All,

I just had my 2007 350z (35K mil) serviced and they said that I need new pads and rotors. But how do I know they arent fleecing me? Brakes stop just fine now. Do I need to take off each of the tires? What do I need to look for?

 

You are fairly new when it comes to brakes,right?
I'd think with 35k ,you would be long overdue for front pads.Rotors?
Could be possible if you have let your pads go.Do you hear any scraping when you stop?
A metallic metal sound?If you have OEM wheels,the rotor surface should be visable.
Do the rotors have any grooves.They should be smooth.Usually pads are just needed
unless they get worn down to the backing which will start scraping your rotors.
Again,if the rotors need replacing you should be hearing some scraping.
Turn down the music and listen.
Lesson to be learned.Pads are cheaper than replacing rotors.Possibly,the techs that checked your car noted that the rotors were too far goone to be turned(resurfaced).
Maybe take to another shop.Get another opinion if you can't check yourself.

 

jus look at the pad and the indicator. u can tell visually if its ready to be replaced. I wouldn't depend too much on the indicator making noise

 

Rotors have what's called minimum thickness. If the rotors gets beyond that point, it is no longer serviceable and should be replaced.

Pads typically have a wear indicator or a squealer tab.

-Nick

 

Ask the shop to give you rotor specs! Google it or post and I will look in my book. Honestly unless your HARD on brakes I think 35k miles is too soon.

 

^way too soon. I jus recently did my 03 at 63k miles. but then I drive a manual so itll last a bit longer since I use the brakes less but still. 30k too soon imo

 

The amount of wear allowed on a standard front Z rotor is only 2 mm and the stock pads are a very aggressive metallic that do bite into rotors. Mileage is not the determining factor in how soon the brakes will need attention. If you only drive cross-country on straight flat roads, the pads/rotors may last the life of the car. If you live on the side of a mountain or a hilly city like San Francisco you may only get 20,000 miles before needing brake work. (The rear pads/rotors will usually last about double that of the fronts).

The front brake pads don’t extend all the way to the outside edge of the rotor. As the rotor wears, a ridge of unworn material forms at this outside edge. This can been seen through the wheel spokes. Anything past a 1 mm ridge on the outside and a corresponding 1 mm ridge on the inside of the rotor, indicates a rotor at the end of its useful life.

Normally a micrometer is used to measure the thickness of a rotor. As a rough guide to eyeball the rotor, look at the graduations on a metric ruler, one millimeter is not very much, 1mm=0.039 inch. If the ridge looks like it exceeds that, then the shop wasn’t steering you wrong.

 

Brakes are important, I always err on the side of caution and keep them at or near perfect.

 

I change my brakes so infrequently that I jus replace the rotors too. fk it lol and if u have brembo I don't think its suggested to resurface the rotors

 

If you have 2 piston calipers take off 1 bolt pull caliper back, pull out pad, and look, if you have brembo calipers take off clip slide out pad and look lol. Its easy.

 

^u can jus look visually after removing the wheel. or don't remove the wheel u can still see lol

 

You can normally see the brake pads through your wheels. Turning the steering wheel until the wheels point to the very far left or right will expose the insides of the wheels for viewing the brakes easier. You should be able see how much thickness there is left on the pad. At least one ¼ inch of brake pad needs to be visible. If there appears to be less, get them replaced.If the brake pad ever wears below a quarter of an inch, it needs to be replaced.