Thanks Heath for the useful suggestion on smearing high-temperature "brake caliper grease" on the slide pins & spring-steel slots.
I agree picture slow the process down (way way down). For one, lighting conditions dictate a LOT. And, annotating the photos is WORK! But, by adding relevant pictures, I try to IMPROVE OUR READER'S EXPERIENCE. For you mechanics, maybe those nearly featureless words in the FSM are all you need; but for non-professional amateur DIYs like I am, a good set of clear pictures gives me the insight (& courage) to tackle each once-in-a-decade job much more than FSM bland descriptions like "remove engine" do.
Back to brakes, Dennis' OEM point is understood. The OEM has the money to potentially test each pad with each automobile (but does Nissan REALLY test new pads made in 2004 against a 1990 Q45 every year)? They build 'em to spec right? Can't Raybestos or Bendix obtain that spec? The NY trial lawyers would be swarming over them if they didn't, wouldn't they?
I am never one who blindly believes if you pay more you get more. If you pay more for the equivalent part, all you did was pay more.
I really hate to pay more for something just because I'm merely afraid to buy the apparent equivalent at some other place. For example, my last set of pads was no problem to me, (admittedly one who's easy on the brakes). Now, maybe there was something I don't know ... something that only experience would tell me. Experience I'll never get on my own.
All I know is my hand-written drive log notes they were "Raybestos PG Plus 100% Asbestos Free" pads & the work order merely notes the mechanic "spliced the right-front & right-rear brake wear sensors." BTW, I see no mention if the 4 shims, 4 shim covers, 4 piston seals, 4 dust covers, 4 copper washers, 2 air bleeder caps, & 4 pin boots (which are all mandatory replacement parts according to page BR-18 of the 1990 Q45 FSM) were replaced. So, I'd rather do the job myself (if I can) - because I can do it right. But, that means I have to choose the friction material this time.
That's why I'm trying to ascertain the meaning of Q45tech's' words so very carefully. Dennis has the experience & knowledge of a thousand of me (e.g., he was right on the mark on my fuel pump controller repair, as was Heath on sanding down the sunvisor collar). Then again, I innocently bought an el cheapo tap & die set to do the sunvisor threading job Dennis suggested & (because I didn't know any better) just this week had to purchase a better Craftsman set (which actually "felt" and "cut" better in my hands), so, caveat emptor. Point is, the kind of Experience & Knowledge Dennis and others on NICO have is worth a LOT.
Then again, I can't help but quote what Consumer Reports lists in the October 2000 article on Brake Shops which clearly opines "When we tested common name-brand pads last year, all performed competently. We didn't find much difference in stopping distances between the cheapest and costliest."
However, I guess to confuse the issue, CR also noted, somewhat ambigiously, "still, it's a good idea to buy higher-priced pads, which tend to dissipate heat better and could extend the discs' life" (which irks me because of the lack of specific detail from CR in that last generic statement is a bit irresponsible for a consumer reporting agency).
More recently, in September 2003, in a CR article titled "Brake Pads: What to Look For?", CR ominously warned "there are no government regulations covering replacement brake pads." They then list the four types of brake pads available today:
- Semimetallic ("These pads are more durable and have excellent heat transfer, but also wear down rotors faster, have intrusive noise characteristics, and may not perform as well under low-temperature conditions.")
- Low-metallic NAO (better "heat transfer and braking" but "more brake dust" & "slightly noisier.")
- Nonasbestos organic ("softer and create less noise" & "wear faster" & "create more dust.")
- Ceramic ("more expensive" & "cleaner and quieter, and offer excellent braking characteristics without wearing down the rotors.")[/list=1] Furthermore, this recent CR article noted there are two voluntary certification standards we should look for
- Dual Dynamometer Differential Effectiveness Analysis (D3EA certification), and,
- Brake Effectiveness Evaluation Procedure (BEEP certification)
Apparently "D3EA tests are proprietary and more expensive, but they're also completely independent and tougher to pass." according to CR. Ominously, CR warned "NHTSA tests in the 1980s concluded there was a significant reduction in braking performance when there was a differential between front and rear replacement pads as compared with original factory parts.". Hmmmmm...
They explain that to mean only certified pads meet OEM specifications; therefore (since we usually replace only one axle at a time) we should always replace with pads that meet OEM specs (either D3EA or BEEP, apparently).
Whew! Now how does that help me decide? To my dismay, there is NO MENTION of D3EA or BEEP certification anywhere in the "Raybestos PG Plus" front pads I picked up (for $64.90 including tax). I called the "Brake Parts Inc, McHenry, IL" number on the package (800-323-0354) & they said they'd send me a "Material Safety Data Sheet" for part number "PGD486M". I'll let NICO know what that contains if it is relevant information.
I ascertained that "Joe" is apparently http://www.infinitipartsusa.com aka http://www.everythingnissan.com or 888-216-5328. His web site (and that of the almost exact duplicate, http://www.nissanparts.org at 888-384-1723) merely lists the pads without going into the type & certification, the price being (before shipping & taxes)- 1990 Q45 Front Pads: $ 64.49
- 1990 Q45 Rear Pads: $ 56.24
- 1990 Q45 Front Rotor: $ 81.21
- 1990 Q45 Rear Rotor: $ 81.21
I'd normally patronize my local guy; but the weight of the NICO recommendation might easily outweigh my inherent loyalty if I could really see proof Joe's pads are better for my Q.
I did post a question to Joe on his web site asking some of these questions. By the way, I could NOT find a kit on his site for the mandatory 26 standard replacement parts (as noted in the FSM); do you know how to find that kit on his web site?
My decision is leaning toward going with brake parts from Joe ... if for nothing else, you NICO guys recommend him. It will be a bit tougher on me since I don't yet know which axle it is (nothing wrong with doing both I guess) and I don't know the status of the discs yet (no sense on putting good pads on untrued discs). Also, I don't know if Joe sells the mandatory hardware parts kit either. I guess I'll wait for his response to make a decision.
By the way, for a DIY with calipers & a dial gage (a present when I was a kid from my Dad who worked in a machine shop), how would I check the rotors for runout as shown in the 1990 Q45 FSM on page BR-20? Is there a jig I can buy at Joe's web site that holds the dial gage in place as I manually rotate the discs?