Whats up everybody,
This is a long story so I will try to keep it to the point so if you all cold bear with me for a minute. I have a sloped driveway and sometimes when I reverse out of it slowly, there is a very loud obvious sound that sounds like bending sheet metal. I can feel the vibrations throughout the car but I cannot pinpoint the source. I suspected the brake pads and it was time to get new pads so we went to StraussAuto and had them install new pads. I got Satisfied Pro Pads put in. I noticed the noise was still there so I mentioned it to the dealer when we went in to get the crank sensors and camshafts recall done (which Nissan never notified me about and it was a safety issue so I'm pretty ****ed at them.) The dealer asked if there were any accidents or any aftermarket parts, I said yes, we just had brakes put in but the sound would come out way before we had new brakes in so I am pretty sure we can rule out that it was the brakes.
I went to pick up the car later that day thinking the problem was solved adn everything was covered under warranty. Dealer hit me with a bill for about 20, the cost of a brake insepection, not a lot of money at all but I just didnt see why I should have to pay. He went on to explain that the mechanic who did our brakes butchered them up, there were no shims put in and the rotors needed to be cut and the pads were installed incorrectly. When the brakes were put in, the mechanic told me he cut the rotors and I saw him do this. He said that the Nissan mechanic couldnt look past the brake problem to find out where the noise was coming from, until we got genuine Nissan brakes in there. That morning when I dropped the car off I told them there that the noise came before the brakes were put in so couldnt we rule out the brakes as a source of the noise? If I come in with a problem and you are here to inspect it, isnt it covered under warranty and sholdnt the brake exam be a part of that? He didnt answer my question and said "I just told you your guy did an abortion on your brakes and this is how you act? You know what? Don't ever come back here," and he put his business card on the counter and continued," if they ask you who said it, tell them I did." Let me also add that I was polite the whole time, never rude and did not get loud or confrontational or use bad language. So I left the dealer and I still do not know what may be causing this noise. On top of it all, now I am curious as to my brake job, whether or not it really is as bad as the dealer says it is.

Bottom line, here are my questions:
1) What is causing this noise?
2) What should I do about my suspected shotty brake job? It doesnt feel shotty and I was pretty confident in ther guys work who put em in, but I may be wrong.

I read in another post that if the dealer cannot prove an aftermarket addition caused a problem, than the problem should be covered under warranty. So shouldnt the brake inspection have been covered especially since they were unable to find the source of the problem and also since I told him when I dropped the car off that the noise was there before we had the new pads put in??

Thanks guys for reading this and I appreciate any and all input!!

 

Well logically, lets look at the issue. If it is only doing it in your driveway and not on level ground, the brakes are likely okay. Not cutting the rotors doesn't mean anyting at this point. Dealers will always try to rip you off- get that ^%$&& name and complain to Nissan. He is not representing them well. Ever notice when you buy a car they refer to it as an "AUTOMOBILE" or the parts are for your "Machine" and when you go to trade it in, they call it a used car! It's psychological mind games. Don't let them intimidate you. Okay so back to the logic- what conditions exist when you experience this- well, is your parking brake on??? If your on a hill, it likely is. It is also highly probably that although you release it, it is sticking for a moment due to the stress it is under. You may be hearing the rear pads trying to get free. You can spray the spring and cable or replace the cable. Try parking without using the P brake if possible. Is it an auto or stick? Try moving it with the windows down and the car on but in nuetral- don't try with car off as the brakes may not work since they are power assisted. You should also use a partner to listen by each wheel, narrow it down to front or back, then left or right...this is a good starting point- should be easy to isolate. For $30 you can buy a sound meter at Radio Shack. It will indicate various sound reading around your car with a simple needle scale. Also usefull for wind noise. Hope this helps- if not, look to the transmission or bring it to a good "neighborhood shop." I usually find these guys know more and are far more helpful than the "experts"- granted they are not equipted to fix certain dealer only problems. Hope this helped.

 

Thanks bro, sounds like its time to do some scientific research, hahaha. Its an auto, so I'm going to try parking without the P brake and see what happens. However, I still think I shouldnt have had to pay for that brake inspection. I think the dealer was just bitter that I didnt get my brakes done over there when he told me in the past I needed new brakes. Anyway, thnaks for the help man.