Brake problems :(
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Brake problems :(
Sorry for the semi long, and possibly hard to read post. but.............
I have a 2003 Nissan 350Z Touring, and I been having a slight (might not turn out so slight) brake problem. About 6-9months ago I had my brake fluid replaced and every since then my brakes have felt, weird. They start off in the mourning fine, but after few minutes of driving, the brakes stop biting as good. The braking performance gets worse. Then recently I replaced my brake pads and rotors and ALL 4 now either smell like smoke or are smoking after I get out of the car. So I figured maybe the pads I bought weren’t up to par, so I returned them (bendix pads) and bought some higher performance pads and rotors, and they still SMOKE.
So the problems with my brakes so far seem to be:
1. Poor braking performance after few minutes of driving (has happened for at least 6months)
2. Brakes either SMOKE or smell like smoke after I drive (has been happening ATLEAST for 1 month, but could have been happening longer, maybe I just didn’t pay attention )
So I started to think about it, and the only thing I could think of was my calipers on my brakes were sticking (would heat up pads so high that it would hurt braking performance and cause smoking) but the likeliness of all 4 calipers going bad at once is, well, rare I would think. Then I thought about it, is this is a typical sign of a faulty MASTER CYLINDER?
If so, how much does it typically cost to get Master Cylinder Replaced???? Should I have it replaced at dealership? Or should I have dealership inspect my brakes and have them find the problem (Ill bet $5 they say the problem is my Project MU NS brake pads). How hard is it to replace the Master Cylinder?
Since my car is out of warranty, can any respectable mechanic replace a Master Cylinder and not waste money at a dealership?
OR could it be something else? I know it’s hard to diagnose something like this over the internet , but before I take my car to the dealership here (rip-off probably) I would like some opinions on what it could be.
Thanks for any advice
I have a 2003 Nissan 350Z Touring, and I been having a slight (might not turn out so slight) brake problem. About 6-9months ago I had my brake fluid replaced and every since then my brakes have felt, weird. They start off in the mourning fine, but after few minutes of driving, the brakes stop biting as good. The braking performance gets worse. Then recently I replaced my brake pads and rotors and ALL 4 now either smell like smoke or are smoking after I get out of the car. So I figured maybe the pads I bought weren’t up to par, so I returned them (bendix pads) and bought some higher performance pads and rotors, and they still SMOKE.
So the problems with my brakes so far seem to be:
1. Poor braking performance after few minutes of driving (has happened for at least 6months)
2. Brakes either SMOKE or smell like smoke after I drive (has been happening ATLEAST for 1 month, but could have been happening longer, maybe I just didn’t pay attention )
So I started to think about it, and the only thing I could think of was my calipers on my brakes were sticking (would heat up pads so high that it would hurt braking performance and cause smoking) but the likeliness of all 4 calipers going bad at once is, well, rare I would think. Then I thought about it, is this is a typical sign of a faulty MASTER CYLINDER?
If so, how much does it typically cost to get Master Cylinder Replaced???? Should I have it replaced at dealership? Or should I have dealership inspect my brakes and have them find the problem (Ill bet $5 they say the problem is my Project MU NS brake pads). How hard is it to replace the Master Cylinder?
Since my car is out of warranty, can any respectable mechanic replace a Master Cylinder and not waste money at a dealership?
OR could it be something else? I know it’s hard to diagnose something like this over the internet , but before I take my car to the dealership here (rip-off probably) I would like some opinions on what it could be.
Thanks for any advice
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When i was replacing the pads and rotors i didnt notice anything. Everything looked fine, I guess i could inspect it again. If there was a leak it would have to be VERY small.
but could a leak cause all 4 brakes to have a burning smell and/or smoke?
but could a leak cause all 4 brakes to have a burning smell and/or smoke?
Last edited by 350ZREDLINE; 03-23-2007 at 04:15 PM.
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Who replaced the brake fluid, you or a shop? Are you absolutely sure they didn't use a DOT 5 synthetic? Synthetics could eat through the piston seals and cause a leak into the brakes/calipers/etc.
Did some fluid or grease get on the rotors? That would certainly emit a burning smell. Get some brake cleaner spray and wash/wipe down both surfaces of the rotors.
Look at the pad faces and make sure they're not getting soaked in grease or oil.
If there was a problem with the master cyl and the brakes were dragging somehow, after driving it for a while, the rotors would have to be very hot. Do you notice that they are extremely hot? If you can find access to a pyrometer, you could measure them after a reasonable driving distance and see if they are smoking and how hot they are. I've come off the road course and read my rotor temps at around 600º with no smoke or burning smell just for comparison.
If you had a large leak, it seems like you'd notice the level in the reservoir dropping. It doesn't seem likely that all four calipers/rotors are being leaked on though.
What brand of pads are you using now? Ceramic, metallic?
Did some fluid or grease get on the rotors? That would certainly emit a burning smell. Get some brake cleaner spray and wash/wipe down both surfaces of the rotors.
Look at the pad faces and make sure they're not getting soaked in grease or oil.
If there was a problem with the master cyl and the brakes were dragging somehow, after driving it for a while, the rotors would have to be very hot. Do you notice that they are extremely hot? If you can find access to a pyrometer, you could measure them after a reasonable driving distance and see if they are smoking and how hot they are. I've come off the road course and read my rotor temps at around 600º with no smoke or burning smell just for comparison.
If you had a large leak, it seems like you'd notice the level in the reservoir dropping. It doesn't seem likely that all four calipers/rotors are being leaked on though.
What brand of pads are you using now? Ceramic, metallic?
#14
If the rotors were sticking and you continued to drive on them for a month with any extended trips you would have likely warped at least one of them, and would feel it as a rotational thump or hum at a minimum.
My guess is that you have a leak. Dave is right on the money about the true synthetic causing seal failure, double check the type of fluid you added.
My guess is that you have a leak. Dave is right on the money about the true synthetic causing seal failure, double check the type of fluid you added.
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Local shop did the fluid, im positive (99%) that they used DOT 3......
I replaced the pads and rotors (easy and semi clean job, reason i didnt want to mess with the fluid)
The brake pads are PROJECT MU NS, rotors are centric in the rear, raybestos or bendix front, cant remember. (next time im getting centric tho)
rotors are clean. that was my first thought that some grease got on them. level in the reservoir is stable, never seen it drop.
I know rotors typically are hot after driving around, but my ROTORS do seem EXTREMELY hot compared.
I replaced the pads and rotors (easy and semi clean job, reason i didnt want to mess with the fluid)
The brake pads are PROJECT MU NS, rotors are centric in the rear, raybestos or bendix front, cant remember. (next time im getting centric tho)
rotors are clean. that was my first thought that some grease got on them. level in the reservoir is stable, never seen it drop.
I know rotors typically are hot after driving around, but my ROTORS do seem EXTREMELY hot compared.
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does the synthetic fluid have a certain color? or does it look just like typical yellow brake fluid? just out of curiousity. The stuff in my resovoir tank is typical yellow color~