, the Brembo pads will not fit your calipers. If you drive a Brembo 6-speed, the USR7120 is the wrong rotor. For other years and brake setups, browse our full brake pad selection and brake rotor selection and match the listed fitment line exactly.

Choosing an EBC Pad Compound

EBC sells several street compounds, and they are not interchangeable in feel. Here is how the two street pads for the Brembo G35 compare, using EBC's own descriptions.

Redstuff: the daily driver pick

EBC describes Redstuff as an aramid fiber, ceramic particle enhanced material with zero steel fiber, built for fast street driving on cars (EBC specifically says it is not made for truck or SUV fitments). EBC claims it reduces dust by 60 to 90 percent and that the dust contains no steel fiber particles, so it washes off wheels easily. The pads carry EBC's Brake-in surface coating to speed up seating, but EBC also notes that full bed-in can take up to about 1,000 miles. For a G35 that sees commuting and the occasional spirited drive, Redstuff is the sensible choice.

Yellowstuff: more bite, more dust

EBC positions Yellowstuff as an aramid fiber compound for drivers who want strong stopping power on fast street use, with excellent cold bite. EBC gives it a green fade threshold of 400 C (750 F), which it calls the maximum expected temperature in fast street driving, and notes that track conditions can push brake temperatures well above that. EBC is direct about the trade-off: these are not low dust pads, and since a 2021 reformulation EBC no longer recommends Yellowstuff for dedicated track use. Pick Yellowstuff if you drive a Brembo G35 hard on back roads and can live with dirtier wheels.

RP-X: race pads, not street pads

The RP-X set we carry is sold as a race brake pad. Race compounds are built to work at track temperatures and are a poor match for a cold commute, so treat RP-X as a track-day or race-car part rather than a street upgrade.

Choosing an EBC Rotor

EBC's USR (Ultimax Slotted Rotor) range is described by EBC as a premium, quiet street rotor for fast street use. EBC says the rotors are made from R90-approved G3000 grey iron blanks, and that the narrower multi-slot pattern, machined at a progressive angle, keeps them quiet while still venting gas, dirt, water and debris and keeping pad wear flat and parallel.

EBC also makes an important point about slotted rotors in general: a slotted rotor does not improve braking by itself. EBC recommends pairing the USR with its higher friction Redstuff, Greenstuff or Yellowstuff pads and buying a matched set. On a G35 with worn pads and scored rotors, replace both at once so the new pads bed into a fresh, flat surface.

The BSD part we carry for the Brembo cars is EBC's V-slot style front rotor. Like the USR, it is a slotted sport rotor, and the same rule applies: pair it with a quality pad and bed the two in together.

Hawk Pads as an Alternative for Brembo G35s

If you want to compare before you buy, we also carry several Hawk Performance front pads for the Brembo G35 (listed for 2003-2007 G35 with Brembo, shared with the Nissan 350Z Brembo setup). Hawk publishes temperature ranges for each compound:

Hawk says its pads are designed for iron rotors and are not compatible with carbon ceramic rotors, which is not a concern on a factory G35. The practical read: HPS and HPS 5.0 are street pads, while HP Plus and HPX are built for autocross and want heat to work well. A Hawk Ceramic Street set is also listed for the Brembo cars if quiet, clean daily driving is the priority.

Installing Pads and Rotors on a G35

A front pad and rotor job on a G35 is a reasonable driveway job for someone with a jack, stands and a torque wrench. A few G35-specific points:

• Brembo cars: the fixed caliper usually lets the pads come out without removing the caliper, but you must remove the caliper to change the rotor. Push the pistons back evenly on both sides.
• Standard-brake cars: the floating caliper and its bracket come off to change the rotor; clean and lubricate the guide pins while you are there.
• Clean the hub face before fitting a new rotor. Rust scale on the hub is a common cause of runout and pulsation after a rotor change.
• Torque everything to the value in the factory service manual, including caliper bolts and wheel lug nuts. Never guess.
• Check the fluid. Pushing pistons back raises the reservoir level, and old fluid is worth flushing on a car this age. Use the fluid type printed on your reservoir cap.
• Bed the pads in following the instructions in the box. EBC notes its street pads keep improving over the first several hundred miles.

Hardware matters too. Worn clips and shims cause noise and uneven wear, so look at our brake hardware kits when you order pads, and inspect the rubber brake hoses for cracking while the wheel is off.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Brembo G35 brake pads fit a G35 without Brembo brakes?

No. The Brembo fixed caliper uses a different pad shape from the standard sliding caliper, and the rotors differ as well. Confirm which caliper is on your car before ordering.

Which G35 models came with Brembo brakes?

Infiniti's press kits list front and rear Brembo brakes on the 2003 G35 coupe with the 6-speed manual, and on the 2004 G35 Coupe Leather 6MT. Because cars get modified, always check the caliper on the car itself.

Are EBC Redstuff pads good for a daily-driven G35?

Yes, that is what they are built for. EBC describes Redstuff as a low dust street pad for cars, with no steel fiber in the compound. Expect a gradual bed-in over the first several hundred miles.

Can I use Yellowstuff pads on the track?

EBC says it no longer recommends Yellowstuff for dedicated track use since its 2021 reformulation. For track days, a dedicated race compound such as RP-X is the better match.

Should I replace rotors when I put on EBC pads?

If the rotors are scored, lipped, below minimum thickness or cause pulsation, yes. EBC recommends running its slotted rotors with matched EBC pads rather than expecting a slotted rotor alone to improve braking.

Will these EBC parts fit my 2005-2008 G35?

The EBC pads and rotors listed above are catalogued for 2002-2004 cars. For later G35s, check the fitment line on each product in our brake parts collection; several Hawk Brembo pads are listed through 2007.

Sources

1. 2003 INFINITI G Coupe Press Kit (Infiniti) - standard 4-wheel vented discs with BA and EBD; Brembo brakes on 6-speed manual coupes
2. 2004 INFINITI G Coupe Press Kit (Infiniti) - Brembo brakes on the G35 Coupe Leather 6MT model
3. 2003 INFINITI G Sedan Press Kit (Infiniti) - sedan brake system: vented discs, 4-channel 4-sensor ABS, EBD, BA
4. EBC Redstuff Ceramic Brake Pads (EBC Brakes) - compound, dust reduction claim, bed-in period, not for trucks or SUVs
5. EBC Yellowstuff Fast Street Brake Pads (EBC Brakes) - 400 C / 750 F fade threshold, not low dust, not recommended for dedicated track use
6. EBC USR Slotted Brake Rotors (EBC Brakes) - G3000 iron, slot design, pad pairing advice
7. Hawk HPS (Hawk Performance) - HPS temperature ranges and intended use
8. Hawk HPS 5.0 (Hawk Performance) - HPS 5.0 temperature ranges; iron rotors only
9. Hawk HP+ (Hawk Performance) - HP Plus temperature ranges, autocross use
10. Hawk HPX (Hawk Performance) - HPX temperature ranges, autocross use