I bought my 2003 350Z Performance on Thursday, the car is in excellent condition and it has only 28k miles. I had this problem of a noise coming from the car when I up shifted and down shifted, I thought it was the transmission since the previous owner had to replace it due to it being abnormal (comon on 03s). I took it to the dealer as advice in another forum. It cost me $180 to get the axles lubricated, thats where the noise was coming from.... they also told me that the rear brakes are wore out and need to be replaced, I didnt let them do the brakes because I want to buy my own, I was thinking about ceramic brake pads, but I hear it will damage the rotors, and I dont want to replace the rotors. Does anyone have any advice?

 

pics?

 

Yeah, the clicking came from the axle splines; annoying but can be remedied, as you discovered. As for the brake pads, depends on if your budget. In my last Z I installed Project Mu pads front and back along with new rotors, though I can't remember the brand. Completely new braking experience after that! The Mus were a tad expensive compared to the Hawk, which what most I have seen use as their replacement pad. Just do a search to see what others think.

Search: Best Brake Pads (do advanced search and only search titles)

 

congrats on ur new ride! but that sucks that u had to pay some kind of a maintanance fee so soon after you get it.

What's your plan to do with your Z?

 

The car right now is in perfect condition, it even has brand new Nitto tires. I want to keep it stock for a while, I believe in improving the driver not the car. After I pay it off, or have it for a while, Ill start with stuff like wheels and tires, suspension and brakes. And in the long run I would like to TT it or supercharge it, but for now Im just doing generic things. The reason Im thinking about breaks is because they told me at the dealership that my rear brakes were low, i dont want a whole brake system right now, I guess Ill have to go with the stock pads.

What do you guys recommend I do as long as maintenance goes?

 

Thanks guys, do you know if the ceramic brake pads would damage the stock rotors?

Oh and I dont know how to post Pics.

 

upload to photobucket and put up links... you can do it, i have faith in you