Mine stops perfectly every time...

 

........just anther one of those "I'm a l33t driver and think the stock suspension sucks, brakes suck, turning radius sucks (well, that one is true), tires suck, paint sucks, bose sucks, etc, etc" threads...

The stock brakes work just fine.

 

I'll just add, my 99 Accord 4cyl had MUCH better OEM brakes than my 02 Maxima's OEM brakes. And thats comparing 195/65/15 Michelin Energy Disc/Drum versus 225/50/17 Potenza RE92 Disc/Disc.

That said, braking ability has a lot to do with tires moresoe than the actual brakes. Before changing brakes, I changed from RE92s to Falken 512s and instantly stopped much better. After upgrading to Brembo xdrilled/slotteds, it's not stopping that much better than with the previous rotors. (But those crossdrilled/slotted sure look better peering through my wheels )

$.02

 

It's not stopping better because slotted/cross-drilled are 99% looks unless you're doing extremely hard braking very often, very quickly. Slotted/cross-drilled are supposed to vent gasses better but that doesn't affect every day driving.

Search on 'slotted cross drilled rotors' and the very first return is this:

http://www.se-r.net/brakes/rotors.html

(cliffs: waste of money)

 

thats right, everything on this car is reasonable with regards to everyday driving

 

Same here. I have never had a problem stopping my 02.

 

read: 'BLING'

 

I am far from amazed with the stopping power, (although it improved greatly when I switched from craptenza's to falken's) and was going to see if the new Altima SE-R brake setup could be an upgrade to fit our car. Any info anyone? The shop said they did not know, but if they would fit they would be a huge improvement they said. Anyone know?

 

I'll take five! But seriously, I am putting away a part of my income tax return to pay for a brake upgrade. Stopping power is very important to me, and I really can't see how everyone is happy with their factory brakes. I only have a few more mods left to complete my car so i will be happy with it, but I wish i had done a brake upgrade sooner.

 

My eclipse gsx had a brake upgrade...it was good to begin with and got better with that. I wouldn't compare the two because they're completely different cars, but my maxima is just fine for everyday driving.

 

Look....of course the OEM brakes could be better, but it's a stretch to say that they're UNSAFE....I mean, they're completely safe if you drive the vehicle knowing the limits of the braking, handling, etc....That said, I upgraded to 2004 maxima rotors with OEM calipers and the braking improved slightly. The main problem withthe true BBK's is that most require larger rims and alot of $$...two things that not all of us have.

Same with everyone who says "stock handling is unsafe." Well, yes it is if you want to drive like a Formula-1 driver. But it's just fine if you drive within it's limits. I'm all for modding of engine, braking, suspension....but the car OEM is just fine for someone who drives it like what it is - a large family sedan...I prefer to drive mine more like a sportscoupe, which is why I upgraded my suspension. I did not do ANY of my upgrades because I thought the OEM car was unsafe, though!!

modded or non-modded, every car has its limits.

Learn those limits and drive within them, and the car is safe - even stock

Don't learn them, or ignore the limits, and the car will be unsafe, even with every suspesion and brake mod in the book.

 

TTZ calipers, Hawk HPS, 04 Max rotors, using the Blehmco kit, and 140MPH to 60MPH stops are as sure as 25-0MPH stops with stock brakes. I tend to upgrade my car all te way around, powe, suspension, tires and brakes. I love my TTZ calipers, they stop right on the dime, and it was only around 600 bux for all of it. I push my Max to the limit nowa days, next year I'm trying to buy a NSX so till then, Max is my daily driver/ track car.

 

I believe that the driver becomes unsafe when he drives like he stole it. The car meets all safety requirements from the factory as you stated.

 

I understand the limits of my car. I hardly push my car to those limits, because thats where fun can deadly. As someone noted previously, I would think that for a $30,000 sticker price when it was new, it would have more then a "it does the job" braking system. And my brakes are borderline unsafe. slowing down from 70 in an emergancy stop after moderate traffic is a nightmare. the rotors shake, you hear a humming noise from the brakes, and feels like the harder you push the brakes, the less they do. the brakes themselfs have lots of "meat" on them, and are factory pads.

I have no problem spending money on something when the purchase is merited. granted, I will not pay $2,000+ on abig brake kit, but i will upgrade within reason. as of now, I have no confidence in my brakes, and i hate that feeling.

 

Sorry to hear that... mine seems fine, even with a 4 other people in the car... although guess I've yet to try it in an emergency situation with that many people in the car...

 

How stupid does one have to be to shell out 30 grand on a car and come back a year later and say that you dont like the brakes? Didn't you have a chance to test-drive the car before buying it, or you bought it in order to show off to your high school and college buddies? The car is safe and has adequate braking power otherwise it would be banned for sale, DUUH!

 

Ouch!

 

Hey, an idea for you. Maybe you shouldn't talk unless you know what your talking about. I didn't buy the car brand new. I bought the car in the spring of this year. And i do not go to college, nor do i go to highschool. and furthermore, hardly do i have 4 people in my car at the same time... infact this week was the first time i have. so eat your words, and don't post unless you have a valid point, or have something constructive to say. thanks.

 

You're still on this?

.did you ever consider it's YOUR brakes, and not the brakes on maximas in general? You're describing a problem with your specific brakes, that doesn't happen on mine

.95% of cars have "it does the job" brakes because that's what people need. Point to another 4-door car that comes standard with any kind of "upgraded" braking system and I'll find the details about our brakes and show you how similar they are.

.if you have no confidence in your brakes, do something about it NOW. Don't wait until spring. Your car is a 2002...bring it to the dealer and tell them about the problems and specifically say the brakes are unsafe. I brought my car in for service for something else and just happened to mention (with no intention of getting anything) "the brakes seem to stick." When I went back to get the car the guy said they replaced the rear rotors under warranty.

edit: my post on my brakes
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=299982

 

Look, my valid point is this: the car has good decent brakes. Not the ones neded for racing application though. At 21, you are still dumb: if you hardly have 4 ppl in your car, and need it for "street performance", why did you buy a premium midsize sedan , and not a performance coupe? Oviously, you bought your car for wrong reasons, and this is not personally a problem with you. Thats not only you, but also most .org members under 21. When you are young you want to be cool, and your tastes change to a greater degree then abilities. So the young folk come on .org and starts bit**ing that the car is not fast enough, doesnt look good enough, doesnt brake enough, etc.

 

haha

Yeah, when i have 5 people in my car including me, I tend to put more effort into stopping with more pressure applied to the pedals. I got aftermarket pads... and it does feel spongy sometimes.... is that a problem???

 

why the heck are you doing 70+ in traffic conditions needing to do an emergency stop with 4 people in the car anyway? of course the stock brakes won't help. if you're looking for a reason to upgrade then base it on you driving the car outside of it's current limits, not the stock system being faulty.

and stop the whining. you test drove this car before you bought it and knew what you were getting into. the brakes are perfectly fine for someone not driving like dale earnhardt in traffic.

 

 

I wasn't doing 70 in traffic. I was doing 70 after the traffic had ended. what i was trying to imply, was that the brakes suck even more after traffic conditions, and they get hot. And for the last effing time, I am not driving the car to it's limits, Nor am i driving like dale earnhardt. so back off. I know how to drive a car thank you very much.

 

At 21, I am not dumb. I have probably been though more **** in my life then you have ever been though, which has made me mature much faster at a young age then other people. don't tell me i am dumb, for you hardly know me.

and no, I do not need my car for street performance. I really do not mess around with my car often. And i have my reasons why i bought this car, And i am very happy with it thank you. this is one of only a few issues with the car that i have, but otherwise I would do it all over again. you know, you think you have me pegged as to how i am as a person, but think again.

I am just going to drop this whole topic, All i came here to say, was that i am not happy with the factory brakes on the car, and i think they should have been better. thats all. if you don't think so, then post you reason, and thats all. there was not reason to do personal attacks, or tell me i am wrong, and there is no other way to look at it.

 

Well the maxima brakes do suck. They are just adequate at best. Especially for the weight of this car.

Maxima = biggest Nissan car that still used the single piston caliper.

But I have 4 piston calipers now.

 

My stock calipers with HAWK race pads on stock rotors held up just fine at Road America, stock Nissan pads just suck. I have TTZ calipers with 04 rotors now, and they stop like a ****, can't wait to get the car on the track. I'm thinking of putting a cage in it over summer. I might have the 1st 5th gen IT car soon :P

 

Here's what you can do to easily change your stopping power without adding a BBK....change PADS! Different pads have differing degrees of bite, fade resistance, heat resistance, etc. It's a night and day difference when I changed from OEM front pads to even a low-priced pad like Bendix Titanium semi-metallics...much better bite.

I was just on the highway coming home from work and went from 70 to 5 mph approaching a bridge....no problems at all ....combined with about 300 miles of fast mountain driving last weekend going skiing.

 

I am glad some one agree's with me...