2012 and 2013 Nissan GT-R Upgrade Parts. Skidplate, Brake Rotors, Exhaust

If you own a 2013 Nissan GT-R, and are looking for some parts to upgrade the performance, looks, and braking, STILLEN has a number of parts available. Everything from the AP Racing 390 mm x 34 mm 72 vane iron rotors, to the AP Racing Carbon Ceramic Brake rotor set,  a no drill license plate bracket, exhaust, and a skidplate to help protect your front lip.

Fitted to a 2009 GT-R, also fits 2013

More than 1/2 the US has requirements to place a front and rear license plate on your vehicle. For some cars, like the Nissan GT-R, that means drilling holes into your front bumper. Many owners want to comply with the law, but don't like the conventional mounting method.


STILLEN has been producing tow hook license plate brackets for several years now. The tow hook is located in the front bumper area, and allows for easy removal in case you have to use the tow hook.

OEM 2009 Midpipe and 2012 Midpipe

The Nissan GT-R is a quiet car, even with 545 horsepower. It has two turbos, followed by two catalytic converters in the downpipes, then the midpipe has two catalytic converters, and a resonator in it. From the midpipe the exhaust travels to the back of the car, where there are two mufflers that lead to the four exhaust tips. 

STILLEN GT-R Midpipe

STILLEN GT-R Exhaust

2012 Nissan GT-R Carbon Ceramic Brakes.

 In 2012, Nissan upgraded the front Nissan GT-R brake rotors. When run hard, the 2009-2011 brakes often cracked. At 380 mm and 34 mm thick, they are very large brake rotors, stopped by 6 piston calipers, and huge brake pads.  For 2012 and 2013, the calipers and the brake pads stayed the same, but the front rotors were upgraded to 390 mm x 32.8 mm thick.  STILLEN/AP Racing has the ultimate upgrade for the Nissan GT-R brakes, carbon ceramic rotors(CCM). The CCM's come in at 38 lbs lighter than the factory brake rotors, and are unique in the aftermarket world. Fitted to some of the most exotic supercars, and even the SpecV version of the Nissan GT-R, CCM's are what you look to, when you are looking for the very best. These 400mm disc assemblies are  larger than the standard OE iron discs, yet reduce weight by nearly half. This is rotating and unsprung weight, leading to improvements in all performance categories: acceleration, handling and braking.

STILLEN and AP Racing have been offering 380 mm x 34 mm front, and 380mm x 30 mm rear bolt on replacement disks for the Nissan GT-R for several years.  The AP Racing 48 vane curved rotors, have been proven by owners in the US, often lasting 5 times as long as the factory rotors under harsh track conditions. 

For 2012 in the US, Nissan increased the diameter of the front brake rotors on the GT-R, but they went thinner(32.6mm) to keep the weight the same.  In a car with braking rotor issues, weighing in at 3829 lbs, this didn't make much sense.  Why not make the rotor 390 mm, and keep the same thickness 34 mm, as the early car?  AP Racing, and STILLEN have answered this question, with an all new 72 vane, 12 attachment point(vs 10 stock), 390 mm x 34 mm rotor that will bolt onto a 2009-2013 Nissan GT-R.

These discs are from a new AP Racing casting specifically designed for heavy sports cars. It uses a 72 curve vane design, using the same OE air gap of 17mm and increasing mass with thicker walls. The result is a disc with higher thermal capacity which is needed on a vehicle that is heavily tracked, very hard to design effective air ducting and sees high disc temperatures.

One other area that can be addressed in the 2013 GT-R factory braking system, is an upgrade from rubber lines, to stainless steel brake lines. 

The 2012 and 2013 Nissan GT-R uses the same brake pad shape as the 2009-2011 car. There are a number of brake pad compounds available.  You pick a brake pad compound, by how you use the car.

CCM brake pad left. Stock GT-R pad right

There are some changes to the suspension of the 2013 Nissan GT-R, but even with good stock parts, there are rooms for improvement. These upgraded sway bars have quickly become one of the most popular STILLEN products for the Nissan GT-R. By increasing the stiffness of the bar and offering multiple different mounting configurations, STILLEN has been able to come up with a 5-way adjustable sway bar with settings that any driver from street to the track will appreciate.

2012 GT-R with STILLEN Front Lip Spoiler

To enhance and protect the front lip, STILLEN makes several products that are available for the 2013 Nissan GT-R. Nissan lowered the drag coefficient of 2013 car, and changed the front lower lip assembly.



If you are looking to protect the front lip, but do not want to alter the appearance of the car, STILLEN makes a urethane skidplate.  Replacing, or repairing the front lip spoiler, the lowest part of the car can cost thousands of dollars.

GT-R Skidplate installed