Hawk Performance Brakes for the Infiniti G35: Which Parts Fit

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

If your Infiniti G35 has the factory Brembo front calipers, Hawk Performance makes five front pad compounds for it, all sharing the HB545 shape at .564 in. thick: Performance Ceramic, HPS, HPS 5.0, HP+ and HPX. The right one depends on how you drive: Ceramic for a quiet daily driver, HPS or HPS 5.0 for spirited street use, HP+ or HPX only if the car sees autocross or track time.

The one thing to confirm before you order is the caliper. The HB545 pad fits the Brembo front caliper, not the standard G35 caliper, so a pad that is right for a 6-speed coupe can be wrong for an automatic sedan of the same year.

Does Your G35 Have Brembo Brakes?

Infiniti fitted Brembo brakes as a performance package rather than across the line. MotorWeek's road test of the 2003 G35 Sport Coupe notes that Brembo brakes are standard on the 6-speed manual car, while every car uses fully vented discs with ABS, traction control and VDC. Brembo calipers also appeared on some sedans, which is why Hawk's own application list for the HB545 names entries like the 2004 G35 Base and G35 X "with Brembo Brakes" rather than every G35.

The quickest check takes 30 seconds: look through the front wheel. The Brembo caliper is a fixed, multi-piston unit with the Brembo name on it, and it has pistons on both sides of the rotor. The standard caliper is a floating design that slides on pins. If you see the Brembo name, the HB545 pads in this guide are your fitment. If not, shop the standard-caliper pads in our brake pads collection instead.

Hawk Pad Compounds for the G35 Compared

Every temperature figure below comes from Hawk's own compound pages. "Optimal" is the range where the pad delivers its rated friction; the operating range is where it still works but outside its sweet spot. The street compounds start working cold, while the track-leaning compounds want heat.

Performance Ceramic: the daily-driver choice

Hawk describes the Performance Ceramic HB545Z.564 pad set as its quietest pad, with ultra-low dust and a linear friction profile tuned to work with ABS. On a G35 that commutes, this is the pad that keeps the wheels clean and the car quiet at stoplights. The trade is heat capacity: its optimal window tops out at 450 F, the lowest in the lineup.

HPS: the most common upgrade

The Hawk HPS HB545F.564 front pads are the classic street upgrade. Hawk says HPS can provide 20 to 40 percent more stopping power and higher fade resistance than most standard replacement pads, while producing less dust and staying gentle on rotors. It works from a cold start, which matters on a street car, and suits owners who enjoy a back road on the weekend but commute during the week.

HPS 5.0: more bite, still a street pad

The HPS 5.0 HB545B.564 pad set uses Hawk's Ferro-Carbon formula, built for shorter stopping distances and better performance under heavy braking while staying street friendly. Its optimal range runs 50 degrees higher than HPS. Pick it if you brake late and hard on the street and want more than HPS gives.

HP+ and HPX: for cars that see a course

The HP+ HB545N.564 front pads have an optimal range starting at 300 F. They are built for autocross and aggressive street use, but a daily-driven G35 may not get them warm enough on a cold morning to reach full friction. The HPX HB545C.564 motorsports pads are engineered specifically for autocross, with a smooth initial bite and clean modulation. Treat both as event pads, not commuter pads.

Rotors: What to Pair With Hawk Pads

New pads on worn rotors are a leading cause of a pulsing pedal and noisy brakes after a pad job. Hawk's installation guidance calls for sanding the rotor surface and cleaning it with soap and water before new pads go in, and its FAQ confirms that Hawk pads work on slotted and drilled rotors from other brands. All Hawk compounds are designed for iron rotors only and are not compatible with carbon ceramic rotors.

For Brembo-equipped cars we carry the EBC BSD V-slot front rotors (BSD7122), listed for 2003-2004 G35 manual cars with Brembo brakes. For standard-caliper automatic cars the EBC USR7120 slotted front rotor set is listed for 2002-2004 G35 automatics, but remember that Hawk HB545 pads will not fit those calipers. The rotor must match the caliper package, just like the pad. Browse the full range in our brake rotors collection.

If your rotors are below the minimum thickness stamped on the rotor, heavily grooved, or have a lip at the outer edge, replace them rather than resurfacing them. Measure with a micrometer, not by eye.

What to Replace at the Same Time

• Brake fluid. Performance pads make more heat, and old fluid that has absorbed moisture boils sooner and gives a soft pedal. Flush with the fluid type printed on your master cylinder cap and in the owner's manual.
• Pad hardware. Check the Brembo pad retaining pins and anti-rattle spring for wear or corrosion. A brake hardware kit is cheap insurance against rattles.
• Anti-squeal compound. Hawk recommends a thin layer of silicone anti-squeal brake lube on the back of the pad, never on the friction face.
• Brake lines. If the car sees autocross, stainless braided brake lines firm up pedal feel as rubber hoses age.

How Hard Is the Job, and How to Bed the Pads

Swapping pads in a fixed Brembo caliper is one of the easier brake jobs on any car. There are no caliper slide pins to service and the caliper usually stays bolted on: pull the retaining pins and spring, press the pistons back carefully, slide the old pads out and the new ones in. Rotor replacement adds removing the caliper, and the caliper bolts must be torqued to the value in the factory service manual on reinstall.

Bedding matters more with performance pads. Hawk's street pad procedure is:

1. Make 6 to 10 stops from about 30 to 35 mph with moderate pressure.
2. Make 2 to 3 hard stops from about 40 to 45 mph.
3. Do not drag the brakes.
4. Allow 15 minutes for the brake system to cool, then drive normally.

Skipping this step is a common reason new performance pads feel grabby or vibrate early in their life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Hawk HB545 pads fit every Infiniti G35?

No. HB545 is the Brembo front caliper pad shape. It fits G35s that came with factory Brembo front brakes, such as the 6-speed manual Sport Coupe. Standard calipers take a different pad.

Which Hawk pad is best for a daily-driven G35?

Performance Ceramic if you want the least dust and noise, HPS if you want more bite and fade resistance. Both have optimal ranges starting at 100 F, so they work from cold.

Can I run HP+ pads on the street?

You can, but HP+ is at its best from 300 to 600 F. On short, cool commutes it will not reach that range. It is the pick for a car that does regular autocross.

Are the same pads used on the Nissan 350Z?

Yes. The 350Z with Brembo brakes shares the HB545 front pad, which is why many listings name both cars.

Do I need new rotors with Hawk pads?

Not always, but the rotor must be smooth, true and above minimum thickness. Hawk calls for sanding and cleaning the rotor surface before installing new pads so they bed evenly.

Sources

1. Hawk HPS - HPS temperature ranges, 20-40 percent stopping power claim, iron rotors only
2. Hawk HPS 5.0 - HPS 5.0 Ferro-Carbon compound and temperature ranges
3. Hawk HP+ - HP+ autocross and street use, temperature ranges
4. Hawk Performance Ceramic - Ceramic low dust, low noise and temperature ranges
5. Hawk HPX - HPX autocross compound and temperature ranges
6. Hawk HB545F.564 application list - HB545 front pad fitment and .564 in. thickness
7. Hawk How To - Street pad rotor prep and bed-in procedure
8. Hawk FAQs - Anti-squeal lube, slotted and drilled rotor compatibility, rotor turning
9. MotorWeek 2003 Infiniti G35 Sport Coupe road test - Brembo brakes standard on the 6-speed; vented discs with ABS and VDC