Next Level Performance
July 20, 2026 • 9 min read
Our Verdict
The Alcon RC6 6-piston front big brake kit is the strongest upgrade for a track-driven R35 GT-R, moving you from the 390mm OEM rotor to a 412mm two-piece disc with a forged monobloc caliper.
Not chasing lap records? A GiroDisc or EBC two-piece rotor kit paired with race pads keeps the factory Brembo calipers and fixes 90% of street and light-track fade for a third of the price. Below we compare five R35 brake upgrades from $451 to $4,682.
Shop Our Top Pick →The best Nissan GT-R R35 brake upgrades solve the one problem that follows every Godzilla owner onto a road course: heat. With 565 to 600 horsepower, all-wheel drive, and a curb weight near 3,900 lbs, the R35 asks its brakes to scrub speed that few cars ever reach — and the factory pad compound starts fading after just three or four hard laps. At NLP Performance in Tampa, FL, the R35 brake questions we field most are simple: do I need a full big brake kit, or will better rotors and pads do the job? This comparison lays out five proven upgrades, the real rotor specs behind them, and exactly who each one is for.
Why the R35 GT-R Eats Its Brakes
The R35 GT-R is one of the hardest cars in the world on a brake system. It combines supercar velocity with near-sedan mass: the VR38DETT twin-turbo 3.8L V6 makes 480 hp in early 2009 cars, 545 hp from 2012, and 565 hp from 2017 onward (600 hp in the NISMO), while the AWD drivetrain pushes curb weight to roughly 3,850–3,930 lbs. Every one of those pounds becomes heat under braking.
Nissan fitted big Brembo monobloc calipers from the factory — six-piston front, four-piston rear — over vented, cross-drilled rotors. Early 2009–2011 CBA cars use 380mm front discs; the 2012–2016 DBA and 2017–2021 EBA cars step up to a 390mm x 32.8mm front rotor (25.5 lbs each) and a 380mm x 30mm rear. It is a serious setup on paper. The limitation is thermal: the one-piece cast rotors and factory pad compound saturate with heat after repeated stops, and once the discs cone or the pad gasses off, pedal travel grows and stopping distance stretches. That is the wall almost every tracked R35 hits.
Key Specifications
Big Brake Kit vs. Two-Piece Rotors vs. Pads: How to Choose
There are three tiers of R35 brake upgrade, and picking the right one comes down to how you actually drive the car. A big brake kit (BBK) like the Alcon RC6 replaces the caliper and rotor together, adding piston area and a larger 412mm disc for the most thermal capacity and pedal consistency — the answer for dedicated track and time-attack cars. A two-piece floating rotor (GiroDisc, EBC, Alcon rings) keeps your OEM Brembo calipers but swaps the heavy one-piece cast disc for an iron friction ring on an aluminum hat, cutting rotating and unsprung mass by roughly 15% while improving cooling and resisting the coning that warps stock rotors. A pad and rotor refresh (EBC RP-1, DBA T3 5000) is the cheapest path and fixes street and canyon fade outright.
The short version: match the upgrade to the heat you generate. Spirited street and the occasional track day rarely need a full BBK — two-piece rotors plus a race pad transform the car for a fraction of the cost. Regular wheel-to-wheel or time-attack use is where the Alcon kit earns its price.
| Kit | Type | Front Rotor | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcon RC6 6-Piston Front BBKTop Pick | Big brake kit | 412 x 36mm | Track & time-attack | $4,682 |
| GiroDisc 2-Piece Slotted Front | 2-piece rotor | 380mm (CBA) | Track days, OEM calipers | $1,372 |
| EBC SG Racing 2-Piece Front | 2-piece rotor | 390 x 34mm | Value 2-piece upgrade | $1,152 |
| DBA T3 5000 Slotted Front | Slotted disc | 390mm (DBA) | Street & light track | $547 |
| EBC RP-1 Race Front Pads | Race pad | OEM rotor | Fixing pad fade | $451 |
Front-axle pricing shown. Prices and fitment vary by R35 model year (CBA / DBA / EBA); confirm your year at checkout or with our Tampa team.
A two-piece floating rotor pairs an iron ring with an aluminum hat to shed rotating mass.
The 5 Best Brake Upgrades for the R35 GT-R
1. Alcon RC6 6-Piston Front Big Brake Kit — Best Overall
The Alcon RC6 kit is the most capable front brake you can bolt to an R35 short of a full race system. It swaps the factory Brembo for a forged six-piston monobloc caliper clamping a 412mm x 36mm two-piece floating rotor — 22mm larger and thicker than the 390mm OEM disc, with far more thermal mass and a bigger effective pad-to-rotor moment arm. Alcon offers the caliper in Grey or Sky Blue, and the two-piece design lets the iron ring expand independently of the aluminum hat, which is what keeps the pedal firm lap after lap.
Key Specifications
What We Like
- + Largest thermal capacity of any R35 front upgrade here
- + Forged monobloc caliper adds piston area and rigidity
- + Two-piece floating rotor resists coning and warping
- + Consistent pedal on repeat hard laps
Things to Consider
- – Highest cost of the group at $4,682 (front only)
- – Track-focused — overkill for a street-only R35
We fit the Alcon RC6 to a customer 2013 GT-R that was cooking OEM rotors at Sebring. Two events later, zero fade and the pedal never went long. Night and day for a track car.
— R. Alvarez, Tampa FL | Verified Buyer | ★★★★★
The forged monobloc caliper clamps a 412mm two-piece rotor - 22mm larger than OEM.
2. GiroDisc 2-Piece Slotted Front Rotors — Best for OEM Calipers
If you want most of the track benefit without touching your calipers, the GiroDisc two-piece is the enthusiast favorite. It bolts the OEM-diameter 380mm iron ring to a central aluminum hat with floating drive bobbins, trimming rotating mass versus the one-piece factory disc and letting the ring grow with heat instead of coning. The curved slots de-gas the pad and keep bite consistent as temperatures climb. Rings are replaceable, so you rebuild the rotor instead of buying a whole new one — a real cost saver for anyone who runs track days.
What We Like
- + Keeps factory Brembo calipers — direct bolt-on
- + Floating two-piece design reduces mass and coning
- + Replaceable friction rings lower long-term cost
- + Slotted faces maintain bite at high temps
Things to Consider
- – This listing fits 2007–2011 CBA cars; 2012+ needs the DBA ring
- – Rotor-only — pair with a proper track pad
DBA T3 5000 slotting is engineered to wipe and de-gas the pad on every rotation.
3. EBC SG Racing 2-Piece Front Rotors — Best Value 2-Piece
EBC undercuts the GiroDisc on price while delivering the same core benefit: a floating two-piece rotor that keeps the OEM calipers. The SG (Sports Groove) friction ring uses a 390mm x 34mm disc with a hard-anodized aluminum center and a directional groove pattern that clears dust and gas from the pad face. At roughly $1,150 for the front pair, it is the most affordable way into a true two-piece rotor for the R35, and EBC sells matching rear rotors and race pads to complete the corner.
What We Like
- + Lowest-cost two-piece floating rotor for the R35
- + 390mm x 34mm ring with anodized aluminum hat
- + Retains OEM Brembo calipers; direct fitment
- + Matching EBC rear rotors and pads available
Things to Consider
- – Front pair only — budget for rears too
- – Verify CBA vs DBA/EBA fitment for your model year
4. DBA T3 5000 Slotted Front Rotors — Best Budget Upgrade
For a street-driven R35 that sees the occasional track day, the DBA T3 5000 is the smart-money rotor. It is a two-piece assembly with DBA's Kangaroo Paw ventilation and T3 slotting on a 390mm ring, finished with a black-anodized hat. You get better cooling and cleaner pad bite than a plain OEM-replacement disc at a fraction of BBK money. Note this listing is priced per side, so a front axle is two units — still the value leader for keeping stock calipers and stopping fade on the street.
What We Like
- + Excellent cooling from Kangaroo Paw vane design
- + T3 slotting improves wet bite and pad clean-up
- + Far cheaper than a big brake kit
- + Retains OEM calipers and pad shape
Things to Consider
- – Sold per side — order two for the front axle
- – Street/light-track focus, not a full race rotor
Balance the car by upgrading the rear rotors alongside the front.
5. EBC RP-1 Race Front Brake Pads — Best Fade Fix
Often the fade you feel is the pad, not the rotor. The EBC RP-1 is a full-race compound built for high and sustained operating temperatures, with a strong initial bite that holds when a street pad would already be gassing off. On a car that only fades late in a session, a $451 pad set is the highest-value change you can make — it drops straight into the OEM Brembo calipers over your existing rotors. Pair it with any two-piece rotor above and you have a complete track-ready front corner for well under BBK pricing.
What We Like
- + Race compound rated for high, sustained temps
- + Strong, consistent bite deep into a session
- + Direct fit in OEM Brembo calipers
- + Cheapest meaningful fade fix at $451
Things to Consider
- – Race pads are noisier and dustier cold on the street
- – Front set only — add rear pads for balance
Do Not Forget the Rear Axle
A front-only upgrade shifts brake balance forward and can make the R35 feel nervous under heavy trail-braking. To keep the car neutral, pair any front rotor here with the matching EBC SG Racing rear rotors ($942) and a rear race pad. Because the R35 runs a 380mm rear disc from the factory, two-piece rear rotors deliver the same mass and cooling gains as the front — and they are cheaper. Balanced upgrades stop shorter and wear more evenly than a front-heavy setup.
Installation, Fitment, and Break-In
Two-piece rotors, DBA discs, and race pads are a direct bolt-on and typically take a competent shop 1.5–2.5 hours per axle; a full Alcon BBK adds caliper bracket install and a brake-line/bleed step, usually a half-day job. The single most important fitment detail on the R35 is model year: 2009–2011 CBA cars use the 380mm front rotor, while 2012–2016 DBA and 2017–2021 EBA cars use the 390mm front — order the ring or disc that matches your build. After install, bed the pads with a proper heat cycle (a series of moderate stops to build the transfer layer) before any hard driving. Our Tampa, FL team can confirm the exact part for your VIN before you buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Nissan GT-R R35 need a big brake kit?
Most R35 owners do not need a full big brake kit for street or occasional track use. The factory 390mm Brembo setup is strong; the weak points are pad compound and one-piece rotor coning under sustained heat. Two-piece floating rotors plus a race pad fix fade for most drivers. A big brake kit like the Alcon RC6 is worth it for regular wheel-to-wheel or time-attack use, where the 412mm rotor and six-piston caliper add real thermal capacity.
What size are the OEM GT-R R35 brake rotors?
The 2009–2011 CBA GT-R uses 380mm front rotors, and the 2012–2016 DBA and 2017–2021 EBA cars use a 390mm x 32.8mm front rotor weighing about 25.5 lbs. All R35 model years run a 380mm x 30mm rear rotor. Nissan pairs these with Brembo monobloc calipers: six-piston front and four-piston rear.
Are two-piece rotors worth it on a GT-R?
Yes, two-piece floating rotors are one of the best value upgrades for a tracked R35. By mounting an iron friction ring on an aluminum hat, they cut rotating and unsprung mass by roughly 15% versus the one-piece OEM disc, cool faster, and let the ring expand without coning or warping. GiroDisc and EBC options here keep your factory Brembo calipers and cost about a third of a full big brake kit.
Will aftermarket GT-R brakes fit under my wheels?
The two-piece rotor and pad upgrades in this guide retain the OEM Brembo calipers, so they fit under any wheel that cleared your factory brakes. The Alcon RC6 big brake kit uses a larger 412mm rotor and forged caliper, which requires at least 20-inch wheels with adequate caliper clearance. Confirm wheel fitment with our team before ordering a BBK.
How much do R35 GT-R brake upgrades cost?
Front-axle R35 brake upgrades range from about $451 for EBC RP-1 race pads to $4,682 for the Alcon RC6 six-piston big brake kit. Two-piece floating rotors land in between: roughly $1,150 for EBC and $1,372 for GiroDisc front pairs, while DBA T3 5000 slotted rotors are about $547 per side. Budget for the rear axle to keep brake balance neutral.
Which GT-R R35 brake upgrade is best for track days?
For serious track use, the Alcon RC6 6-piston front big brake kit is the best choice thanks to its 412mm two-piece rotor and forged monobloc caliper. For club track days on a budget, a GiroDisc or EBC two-piece front rotor paired with EBC RP-1 race pads delivers most of the fade resistance while keeping the OEM calipers and costing far less.
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