Brakes.

[I30T]

Alright, here goes. I've got a 98 I30T, with about 83k miles on it.

My brakes have been squeaking a lot lately, like the past two weeks, only in low speed-traffic conditions and when parking. However, i have 70% brake pad life and when i took it to get it looked at, they said they didn't see anything wrong with it. They sprayed $2 worth of stuff on the pads, and said that should help for a little while, and if the noise got worse i'd have to replace my rotors. That's something i don't want to do right now.

any help is appreciated, thanks.

[VenCountyQ]

Brake pads have been re-designed in the last few years with chamfered edges and a new coating for the metal that has greatly reduced squeal. Disk brake quiet coating and shims are rarely needed with the new pads. Even though the pads may not be worn completely, you may be able to eliminate the noise by replacing them.

If you feel pulsing in the steering wheel when you apply the brakes though, your rotors are warped and will need to be turned ( around $10 per rotor ) or replaced.

[autotech43]

The rear parking brake cables have been known to bind (sticking) and when this happens it creates a loud groaning type noise when at persay parking lot speeds. There is a new style of parking brake cables along with a new style spring clip to help keep the pad away from the rotor to resolve this condition. This may not be your problem, but I would have those checked. This condition worsens when the weather gets cold due to the shrinking of the casing that surrounds the cable. Another point, I have seen some vehicles where the cable gets smashed (distorted) when the lift for raising the vehicle is set in the wrong position bending the brackets.

[Jeff Williams]

Don't know if you have Nissan pads, or not, but on my 1995 Maxima, every pad I bought from Autozone squeeked.

I ended up buying the Nissan ones from the local dealership. The squeek went away.

[Rex]

My brakes NEVER squeaked until I had the dealership replace my fronts. Since then, they squeak ALL the time for the first 5 to 10 minutes of my drive everyday, everwhere. Did I mention they do this all the time. Dealer tried a couple things and offered to replace the pads, even though they thought that wouldn't make any difference.

Don't mean to hi-jack your thread, but I'd love some help stopping my squeaking brakes.

[maxnix]

Just as a note to the terminally dumb, like myself, the 1994-1996 G50 Q45 abandoned the brake sensors, although the rear brake sensor is shown in the wiring diagram. As it was explained to me, only the 1990-1993 passenger front pads had the sensor.

I installed the Stillen front rotors from Joe with factory pads (now $64 for the front!). Good so far on break-in.

The dealer had previously installed one of the pad clips upside down, so the indicator could not flex (feeler tab at top intead of bottom of pad, so it could not flex away from rotor surface) when the rotor was rotating forward, thus ensuring the rotors would be gouged. Also, the insulator (pad between the metal clip and friction pad) was installed on the outside of the metal clip on this pad. Stupid mistake, or intentional? I'll let you reach your own conclusion. The other three pads were installed correctly.

[Rex]

So my 94 Q45 doesn't have the sensors? If so, what operates the "Brake Pads Worn" message in the MC?

[VenCountyQ]

I think the sensors were dropped mid-year in 1994. My Q was manufactured in 7/93 and has the electrical sensors.

[Rex]

1/94 here and last time the message came on they checked both and said it was the front. Replaced, turned, etc.

Message is back, so I'm going to pull both pass side and check them. Think it's going to be DIY this time.

[maxnix]

Joe knows the cutoff dates on production. Sorry I didn't note them as I was more focused on finding the part of the harness I assumed was missing. Since 1993 was such a short production run and 1994 started so early, that some 1994 have the sensors and some do not doesn't surprise me. __________________Brian1995 Q45 & Q45t

Discover the power of the button!

[szh]

Just as a note to the terminally dumb, like myself, the 1994-1996 G50 Q45 abandoned the brake sensors, although the rear brake sensor is shown in the wiring diagram. As it was explained to me, only the 1990-1993 passenger front pads had the sensor.

That is interesting! I never let the pads get down to (or below) 2mm, so I have never noticed that the warning message is not present in my 1995 Q45.

I gotta start reading the Service Manual in depth sometime. Although I will probably do the M45 first ... (it is over 3000 pages long!)

Z

[Jeff Williams]

Since 1993 was such a short production run and 1994 started so early, that some 1994 have the sensors and some do not doesn't surprise me.

My 1994 Q has a Mfg. date of 2/93!

[Rex]

I was at AutoZone this week picking up the "least expensive pads" for my friends leased Mazda MPV. The cheapest was a brand called Albany and they were $16.99. Again these were for his van not the Q.

For giggles, I asked if they had Albany brand ones for the Q, he went and looked and they did, $28.99 and they come with the sensor .

I'll be getting my pads from Joe, but the guy said the only "bad thing" about the Albany brand of brakes are they shorten the life of a rotor.

So, I ponder would a pad that wears out the rotor be so bad on the Q?

[90Q45blue]

My main problem with aftermarket pads is that I always got that squeaking noise every time i hit the brakes. OEM pads are the only ones where I haven't had this problem.

Nick

[DAEDALUS]

So, I ponder would a pad that wears out the rotor be so bad on the Q?

Define "bad". Perhaps "cost inefficient" would be a better term. You save a little money ($20?) on the pads, but then you have to buy new rotors much more often, which cost more.

[Rex]

Actually, I was thinking the other way around??

How long does everyone expect the OEM pads/rotors to last?

For some reason I was thinking rotors don't last more than 2 or 3 sets of pads? The math may still NOT work, just wondering out loud.

[Jeff Williams]

I put he Albany pads on the front, out of necessity. I was in a pinch, and they were the only set close. They don't squeak, amazingly, (I re-used ALL the plates and spacers, which reduce squeaking, and help even out pad wear. I also put a little pin greasee between the plates, for extra insurance) the and the car stops just fine. The rotors have been turned twice, since I have put them on, and when I inspected them, the wear seemed about normal.

I am not endorsing these pads, but just relaying my experience. If it is the only game in town, don't be afraid of using them.

My future plans inlcude getting all my parts through Joe.