ok guys, i need your input

[nismo1219]

first off - i've pretty much set my mind to adding a greddy emanage ultimate for my max! i have heard alot of good things about it and what all it lets you do for your car. i was wondering if anyone has any experience with one of these units and could give me some "first-hand" opinions on how it works, and whether or not they like it, etc.

second - my "installer" got arrested last night! he was in another customer's truck ('03 king ranch f-150) and totalled it. he is now charged with 4 counts of vehicular assalut, dui, and refusal to take the blood test. so...needless to say i need another installer!! by the way, i am now beginning to wonder about my brake job he did for me. ever since i got my new setup installed i noticed a noise when barely on the brakes (sounds like geese honking) but goes away when they warm up. its really bad in the rain when they get wet. is this a bad thing, or just chaulk it up to the material of the pads (they are ceramic, i believe)?? can anyone help with this? maybe they are just the pads, i dont know. if so, can anyone suggest an alternative? i like the ones i have now, besides the squeal sound...especially the virtual no dust part!

third - if anyone is around the nashville, tn area and knows of a good, reputable shop where i can get "tuned" and dynoed...PLEASE let me know! im desparate here, lol! also, since im looking for a new installer, does anyone know of a good, reputable body shop that can do custom work?? most bodyshops i've been to wont do custom, only oe. and the one i did manage to find did a suck-arse install for me before so im not using them anymore. any help???

[nismo1219]

anybody??

[Beancooker]

for the brakes, did you use the silicone anti squeal? I did a 4 wheel brake job on my car and forgot to use it. I ended up doing it again the next day.

Greddy EMU, heard lots of good, a little bad. No 1'st hand experience. I've been following this thread for a long time, might interest you?:http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=465174 Sorry it's at the .org.

[audtatious]

anybody??

For a good mechanic in your area, you may want to create a regional thread.

Brakes? I have no idea other than what BC said.

Sorry

[nismo1219]

who knows, thinking back my mechaninc (as stated above) was prolly "under the influence" when he did the install so i would guess no to the anit-squeel. could the dealership put some on when i go in for my maintainance check??

[maxhopper]

Ben, just my advise...start learning how to do this stuff yourself. You're a bright guy, and I know you wouldn't have any problem picking things up - you just need someone to show you the basics, and make you comportable to step up to more advanced projects.

Give me a call if you've got something you want to do (other than the engine management stuff), and I'll do my best to help you out via email, or come down and help in person.

[nismo1219]

ok, could you give me some "directions/advice" about how to go about putting on some anti-squeal? which brand would be best orare they the same? not having any on since before, could that have caused any damage to the rotors, pads, etc?? whatever you can tell me, id appreciate it! oh by the way scott, you remember our trip home from nopi right?? remember what you said i should do to my installer?? well, looks like i wont have to after all!! dont know if you saw above but he got arrested for dui, 4 counts of vehicular assault, and failure to take blood test. he totalled the customer's car he was working on at the time!! ironic huh??

[maxhopper]

I can tell you that when I first bought my Max, it had aftermarket pads. It squealed and drove me crazy. I eventually switched back to OEM pads with the pad attachments (metal clips), and haven't had a problem since.

For the anti-squeal, any of the normal blue colored ones will work. Don't buy any sythetic bullstuff they may try to sell you.

Jack up the car, and remove one wheel at a time. Undo the two caliper bolts (12 or 14mm) on the back side of the rotor. Remove the bolts from the caliper. Remove the caliper from the rotor. Look at how the pad fits into the caliper, and see all the places where the pad backing contacts the caliper. Remove one pad at a time and smear the anti-squeal on the pad backing anywhere contact is made. Put the pads back into the caliper, and place the caliper back on the rotor (it may be a tight fit, but it will go on). Reinsert the two caliper bolts, and tighten them down. Move on to the next wheel.

[Beancooker]

You may be able to see if it was put on by looking at the brakes. Look to see if there is any gooeyish caulking looking stuff on the pads. Around where the pads touch the caliper. I'd post a pic for you but my Max won't be home 'till Friday.

[nismo1219]

should i worry about going to get the wheels realigned after having removed them?? is there any specific strength to retorque the bolts down to?? i am thinking very strongly about making this a "mini-project" for me to do this weekend. while im in there, i might as well repaint the calipers with a fresh coat!

[Beancooker]

I torqued mine down as tight as I could with a 10" handle.

Repainting the calipers requires bleeding the brakes after you remove/replace them. But if you're comfortable with that word up!

[maxhopper]

Or you can use a brush.

[nismo1219]

Or you can use a brush.

last time i just wrapped everything and sprayed the calipers. it came out pretty good but looking back it couldve been done better. i think im gonna take matt's advice from nopi and just spray the paint into the can's top and brush it on. that way the pads wont get painted as well, which should make things turn out a little better! i just hope it quits raining!!

[audtatious]

I think it took me a whopping 10 minutes to paint my calipers (I have plenty of room doing it through the spokes of my 18's)

Don't get paint on the back of the pad or Scott will call you an idiot like he did me

[nismo1219]

Don't get paint on the back of the pad or Scott will call you an idiot like he did me

i dont think i could handle that! my self-esteem is just way too fragile! LMAO