Front brake pads

[QX4ME]

For the first time at 84K miles, I start to hear pad indicator a little, and see the rotor got some minor grooves. Midas says my rotors are not bad enough to need resurfacing, just need new pads. They want $199 for front pad replacement with ceramic pads, lifetime warranty.

I am not sure if I want factory pads or ceramic at auto parts stores. I don't think factory pads are ceramic type. My coworker says it's always a good idea to resurface the rotor to have better match with new pads, for a little bit loss of thickness.

Expert opinions? Thanks.

[Chuck Tribolet]

Factory pads. DIY. It's relatively easy because Nissan designed in a nice swing up caliper. You do need to be able to push the calipers back in. I use
a tool that looks like a little tiny scissor jack. The master cylinder fluid level will go up as you as you push them back so keep an eye on the level.

I've got 203,000 miles and haven't had to resurface the rotors. At 83,000, as long as you haven't had metal-to-metal contact, you should be fine.
Get the FSM, it has all the torques and instructions.

[QX4ME]

Thanks. Factory pads make sense. It has lasted me for 84K miles already. I will probably have my mechanic do the replacement. I replaced front pad only one time, my 86 Sentra 20 years ago. I am doing less and less on cars now.

[ltsnotme]

Factory pads. DIY. It's relatively easy because Nissan designed in a nice swing up caliper. You do need to be able to push the calipers back in. I use
a tool that looks like a little tiny scissor jack. The master cylinder fluid level will go up as you as you push them back so keep an eye on the level.

I've got 203,000 miles and haven't had to resurface the rotors. At 83,000, as long as you haven't had metal-to-metal contact, you should be fine.
Get the FSM, it has all the torques and instructions.

Why not ceramic?

[yeldogt]

The factory pads are very high quality and when you get them from one of the online dealers they are priced correctly also. Getting a harder pad will reduce dust -- but the harder pad will change the braking characteristics and be more aggressive in cutting into the rotor.

The important thing with rotors is to make sure they are within minimum specification -- you need to measure yours. Often, if you see any kind of a lip .......the rotor will out of specification. Most vented rotors don't have enough "meat" to cut -- most manufacturers recommend replacement.


The last time I did front brakes on one of the Pathfinders I used Zimmerman rotors -- very nice and equal to the Nissan rotors in my opinion -- many of the aftermarket rotors are not worth the trouble. With the added cost of removing the front rotors on a 4wd Pathfinder -- I don't risk any problems and just replace the rotors.

I normally open the bleeder and flush out the line when I do the brakes - personal preference.