Yesterday i replaced the brakes up front with oem pads and new rotors... the car never stopped good before and it seems like the brake job didnt help...\
i have new fluid and i just bleed it... and i did the brake break in thing on this site http://www.zeckhausen.com/bedding_in_brakes.htm
and they still suck... i know ur supposed to give it some time before the pad settle but i have done the same procedure on many other cars and it worked....

 

Explain how they "suck" ??

Maybe you shoulda went with some Brembo Rotors and some aftermarket pads like some Axxis Ulimtates.

-matt

 

I have similar situation, but in my case, its the tires that suck, I got a gxe, so I'm rocking steelies, a lot of times when I stop the tires lock.

 

like i have to really press hard for the car to stop... there is almost no initial grab...

 

Try bleeding them again.

-matt

 

ill do that but they have already been bleed like 5 times in the last 4 months

 

Maybe you have leak. Maybe your master cylinder's on its way out.

-matt

 

That's the set up that I have and I am very happy with it. They dust alot more than my wifes Raybestos Quiet Stop, but mine grab better.

 

i dunno i checked both the master cylinder and the booster and they both seem fine.. im gonna try to bleed the master cylinder by its self and see what happens..

 

make sure the pins that hold the caliper to the torque bar move - make sure they are not rusted.

 

word, i have axxis metalmasters and those things are great for the highway

anyway, you MAY have air in your system... in that case you would need to bleed the brakes again :-\

 

If you just have to press "hard" but the pedal doesn't really sink further than they would "normally", then the pads and rotors haven't bedded in yet (that or the pads suck). I would have gotten good pads (special rotors don't really help).

 

You have to drag them at 60mph until they smoke... multiple times until you see some discoloration in your rotors.

 

Did you remove the film off the rotors w/brake cleaner?

 

Man I have the same problem. New rotors and HAWK HPS pads (about 9 months ago they were new), proper bed in and complete bleeding a few times and I still have to press harder than I should to make it grab with any force at all. I know what you are going through. One day when I can afford to do something about it and I don't have a roommate that bounces checks and school to pay for I will just get a BBK and be done with it.

 

any grease on the rotors will make the car stop like crap. just try spraying it with brake cleaner. (everything)

 

Brake booster?

 

Maxima brakes just require a little more pushing ont he pedal to stop. I've driven 3 4th gens (owned 2) and they all require considederable effort to stop.

The new Maxima/Altima on the other hand stop on a dime.

 

YUP GOOD POST

 

the rotors are clean the calipers are not dragging... the booster seems to work like its supposed to.. i check the fsm and no problems there...im gonna bleed the master cylinder on sunday and see what happens.. i have driven tons of 4th gens and they stop on a dime not mine though

 

I do think there's something wrong (I thought you were going to say performance-wise they're not that good, say repeated 80-0 stops or something).

I experience the same thing as you describe the first few pumps after reinstalling pads and compressing the pistons, but it's always returned to normal.

Never had air in the system on this car, but I did on a Volvo. And since air can be compressed, it allowed the pedal to go to the floor.

 

Sounds like cheap pads. Next time get Hawk HP+ (Plus) if you want them to be grabby. They really bite, esp when they get warm/hot. When you modulate the pedal, it's either on, or off.

Jae

 

they are oem nissan pads... they dont suck....

 

Whats wierd for me is that whenever I reverse I hear this sound in the rears like its not HOLDING or gripping the car. However during normal drive and braking everything is fine.

I wonder if its cuz I havne't bedded my pads in yet or broken them in. Again this sound is great only when I reverse.

 

Replaced my pads (weird sounds )then took a nice highway trip 70 miles hour break all the way down to 20mph or so go back to 60 or 70 and do the same break to 20mph 4 or 5 times.. early morning no one on highway though or your a sitting duck. next day the brakes are fantastic. Worked for me

 

There are only two ways to improve braking force. Improve the pads (higher friction) or a BBK (higher brake torque). Simply replacing components with equivalent parts won't do it.

 

all i want to do is make the car have the same brake force that it had originally from the factory... thats all...

 

I wonder if one of the brake lines is going soft.

Dave

 

get some Axxis/PBR Ultimate pads from the GB on here and some new rotors.

 

He shouldnt have to upgrade though, OEM components should perform equally whether its 1996 or 2006, I think that's what he is trying to say. Obviously, if the parts are the same as they were, another part of the system is performing sub-par.

 

maybe youre not putting enough fluid in?

 

I had the same problem. Turned out it was some bad caliphers. The piston was busted in both of them. Hope this helps

 

I had some Hawk HPS pads put on my car... and they don't seem to stop any better than the Akebono pads that were on there before. In fact, I think I have to press the pedal harder just to get the same stopping power....

I can press the pedal really hard and still can't get the ABS to engage.

 

i have also owned two maxima's my first one was super sensitive to pressure and my current one is still fairly sensitive..

 

You know f550maranello2, I've been having the same problem forever... and never figured it out. My new rotors/pads/rebuilt calipers seems to help a little bit, but i want that initial grab! I remember driving another 4th gen and it bites hards! I've been stumped on this forever...
I've been wanting to change the master cylinder and seeing what happens... Also change the brake lines. I dont have ABS btw.
Now with 165k miles, i'm kindof like whatever... anyway. I hope someone knows the answer... If i ever figure this out... i'll post again! GOOD LUCK

 

The only thing I can think of is that your pads are contanimated with some sort of grease. Did you do it yourself or a shop did it?

 

^^^^ nope they are clean.. i have now put about 300 miles on them also.. they still suck.. i replaced my wheel bearings yesterday and checked up on the brakes.. they are wearing correctly but still they suck.. i dunno im gonna have to take it in and see what MIdas says.. this sucks

 

Have you checked your brake lines? if they're bubbled that could account for your loss of braking power.

 

get some stainless steel brake lines and some better pads

 

He has nissan pads you guys... They shouldn't suck! Thats not the solution! He obviously has a hydraulic problem. F550m, I'm so curious as to what midas is going to say... Please keep us posted.