I need more brake pads, and I was wanting some ideas on good pads. Right now I have Autozone brake pads, but I don't like them at all. They squeal and there is a lot of brake dust. I was wondering what brake pads I should go with next: OEM pads from Nissan, metallic, semi-metallic, carbon? What brands do you guys have experience with. I have a 92 SE. Thanks

 

porterfield R4S

 

i was told the same thing by someone else just today. the porterfields must be making some sense.

 

Personally I run the HAWK pads. Quite a bit of dust but it makes up for it in the stopping power!! Really works great!! Minus the brake dust.

 

I used some called ACT. They are ceramic and I like them a lot. I guess it depends on what kind of driving you do. I do normal driving and dont need the super stoping power of some of the other brake pads.

I got these mainly because I wanted to reduce squeel and brake dust...I hate brake dust.

here is a pic of the kit I got.



and I got them from Taylor automotive I think.

 

Porterfield eh? Where may I acquire a set of fronts?

 

one nissan dealer told me that non-oem brake pads are lacking some shims and thus will always squeal. any merit to that?

 

sounds like he was trying to convince you to buy their stuff

 

look at the pic I posted a couple posts up. Those are aftermarket and they have the shims...thats one of the reasons I got them. Yes the shims help to keep it from squealing.

 

had anyone ever use EBC pads.. they sell for about 80 bucks for both wheels, they make green STUFF red STUFF and yellow STUFF i think the green pads are used for street driving ,the red are higher performance driving, and the yellow are for full fledged road racing

 

You can buy the brake hardware kit from (Courtesy) Nissan. The shims are much higher quality and they fit like a glove. I installed the ACT ceramic pads today with the stock shims and they work great.

 

I love my Axxis pads. I also just helped put some Raybestos on KINGMAX's car, and they seem like good pads as well

 

Just get the brake parts kit, it has everything you'll need. Sounds like a scare tactic!

 

cheezer - i have only heard bad things about ebc brake pads

 

Raybestos Ceramic pads....used 'em for 2 years...pep boys have em...no dust and no comlpaints what so ever.

 

I started a thread about this a couple of weeks ago, I ended up going with Raybestos QS, five hundred miles on 'em so far, they are great, I like 'em much better than OEM...

 

anyone,

maybe somewhat off-topic, but who has a big brake system for their 3rd gen? who has some experience with an off-the-shelf kit with calipers and rotors and lines? brembos? endless? wildwood? stillen? those are top on my mind, at least for the fronts. rears i'll prolly just keep stock with upgraded pads.

anybody have any information? i am heading in that direction now >>> i have plans for N2O and i need stop before launching into space.

 

how big are your rims? most big brake kits require at least 16" rims. the rears you can just get new pads for it since the front does like 70-80% of the stopping.

 

yes. good point. as for the rear, i'll just upgrade the pads, the cals are good. i have skyline R32 GTS-t rims in the front, GTR in rear. that model, the t, uses the z32 brakes, the 4-pot. and they are gigantic, as i have a pair in my garage ready for my project S14. but a z32 swap for a maxima is a pain in the as* (to me not worth it). so i need a plug-and-play setup. i have 16" rims. cattman i think sells a brembo package. but i fear that i will have to change the master cylinder and the lines. if so, then no matter, as it needs to happen.

need some advice.

 

squeeling is simply viberations. The best way to fix it is to take out the brake pads, seperate the caliper, use a wire brush to clean the contact points, then use a synthetic brake grease from Napa, apply it per the directions, reassemble, and be happy until you need new pads.

MrGone

 

You can get Raybestos QS (Quiet STOP) pads at www.rockauto.com for 25% less than Pep Boys. They are totally quiet and dust very little, my recommendation as well!

 

Z32 swap is a PIA? ummm, it's 100% bolt on, other than having to machine the rotors down a bit.

any big brake kit is going to be the same for install, as you'll have to remove and replace all of the same components. discs, calipers, lines, caliper brackets.

www.fastbrakes.com they use wilwood calipers and coleman rotors (I think coleman anyway) and are MUCH cheaper than the other ones from Stillen and Cattman.

 

thanks, Matt. but i read in a couple of threads that to make the z32 thing work you have to remove that backing plate dust guard thing. and there were a couple of other things, but i put the idea out of my mind due to that. i will try to find it again. z32's will directly bolt on to an S14. maybe you are thinking of that.

 

this is why i was put off by the whole "100% bolt-on" z32 brake swap:

information about skyline to maxima brake upgrade:

"all rwd/awd nissans/infinitis have the same flange mount on the front. that means skyline, 300zx, 240sx, and q45 brakes are directly exchangeable between cars. none are direct bolt-ons to any nissan fwd cars. nissan fwd cars have different flange offsets that require a change in rotor diameter to fit. the side offset is the same, so no shims are ever necessary. for the skyline r32 4-piston directionally vented and cross drilled brakes to fit, i had to cut off the backing plates, shave the lip off the lower control arms (the rotors are .5" thicker than maxima rotors), cut down the diameter of the rotors and have custom brake lines made. the skyline brake calipers have different flared fittings, and the line mount is almost 2" further than the maxima line mount location, so custom lines were made by SMC for my application. the cost of the whole project with all new parts (front rotors, front calipers, front caliper shims, front caliper clips, front caliper pins, SMC custom-made SS brake lines for all 4 corners, brembo cross-drilled rear rotors and axxis deluxe pads on all 4 corners was about $1300. keep in mind that i did all the labor myself, so that was just part cost. but, it is a bargain compared to just the front brembos or alcons that run about twice that."

credit: <A HREF="mailto:lrapoport@msn.com">Loren00Miata</A>

purpose of stainless steel braided brake lines:

"under heavy usage, high heat situations, as well as old lines... the rubber hoses expand when the pedal is depressed. so instead of the pressure going to the caliper pistons, it is wasted at expanding the hose. SS lines will help in this situation as it will not expand. this means that all the pressure is directed at the caliper piston(s) and the brake pedal feel becomes firmer."

credit: Shingles and Jeff92SE

if that translates as 100% bolt-on, then i must redefine my use of that terminology.

 

that's for the 4th gens.. on the 3rd gens, you only have to do the custom lines and remove the backing plates. no trimming of the control arms are necessary.... that's for the skyline brake upgrade anyway... most likely all of that stuff is required for ANY BBK anyway.

 

hmmm. as far as i know, z32's on the 300ZX are the same as skyline r32 GTS-t. my above reference that formed my opinion is not specific to generation. it lumps all FWD into the same situation. in my mind, a true bolt on is like you have a flat tire, you remove the wheel, and you replace it with the spare, and you drive off. anyway, i will note your additional input and heed it when i do the upgrade, as that is the next mod just around the corner for me. a lot of unknowns are about to get known. thank you, btw.

 

Is it $45.11 for the front/back or both? I don't understand which ones to click on. On each one it says (front, professional grade; Quiet Stop; Rear drum brakes; originally equipped or back-serviced with non-ferrous ceramic) Which one do i click on to buy the back pads? The front pads?

 

well all FWD nissans have the same BRAKE geometry, but the suspension geometry is different. i.e. the control arm part only applies to 4th gens. the 3rd gens dont have a problem with that part.

the dust cover removal will be required for many/most/all brake kits, as will custom lines.

I still say the easiest and most hassle-free brake kit is the one that Fastbrakes is selling. it's got the most cost-effective replacement parts.. rotors are $70-130 each (depending on the size you get), and pads are about $50 a set. the Brembo stuff from Stillen are $350 a rotor and well over $100 for pads.

 

I use METALMATRIX brake pads with BREMBO slotted rotors. Minimum brake dust and unthinkable stopping power!!!

 

what about your calipers?

and thank you again, matt, for furthering the cause.

 

i went to fastbrake.com. they seem pretty good. but i need at least 17" wheels. sh*t. i have 16". aaaahhhhh! after all the ranting i did about the z32 pain in the as*, i just may be doing it now! they will fit the 16" skyline wheels i have. f*ck.