Small tang on front brake pad ??

[oldmako]

Just received a box of front pads for my 99 and ONE of the four pads has a small metal tab or tang on it. Not too sure about this little mofo as I have not torn the old ones off yet. Is there only one or has the other one fallen off in shipment?

Whatzit?

[qship96]

Just 1,unfortunatly...it is a wear sensor that contacts rotor and produces noise to let you know pads will soon need replacing.

[oldmako]

Well that's the most low tech thing I've ever heard of on this ride! Thanks.

[3Q Jay]

1990 to 1994 (maybe very first 95 models) have an electronic wear sensor. now THAT (like many things on the 1st gen (or G50 as we like to call 'em around here) was waaay tech for it's time (even though it's a simple circuit).as for the spring clip that was part of the cost cutting starting in the 1994 calendar year--my Nov 1994 build G50 has the spring clips whereas the 1994 (july 1993 build) still has electronic wear sensors. When replacing, install the clip shoe at the inboard position on the passenger side. that is always (barring some mechanical anomaly) the pad that wears first of the four. same story at either front or rear axle.

[oldmako]

Thanks Jay,

Good info as I would have just scratched my head trying to figure out where to install that pad. I applaud Nissan for tossing the electrogeewhiz in favor of something lightweight and foolproof. I tend to be a bit of a minimalist when it comes to fluff-stuff that I will have to replace eventually. Hard to believe that I bought a Q with all it's electronics! It is however, the nicest auto I've ever owned. A nice combination of looks, performance and comfort.

When I see minivans and SUV's with electric doors I just cringe. Why you'd want to haul around all that weight and eventually have a huge bill to replace the motor is beyond me. I am old enough to remember when Detroit could not make an electric window motor which would last more than 2 years.

I'll do the brakes in the spring when it warms up a bit.

[Kiven422]

foolproof? NOmeant to fool you? YES

Silly Nissan built the sensors to stay on the right side only... What if the pads on the left go out... in short you could be stuck with having to replace the rotor too... $157 dealers, $88 autozone

[oldmako]

Well in my case it's idiot proof.

No worry about the wear as I change out pads before they get too thin.I helped a buddy replace his truck rotors years ago after he had let the pads get thin and ruin the rotors. The lesson stuck with me.

[qship96]

As inexpensive as those metal wear clips are, you would think they would include one for EACH brake pad,and make it idiot-proof.

[maxnix]

you could be stuck with having to replace the rotor too... $157 dealers, $88 autozone

Autozone is cheap Chinese, not comparable to OEM.

Joe is cheaper.

Brembo from TR is cheaper, but not plated.

Brembo Stillen blanks (drilled and plated) from Joe on special are my favorite.
Modified by maxnix at 8:24 AM 2/2/2008

[3Q Jay]

maybe not intuitive, but they are foolproof. the pads on the right (specifically the inboard right) ALWAYS goes out first BY DESIGN barring some mechanical anomaly.

[qship96]

[QUOTE=3Q the pads on the right (specifically the inboard right) ALWAYS goes out first BY DESIGN barring some mechanical anomaly.[/QUOTE]

Never heard of this before, how would they design the system to allow the inboard right side pad to wear before the other 3 on the same axle? And why? Logic would suggest the pad on the piston side of caliper would wear quicker than the inner pad?

[3Q Jay]

ummm, inboard pad = piston side.

i *think* it has system pressure bias to pass side (small of course)

[qship96]

Well, that explains that! It has been awhile since I last did any brake work myself {I forgot which side of caliper the piston was on!} Still,you would think they could supply a cheap clip for each pad....wonder if you could buy a box of them somewhere and add one to each pad when doing the brakes?

[3Q Jay]

i just did the front pads on black (clips only, no elec sensor), and the 64u92 box came with 2 clips. just to be sure, i used 'em both and put them on the piston side left and right.seriously though, every nissan iv'e taken apart really did wear the right side of the axle more than the left.

qship, if you need some extra tangs for your 96, i think i have 2 that you could just have.

[qship96]

Jay ,thanks for offering-I dont think I need them though, as I have extremely consistant pad wear history with my Q....fronts replaced at 70k due to rotor needing its 2nd turning by then, and I do pads at same time even though they are not totally worn yet to combine labor.

Rear pads last almost EXACTLY 50k every time, so I start preparing needed pads/shims/grease parts order at 45k and complete the job soon after.

If I ever turn over use of car to wife,etc, you can bet all 8 pads will have wear clips, possibly tipped with sulpher to add to the drama that,hey something needs looking into,before the rotors get destroyed!