Brake pads worn Q's

[Mike Culpepper]

I did a search and found some good info about replacing the pads. I have a '94 Q45 and will be selling it in the next few months.Now a couple of questions......Is this a pretty easy DIY project(ie anything like replacing pads on a "regular" car? Or is it pretty "high tech" job? I replaced the water pump a while ago and that was pretty easy(with all the help I got here on the board).I may not have a chance to replace the pads for a couple of weeks, is there time here or should I park the thing til I can get to it?How do you know if ALL the pads need to be replaced.Can any shop turn the rotors, or should this only be done at the dealers?THanks ahead of time.Mike

[Q45tech]

Because of hub runout Infiniti recommends that front rotors be turned on the car with a wheel lathe.

[911/Q45]

Pads are easy. Pads worn sensor comes on well before any damage will occur. Visual inspection of the pad thickness will tell which sensor is setting off the warning, it's generally the front.

[Mike Culpepper]

Thanks,Is turning the rotors with a wheel lathe a common way of turning the rotors? In other words is this a technique unique to Infiniti? Mike

[Q45tech]

Not really common, most dealerships even GM have on car lathes.......they just don't use them opting instead for Brake Align hub shims or just doing a standard job unless owners complains.

Most owners of cars are pretty tolerant of brakes and wouldn't know a slightly warped rotor/hub if it bit them.http://www.brakealign.com/pages/product ... ress02.htm

"Resurface the front brake rotors with a DaimlerChrysler approved on-car brake lathe. If an on-car lathe is not available at the dealership, the rotor resurfacing MUST be sublet to a facility with an approved on car lathe"http://dodgeram.info/tsb/2003/05-008-03.htm

" Nissan TSB NTB00-088a says that brake vibration from the front discs of 2000-01 Maximas can be cured by leaving the original rotors on the hub and using an on-car brake lathe to true them."

http://members.aol.com/carleyw...k.pdf

The Q front brakes are light for the cars weight 28 mm x 11"

[Q451990]

In my exprience, the rears typically wear out first. You can manually pull the sensor, or just unplug it and check for no continuity on the pad side with an ohm meter.

Heath

[atlanta_shooter]

Just be sure the wear indicator tabs are there...I recently caused some minor scoring on my left rear rotor because the wear indicator tabs had broken off??? I was actually blown away at the ease of replacing the pads...much easier than any other car I have ever changed pads on. Might not be a bad time to change your fluid if that hasn't been done.

I would not recommend the old method of "bleeding" with a friend pumping the brake pedal and you opening the bleed valve...read an article somewhere that this can harm the master cylinder/booster. I would recommend either a vacum or "gravity" bleed, Good luck!

P.S. here is a link confirming Dennis' recommendation on using the "on car lathes"....goes on to say that rotors "warping" is misconception, usually lateral runout, as Dennis mentioned, (or Disc Thickness Variation) is culprit for pulsation.

http://www.performanceoiltechn...s.htm

BTW, I just realized the Q has electronic wear sensors, not the metal tabs the J30 has....although it is my understanding they are otherwise same size rotors, etc.