6SpeedTA95

My car is a 2002 Maxima SE.

At this point based on my reading/searching here I'm leaning towards Hawk HPS pads and perhaps some Brembo blanks? Thoughts on this?

Where should I purchase these from? Can I get a package deal of any sort? What are the largest brembo blanks I can run on my car?

upstatemax

iTrader: (15)

Hawk HPS and blanks are your best bet by far.

Go to the GD section and look for a deal.

Thread/

SoonerFan

iTrader: (5)

just installed by Hawk HPS today (thanks to josh for his help)

we realized that the rotors were trashed so i replaced those too.

feels great!!! stopping power is improved and i dont have the shake from the warped rotors

PandaXpress

iTrader: (80)

can I see a pic of the trashed rotor??

djbonsu

are those oem rotors? or brembos?

SoonerFan

iTrader: (5)

trashed rotors!!
very badly rusted and for some reason, the inside wore down way more than the outside.

SoonerFan

iTrader: (5)

OEM
the ones on the car just started going bad - grinding and warped (around 60Kmiles will lots of auto-x).

6SpeedTA95

So do you think the jump to brembo's would be worth it on the front?

SoonerFan

iTrader: (5)

OEM since i decided to change them at the last minute after i took everything apart and saw how bad they were.
the rotors would have torn up the new pads.
now its better for the pads and rotors

The Law

iTrader: (39)

I think the world is going to end!!

Your helping people!

6SpeedTA95

Hmmm...I'm debating whether or not I wanna keep the stock rotors on the car. It'd save me about 120 bucks as front rotors are 53/ea + 16 total for shipping.

SoonerFan

iTrader: (5)

well see i had pictures to share but didnt feel the need to start a new thread.
i can share them by helping

SoonerFan

iTrader: (5)

FYI, bought my rotors from advance auto parts (similar to autozone there...that i miss) for $48 each (nissan wanted $98)

6SpeedTA95

Crap, thanks for the tip we just got an Advanced auto parts here, perhaps I'll call around tomorrow and see if Oreilly, AutoZone or Advanced can get hawk pads and brembo rotors.

Thanks for the tip

SoonerFan

iTrader: (5)

they dont have the pads...i got mine online. a local tuning/racing store may carry them. call around

6SpeedTA95

If I still lived in OKC I would but I'm an hour drive from anywhere now

joebangaa

iTrader: (3)

so does it really not matter what kind of blank rotors you have?

upstatemax

iTrader: (15)

Some say yes... Some say no.

I say no it does not matter at all.

6SpeedTA95

If they're made out of 100% same material than no it doesn't. What I've read however is that some rotors have different friction ratings due to the differences in makeup the result is better stopping power. Dunno how true it is but it makes sense from a chemistry aspect (which I know a little about )

maximo-SE

iTrader: (7)

what i did was bought brembo blanks from importrp and installed them with oem maxima pads. they were much better compared to my Raybestos QS/Brembo blank combo.

nk2k2

iTrader: (7)

i was thinking about going brembo blanks w/ akebono pads. i havent heard that many reviews on the akebono pads combined with the brembo blanks. i know that hawk pads are really popular on the .org but all the small grinding issues when cold and such kind of make me want to stay away from them. i know ill get a better bite out of them when warm but they might not be worth all the "noise"

hey sooner, what company makes the rotors you got? higher end or cheaper? and they have a autozone in manassas if you need to get parts.

SoonerFan

iTrader: (5)

wearever brake rotors ($48)
exact same thing that Nissan wanted $98 for

RLW001

iTrader: (11)

No suggested it so I will... how about going with the larger Gen 6 rotors and calipers

csmoot

I've read other post and some people were dissatisfied w/ the squealing noise that Hawk HPS pads emitted. From my experience, if you have a Japanese car and want to replace it with OEM parts. Then you should buy Japanese brand replacement parts. I know Brembo isn't a Japanese company, but their brake setups are used on higher performance Japanese cars. I've had this setup for about a month now and I'm extremely pleased. NO NOISE!!! ALMOST NO BRAKE DUST!!!

I purchased my complete setup from www.autopartswarehouse.com.

2002 - 2003 Nissan Maxima Brembo Brake Disc Brake Disc Price: $53.95 Qty: 2 Part #: BR25642

2002 - 2003 Nissan Maxima Brembo Brake Disc Brake Disc Price: $36.95 Qty: 2 Part #: BR25542

Akebono (OEM) Brake Pad Set Pro-ACT Ceramic w/Shims Price: $64.95 Qty: 1 Part #: N1010-264411

Akebono (OEM) Brake Pad Set Pro-ACT Ceramic w/Shims Price: $59.95 Qty: 1 Part #: N1010-146728



Sub Total: $306.70
Shipping: $0.00
Tax: $22.24
Core: $0.00
Total: $328.94

nk2k2

iTrader: (7)

wow thats a *****in deal for both front and rear. ive heard a few good things about akebono but noting like hawk hps pads. i think im going to get the generic rotor from a local auto parts place and go with akebono pads.

SoonerFan

iTrader: (5)

the overwhelming consensus on here is that the Hawk HPS is the best pad for our cars.
i did TONS of research on here before i decided to get them.

Stardust

iTrader: (10)

Pepboys carries Hawk HPS pads...

HotshotVQ35

iTrader: (5)

thats what i did..and went with the hawk HPS pads as well, great pad!

Kevon1

iTrader: (12)

My experience is just the opposite. I find that the best combo is the Raybesto QS with the brembo blanks. Almost no dusting,very good stopping power & very friendly on the rotors.

6SpeedTA95

Anyone know about the rear brakes on these cars? Do I have to twist the caliper pistons back down or do I just compress them straight in?

LA02MAX

iTrader: (3)

twist. You can rent a compressor from autozone for free or just use a pair of pliers. The compressor makes the job much easier, though.

SoonerFan

iTrader: (5)

large C-clamp will do it.

LA02MAX

iTrader: (3)

not the rears....you do that and you will jam the piston. They twist in unlike the fronts.

SoonerFan

iTrader: (5)

my bad...didnt realize that
thats stupid...why would the rears be different?

LA02MAX

iTrader: (3)

They do have the integrated parking brake

The rear brake design overall is much different from the fronts...

6SpeedTA95

Yes it is the integrated parking brake that makes the difference. I talked to a friend of mine today who used to be a mechanic and he gave me the heads up on it, figured I'd double check it on the board cause he wasn't 100% sure it was integrated but he thought it might be.

6SpeedTA95

What do you guys think about doing rear rotors at the same time? They're 34 each, I'm tempted to do it and be done with all the brakes and I may not have to replace them again as long as I own the car. Are the rears especially susceptible to warping?

Yayomax

I made the mistake with my 2nd gen about ten years ago when I first started wrenching by pressing in the piston. It took forever. Now I use a pair of needle nose pliers. There are two grooves on the piston that the tips fit right into so I can twist. Seems Nissan hasn't changed. I have yet to change my brakes on my 5th gen

LA02MAX

iTrader: (3)

I'd do them just to get them out of the way. Just get new pads/rotors and you'll be set.

LA02MAX

iTrader: (3)

Yep, 5th gens are still the same....