2010-2019 Nissan 370z Front vs Rear Brakes: What Wears First and What to Replace

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

On a Nissan 370Z the front brakes wear out first, usually well before the rears, because weight shifts forward every time you stop and the front axle does most of the braking. The rear pads and rotors still wear, just more slowly, so the smart move is to measure all four corners at every front brake job and replace the rears when they reach the limit rather than on a fixed schedule. Which parts you buy depends on whether your Z has the standard brakes or the Nissan Sport Brakes, because the rotors and pads are completely different sizes.

Two different brake systems on the 370Z

Before you order anything, figure out which system your car has. Nissan built the 370Z with two brake packages, and parts do not cross over between them. Nissan's 2019 370Z Coupe press kit lists these specifications:

The quickest check is to look through the wheel spokes. Red aluminum calipers with the Nissan name mean you have the Sport Brakes; a plain sliding caliper means the standard system. Trim content changed over the 2010-2019 run, so on any car you are unsure about, confirm the package by looking at the caliper or by giving your VIN to a parts counter. Every 370Z has four-wheel vented discs with ABS, Electronic Brake force Distribution and Brake Assist, and Vehicle Dynamic Control is standard.

Why the front brakes wear first

Brake bias is the share of total braking force applied at the front wheels. When you press the pedal, weight transfers from the rear of the car to the front, which gives the front tires more grip and takes grip away from the rears. The system is designed around that: a front bias of roughly 60 to 70 percent is common on rear-wheel-drive street cars like the Z, and industry guidance puts the front share at about 70 percent of braking force on typical vehicles. If the bias were even, the rear wheels would lock first and the car would try to spin.

The Sport Brakes show that bias right in the hardware: four pistons clamping a 14-inch front rotor against two pistons on the smaller rear. More clamping force and more heat up front means the front pads and rotors do more work and wear sooner. The base car's rear rotor is also much thinner than the front (0.63 in. against 1.10 in.), because the rear does not have to absorb as much heat.

Driving style widens the gap. Hard stops from speed, canyon runs and track days load the fronts far more than the rears. Commuting in heavy traffic wears both ends, but the fronts still go first.

Symptoms and how to check each axle

Nissan fits the 370Z's disc pads with audible wear warnings. According to the owner's manual, when a pad needs replacing it makes a high-pitched scraping sound while the car is moving, first only when the brake pedal is pressed and later all the time, even with your foot off the pedal. If you hear it, have the brakes checked as soon as possible. Nissan also notes that an occasional squeak or squeal during light to moderate stops is normal and does not mean anything is wrong.

Other signs worth tracking down:

• Vibration in the steering wheel while braking usually points to the front rotors, since they carry most of the heat.
• A pulsing pedal or vibration through the seat with a quiet steering wheel can point to the rear rotors.
• A deep lip on the rotor edge or heavy grooving means the rotor is near or past its minimum thickness. The minimum is stamped on the rotor and listed in the factory service manual.
• A low brake fluid warning light can simply mean the pads are worn, because the caliper pistons have moved out and the reservoir level dropped. Nissan's manual says to check the level, and if fluid must be added often, have the system checked.

To check pad life, look at the outer pad through the wheel and, ideally, pull the wheel to see the inner pad as well. On a sliding caliper the inner pad often wears faster than the outer if the slide pins are dry, so a base car can look fine from outside and be near metal inside.

What to replace on the front axle

A front brake job on a 370Z normally means pads and rotors together. The Sport rotors in particular are large and heavy, and new rotors let the new pads bed in on a clean, flat surface. Buy parts for your exact package: the 14-inch Sport rotor and the 12.6-inch standard rotor are not interchangeable, and neither are the pads.

Replace at the same time:

• Pad hardware (abutment clips, anti-rattle springs and shims). Worn clips cause noise and uneven wear. See our brake hardware kits.
• Slide pin grease and boots on standard sliding calipers.
• Brake fluid if it is due or dark. More on that below.

Our brake pads and brake rotors collections are the place to start; ceramic brake pads are a good street choice for low dust and quiet stops.

What to replace on the rear axle

The rear pads and rotors on a 370Z typically outlast the fronts, but they do wear out, so do not assume they are fine. Measure them every time the fronts are done and replace them when they are close to the limit, not just because the fronts were due.

There is one rear-specific detail. The 370Z's parking brake uses brake shoes, separate from the rear disc pads. Nissan's owner's manual calls for a parking brake shoe break-in whenever the parking brake feels weak or whenever the shoes, drums or rotors are replaced, and says the procedure is in the vehicle service manual. So if you put new rear rotors on, check the parking brake shoes and do the break-in before you rely on the parking brake.

If both ends are due, a matched 2010-2019 Nissan 370Z front and rear brake kit puts new rotors and pads on all four corners in one order. Confirm it matches your brake package before you buy.

Brake fluid and parts choice

Nissan specifies different fluid for different 370Z models. For all models except NISMO, the owner's manual calls for Genuine NISSAN Super Heavy Duty Brake Fluid or equivalent DOT 3. NISMO models are filled at the factory with Genuine NISSAN Brake Fluid R35 Special II, and Nissan warns that the NISMO's VDC unit and related parts were designed for that fluid and that a non-equivalent fluid can cause improper brake operation. Never mix fluid types.

Under Nissan's severe-driving maintenance schedule (repeated short trips, stop-and-go traffic in hot weather, dusty or salted roads and similar use), brake fluid is replaced every 10,000 miles or 12 months, and pads and rotors are inspected every 5,000 miles or 6 months. Normal use follows the longer intervals in the maintenance section of the owner's manual.

Part choice affects balance, too. Larger front rotors or higher-friction front pads push more bias to the front, and higher-friction rear pads push it rearward. The simplest way to keep the car stable is to use the same pad type front and rear, sized for your brake package. Nissan's manual also notes that pads, rotors and calipers that are not Nissan-recommended or are badly worn can keep VDC from working properly and may turn on the VDC warning light, so stick with quality parts built to the original specification.

How hard is the job?

Pads and rotors on a 370Z are a reasonable driveway job for someone with a jack, stands, a torque wrench and basic hand tools. The Sport calipers are fixed, so the pads come out after you remove the retaining pins and clip, and the caliper comes off only to remove the rotor. Torque the caliper bolts and lug nuts to the values in the factory service manual. The rear adds the parking brake shoes and their break-in, which is where most home mechanics lose time. After the job, bed in the new pads with a series of moderate stops before any hard driving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to replace the front and rear brakes on my 370Z at the same time?

No. The fronts almost always wear out first. Replace pads and rotors in axle sets (both fronts or both rears) and measure the other axle at every job so you catch it before it hits the limit.

How do I know if my 370Z has Sport Brakes?

Look through the wheel. Red aluminum calipers with four pistons up front mean Nissan Sport Brakes with 14.0-inch front and 13.8-inch rear rotors. A plain sliding caliper means the standard 12.6-inch system.

What brake fluid does a 370Z use?

Nissan calls for Genuine NISSAN Super Heavy Duty Brake Fluid or equivalent DOT 3 on non-NISMO models, and Genuine NISSAN Brake Fluid R35 Special II on NISMO models. Check the owner's manual for your year.

What is the scraping noise from my 370Z's brakes?

It is most likely the built-in pad wear warning. Nissan says it first appears only when braking and later all the time. Have the brakes inspected as soon as you hear it.

Can I put standard rotors on a Sport Brake 370Z, or the other way around?

Not as a direct swap. The rotors are different diameters and the calipers are different designs, so pads and rotors must match the package on the car.

Sources

1. Nissan News: 2019 Nissan 370Z Coupe Press Kit - standard and Sport Brake rotor sizes, caliper types, ABS/EBD/Brake Assist, NISMO brakes and R35 Special II fluid
2. Nissan: 2018 370Z Coupe Owner's Manual - audible pad wear warning, brake fluid specs, severe-service intervals, parking brake shoe break-in, VDC and brake parts
3. Summit Racing: What is brake bias? - bias definition, 60-70 percent front bias on RWD street cars, how rotor and pad changes shift bias
4. Motorist Assurance Program: Which Brakes Go Bad First, Front or Back? - about 70 percent of braking force handled by the front brakes