Well almost at 30k miles and this past weekend my brakes started to noticeably squeak and grind, the front ones. I figured it just had to be the pads, normal wear right??

but the shop called me and told something about having to replace the rotors, down to 5/16ths. he did say that could be turned over though but chance of wear and warp was high.

WTF is this??? Is this guy just trying to pull a fast one over on me?? why the hell cant you just replace the pads??? this car has been babied over its 30k miles. please help here, need advice fast!!!!!!

 

I have seen this problem on several 350Z with the OEM brake pads. Besides being pure crap when it comes to dusting they are also very abrasive and can totally destroy the rotors before the pads need replaced. If you had replaced the OEM pads with some qualitiy after market Ceramic pads you would have gotten rid of the dusting problem and saved the rotors at the same time.

 

yeah thats what i am seeing. after talking to the guy again, he said i am well within safety specs of just putting on pads. i think i am going to do just that, for now that way i can have plent-o-cash for winter tires. he said that they might still squeek a little but hell they have always done that.

he wanted some insane price for doing the pads though. are they really that hard to change on your own?? i have heard that this is something that has actually gotten better as cars have advanceed in technology. older cars pads are harder to change then a lot of newer ones cause the clamps are easier to manage. is that also true with the Z??? and if so what kind of pads do you guys and gals suggest?? thanks again.

 

change the pads yourself. DIY:

https://my350z.com/forum/showthread....highlight=snow

 

The pads are definetly a DIY job. The hardest part is to lift the car and take the tires off...

On the rotors : In theory he will always be right. If you shave them, you reduce the heat sink capacity and the posibility of warp is (technicaly) higher. Will they warp? hard to tell. Since replacement rotors aren't that expensive, and you buy a set every 30K miles, why not spend the extra $150 or $200?

I will definetly (A) do it yourself and save lots of $$$, (B) go with better pads, low dust. (C) If you rotors need to be shaved at all, consider replacement rotors. They aren't that expensive.

 

Well, not $200, but Stillen has OEM rotors as low as $300/pair, I am sure they can be found at a better price. Hey, also, somebody who upgraded to larger brake kit could sell you his/her rotors...

 

wow guys great help, this is definately the reason i hang out here. all very good information. thanks a lot to everyone.

 

and oh yeah, overall the money is not an issue and new rotors will definately be put on. but if i am within legal specs and can still stop, and for a fraction of the cost just put pads on and do it myself then thats what i am going to do.

right now the next big expense for the car is winter blizzacks. obviously with 30k on the car she is my daily driver, so there are a lot of other expenses that i have that some of you guys dont cause you are fortunate to have another car to commute in, or at least expenses that i am getting to quicker than some other people. still love her as the daily driver.

even after a year it puts a smile on my face when i get in to drive as well as first thing in the morning when i get into the garage.

I am like, "Damn!!! I drive that thing?? SWEEEEEETTT!!!"

 

My redhead is a daily driver as well, so lasting tires and brakes and a comfortable ride are an issue. I am staying on 18"s and have some mild changes, mostly to pickup some ponnies, but thats it.

Note that if the rotors are scored a little bit they will eat the new pads faster and unevenly. So if any score, have them shaved just a bit to keep your pads alive.

 

can do but like i said i am staring snow tires right in the face to the tune of 500-600 bucks. and if changing the pads is really all that easy, which i am going to find out friday afternoon, then my plan is to get some mid level pads, i already bought some for 30 bucks. throw them on for the winter and then next spring have the brakes and rotors changed out or at least the rotors turned and get some top o the line pads maybe those hawks that are minimal dust cause thats when i will put the 19's back on. better to keep them shiny

 

I went with Stillen pads early on and saved a lot of cleaning time on dust. I would like to try the Hawks next time around. I am at 21K miles now, so when 30K or so comes around I will be considering rotors and new pads as well.

Good luck with the pads!

 

My original OEM brake pads lasted 12,500 miles (500 miles out of warranty). I let the dealer replace them, but then at 17,000 miles I installed Hawk HPS all the way around. A lot less dust.

I do not track my car or race it. It is my daily driver. When the pads go, they go really, really fast. I believe your rotors could be damaged. However, get a second opinon from a different place whether or no if it is a Nissan dealer.