Well, about a month ago... I started hearing a faint noise comming from what sounded like the driver side wheel. Then a month went by and the sound got louder and more screechy. (So embarased driving chicks around Had to pump up the music to drown it out.) Finally, couldn't take it anymore so I took it into the shop. They did an inspection and told me I had to replace the pads, refinish the rotors and some other mumbo-jumbo that would run me $300 Canadian. Im lost when it comes to this but would like to attempt to repair it or replace with some performance parts as an alternative. Or at least get them to install quality parts rather then thier choice. Any suggestion on what I could do, I don't mind paying more for something better since I have to spend the cash to fix it anyways.

 

You've been driving around for a month with a progressively louder screech and your response was to make the music louder. The screech was a warning and you ignored it. Too bad, because the repair bill might have been smaller if done a month ago. You might have needed only pads then, but now you need pads and resurfaced rotors and mumbo-jumbo. Hey, mumbo-jumbo can cost you!

Don't be too surprised if the shop does a teardown and tells you the rotors are beyond saving and must be replaced.

Some owners insist that you must use Nissan factory brake parts to avoid brake squeal. However, I've had good results with name-brand replacement parts such as Raybestos.

Other Maxima.Org members will jump at the chance to recommend their favorite high-performance brake parts.

 

I know...

It came and went, at first it only sounded when I applied the brakes and sometimes didn't sound @ all. You could only hear it driving in very quiet areas or late at night with no traffic. Then, recently...I hear it when I drive consistenly. I should have but I didn't and now... well, I gotta pay the price. So Raybesto and let them resurface stock rotors is one option. I wouldn't even mind getting new rotors in the process and just getting it out of the way rather then repair stock and have it replaced with performance a few months down the line. Well, I gotta do some research. Any more suggestions would be appreciated. I willing to spend about $3-400 USD to upgrade.

 

I might suggest Repco Metal Masters. They are a reasonably priced 'performance' pad. By no means a race pad, but a good upgrade from stock or raybestos. You are not supposed to change your pads and rotors at the same time. I don't remember the full explanation, but the two nice new smooth surfaces I think have a tendancy to glaze each other. You can have the rotors machined and use news pads without a problem though.

Mike