Front Rotors/Disk suggestion?

[CDNicecube]

Hello
My dealer says my disk and pads up front are done. I believe them as I changed the rear a year ago and the front were "getting there".

I purchase AKEBONO pads for the front already. What disc suggestion do you have for me? I am not too aggressive and am looking for what already works well with my EX35. I am looking for the same "feel" as what the OEM provides. but I am open to any brand! (Who makes the OEM disk anyway?)

Please let me know which brands of rotors you have gone with on your EX and your impression please?

Thanks

Ice

[Li'l Truckie]

I like the EBC slotted and dimpled with Yellow Stuff for my FX and Red Stuff for my M. Yip these might be aggressive, but a big improve over OE. Down side is brakes and rotors only last about 24K-26K miles.

I would look for a slotted only rotor for up front to go with Akebono pads.

Oh, and your salt, sand, potassium and magnesium (and whatever else is laying around) snow melt will take off the cadmium coating over a winter or two. So I would ask about how well the protective coating will stand up to your environment.

[NJGuy]

I haven't changed out my front pads and rotors yet. However, my wife has recently reported that our EX has started to exhibit some front end vibration during hard braking. Given that the car has about 75K miles on it, I'm planning to replace the pads and rotors soon.

1. If you're not looking to get OEM, the three aftermarket rotors I would recommend would be the Raybestos Advanced Technology, Centric Premium, and Raybestos Professional Grade. I can't say I've used them on my Infiniti, but I have used them on other vehicles with no issues. I haven't tried the Centric High Carbon 125 series rotors, but I would consider them. I think that Brembo rotors are known to be pretty good too, but I haven't seen them for sale at my favorite auto parts sites. This time around I think I'll buy the Raybestos AT rotors for my next brake job.

2. As long as you stick with the standard rotor blanks (non-slotted, non-drilled), the difference in "feel" would probably be imperceptible to most people for pretty much any aftermarket rotor. I'd think that it would be easier to tell the difference between OEM and some aftermarket pads though.

3. Not sure who makes the OEM disk, or where they're made; my best guess is Kiriu Corp in Japan.

[CustomLowz]

I am running powerstop pads and rotors all around on my 2011. They feel great and the car stops great, maybe even better than with the stock brakes.

[EXceptional]

Bought a pair of Canadian Tire Rotors, the ones with that goofy orbital groove that goes around and around, that were on a two for one sale... and some NAPA brake pads.

Our EX35 had the shakes really bad... but not no more! It's 100% again. Nice and quiet too.

Works for me.

[CDNicecube]

Hi ,
These are ATE branded disks, EXceptional. Yesterday, I too just bought and install up front the ATE disks / rotors along with Akebono pads. The ATE disks were half price this weekend, but still at 79$ each, not cheap. The dealer wanted $700 for front disk and pads! I did it all for $230 in parts.

First impression: there is, initially, less "bite" but overall the bite is way more progressive and linear than with the OEM combo. I liked the disks so much that I wanted to get rear ATE pads but they don't make any for our EX35. I'll have to find something else for the rear. ATE rotors are coated and not supposed to rust, which is a reason why I like them so much.

So I have the Akebono pads all around and new rotors up front only.

On a unrelated note, allow me to vent. Last Monday was a 78k km service.... They changed the power steering fluid did some checks, oils and filter and also "recalibrated the engine" (they say it was necessary after they did a full intake manifold and fuel system/injections/engine cleanup). All this for 598$ including taxes. They said they also changed the cabin air filter but today, I took it out and it looked like crap: dirty and full of leafs. It looked like it was never changed! And they charged me. They also forgot to use my mobil1 oil and filter (still in the trunk). It seems they used their oil filter....not sure about the oil (if it was changed). So bottom line, I discovered that my dealership is criminally dishonest! I suspected they did not do all the services I had paid for in the last 4 years (oil looking very dark after 5 days of a dealer OC, etc), but I could not prove it. Now I can. I am pissed off!

[NJGuy]

Hi ,
These are ATE branded disks, EXceptional. Yesterday, I too just bought and install up front the ATE disks / rotors along with Akebono pads. The ATE disks were half price this weekend, but still at 79$ each, not cheap. The dealer wanted $700 for front disk and pads! I did it all for $230 in parts.

First impression: there is, initially, less "bite" but overall the bite is way more progressive and linear than with the OEM combo. I liked the disks so much that I wanted to get rear ATE pads but they don't make any for our EX35. I'll have to find something else for the rear. ATE rotors are coated and not supposed to rust, which is a reason why I like them so much.

So I have the Akebono pads all around and new rotors up front only.

Were you able to see on the box where the ATE rotors were manufactured? I'm just curious to know.

Also, please let us know how they perform after you have a couple of hundred miles on the new pads. Not sure if you like to do the 'bedding in' process, but I'm interested to see if there's any difference when they're fully broken in.

On a unrelated note, allow me to vent. Last Monday was a 78k km service.... They changed the power steering fluid did some checks, oils and filter and also "recalibrated the engine" (they say it was necessary after they did a full intake manifold and fuel system/injections/engine cleanup). All this for 598$ including taxes. They said they also changed the cabin air filter but today, I took it out and it looked like crap: dirty and full of leafs. It looked like it was never changed! And they charged me. They also forgot to use my mobil1 oil and filter (still in the trunk). It seems they used their oil filter....not sure about the oil (if it was changed). So bottom line, I discovered that my dealership is criminally dishonest! I suspected they did not do all the services I had paid for in the last 4 years (oil looking very dark after 5 days of a dealer OC, etc), but I could not prove it. Now I can. I am pissed off!

Sorry to hear that. Bad apples like this are the reason that the word 'stealership' has come about. One of the things I like about the '08-'10 models is that most of the maintenance items do not specifically require the dealership service dept. to perform them. While I hope you get a fair resolution from the fraud of the dealership, at least you also have the option having the maintenance of your EX handled by you or a trusted independent mechanic.

[CDNicecube]

Made in China. Ate seems to make rotors for centric and even Bremdo and a few others as well, as there was a list of "parts numbers equivalency" on the box.

[NJGuy]

Thanks.

[CDNicecube]

I know it has been just a few days, but I drove a lot since and I really like the buttersmooth stops provided by the ATE rotors, and Akebono pads. Really smooth, progressive and steady braking. I wish ATE made rear brakes for our cars also. Perhaps I'll try Wagner or another brand for the rear.