Front break squeal

[jbriner1]

Does anyone have any input on the pad retaining clips that are located on the front breaks? Here is the issue... when I first bought my 01 pathy, had a bit of a squeal in the front whenever the breaks were applied. (Bought it used and had warranty on it for 3 years) Flash forward 6-8 months after several visits to the dealership with no resolution..(brake dust was favorite response) squealing ends. Flash forward again, I'm replacing the pads myself and notice a nice groove in my rotor and the pad retaining clips are oddly shaped. I buy new clips and replace them with the new pads and everything is golden for about a month. Now, I'm getting a very annoying squeal again. Will pull fronts of tomorrow to look at the clips, but suspect this is the problem. Has anyone else suffered from this and did you get it fixed?????

[Buzzman]

What if anything did you do with the rotors?Did you just install new pads over the old rotors? Not a great idea if you did.

[jbriner1]

had them turned.... only a small groove in them, and after pulling the front tire, those **** clips are rubbing again.... any input?

[typhus]

Might be a stupid question, but are you sure you got the right clips when you replaced them the first time?Have you replaced the rotors, or are they the originals?Sometimes replacement rotors, depending on where you get them, arent the exact OEM size.

[02pathy]

when doing a brake job for the first time on a car u just got always replace rotors and pads together with good quality stuff. every thing has to be cleaned and free of depree, wagner brake pads comes with new shims, putting new pads on old rotors can sometimes be tricky because of difference in material. the rotor could of been second line cheap quality and thats why the squeal

[jbriner1]

well, sorry gone so long, thanks for the input... rotors haven't been changed as far as I know(bought) pathy used w/48k. I'm fairly certain the clips are correct.. I asked for OEM and they were the exact size as the old ones I pulled off they were just not worn down. I also did clean the heck out of the the rotors w/ copious use of the break cleaner spray.. What I'm hearing is that no one has any problem with their clips??? If that is the case, I will get some new ones from somewhere else (Autozone) last time... they are pretty cheap.thanks again

[Adnan]

i have the same problem in my pathfinder

the breaks are fine and all but whenever the brakes are cooli get the nastiest looks imaginable..

after driving for 5-10 mins enough to warm them up... its good

[jbriner1]

glad to know that I'm not the only one w/ this issue..

[Adnan]

lol oh yea

i think its a common glitch...i know the bmw x3s have a similar problemas well

[BryanWSD]

I just had my pathy (02 LE) in the shop for an oil change and had the same question. Guy at my shop said that it's the OEM brakes that are the problem. I've got 8 mm left on the front and 6 mm on the rear. Both do a little squealing (he said you start with about 10mm).

It's very annoying, but considering I have 80% left of the front and 60% on the rear, he recommended just dealing with it for a while longer and replacing with some high quality, aftermarket brakes / rotors on the next brake service.

[fueler]

emphasis on "high quality".... i wasted my time with cheap brake parts which failed prematurely, i thought i was saving money but ended up spending more... switched it up to Brembo brake rotors with Hawk HPS pads and no complaints since....

my advice is do it right the first time, it will b e cheaper

[InfinQX4]

Have the same problem when everything has cooled down. Hardly noticeable here in the summer, but the winter, they talk back something nasty until I’m down the road a bit.

With 108K + miles, everything has been replaced a few times, but the noise stays.

[AlabamaDan]

I've got a simliar problem and post it here to let you know I've searched.

I've never had a problem with squealing brakes and now I do. At first I was angry thinking that I needed new pads after only a year, now it seems I'm baffled.

Yesterday I pulled the front tires and looked at the brakes expecting to change them. Much to my surprise they look fine. Must have 75% of the material left. So, I thought it must be the rear...same thing there. What causes squealing when you don't need pads? It's like nails on a chalkboard!

[AlabamaDan]

Great Article!

http://www.aa1car.com/library/tr996.htm

[fueler]

i used thermoquiet (federal mogul) pads before and they really are quiet. (but they get brake fade)

now i have the hawk HPS pads on brembo rotors, they were quiet at first but now that i have maybe 10k miles on them, they have gotten loud when cold.... still very quiet when warmed up... still havent felt and brake fade with the new setup.

[Phantom01Pathfinder]

i thought i was the only one with squeaky brakes, haha. mine always squeal when cold...it takes about a mile for them to quiet down. i was thinking of getting new pads and rotors anyways cuz im just about due...dont know what to get yet tho...is the brembo rotors with hawk pads the best combo? thanks

[nissandoms47]

Which retaining clips are you talking about? The ones that are in the bracket that the pads "slide" on or the ones that hold the 2 pads together? When I was doing my lift and all that my rotors were warped so i replaced them and lost the clips that supposidly hold the pads together. Never replaced them and ive been fine. My brakes dont squeal either. Maybe replace your rotors and use some brake quiet? Unless something is terribly wrong the nissan brakes on the front arnt that hard to get quiet. Also depending on the pads. I think like fueler said the favorite choice ive seen among pathy owners would be hawk or the wagner thermoquiets or whatever. I still have the stock pads and just new rotors.