I took off the pads in an attempt to stop the squeaks with a spray on anti squeak gel. I didn't realize each pad has a pin attached to it and they popped out and I couldnt find them. So I just put the pads back in. In Porterfield brake pad install, it says you dont need those pins any more.
The car feels normal. Is there any ill side effects to this?

If the squeaks persists, I'm probably going all out and will be getting aftermarket slotted rotors and pads. I am very angry right now because of my squeaking breaks.

That's what I should have done in the first place. I can't believe I paid $400 bucks at Midas for this piece of **** rotors and pads.

 

$400? Are they made of Gold?

 

For $140 more you could have purchased 4 stillen cross drilled rotors, 4 axxis brake pads, goodridge s/s brake lines and 4 bottles of motul brake fluid at eatricezone.com

 

Springy pins... that's cute

Hi Tom- I had the same problem. At 1st I thought it's because I had to break in my new pads but it turned out the noise was created by the old shims. I had ALL 4 of my shims changed and it didn't cost me $400 to fix the bug. If you're just changing the front pads, pick up a set of OEM shim kits (specify for the front) and take the Porterfields somewhere else (to an EXPERIENCED mechanic) to be re-applied ..should cost you $30-40 tops for labor to just do the fronts.

 

To answer your question, yes it is fine to leave the spring pins out. Those are listed in the Haynes manual as "anti-rattle springs." The Porterfield pads don't have the predrilled holes on them for the pins, so I didn't install the pins. No rattles or squeaks for 5,000 miles since the install. So I would say it's perfectly fine to leave the anti-rattle springs off.

In fact, I believe the new brake pads from nissan (for 4th gens) don't even have the holes anymore.