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Time for some brakes...thoughts? suggestions?

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Old 04-13-2007 | 06:49 PM
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Time for some brakes...thoughts? suggestions?

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?
Old 04-13-2007 | 06:51 PM
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Hawk HPS and blanks are your best bet by far.

Go to the GD section and look for a deal.

Thread/
Old 04-13-2007 | 06:55 PM
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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



Old 04-13-2007 | 06:56 PM
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Originally Posted by soonerfan
just installed by Hawk HPS today (thanks to josh for his help)

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



can I see a pic of the trashed rotor??
Old 04-13-2007 | 06:57 PM
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are those oem rotors? or brembos?
Old 04-13-2007 | 07:00 PM
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trashed rotors!!
very badly rusted and for some reason, the inside wore down way more than the outside.



Old 04-13-2007 | 07:01 PM
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Originally Posted by djbonsu
are those oem rotors? or brembos?
OEM
the ones on the car just started going bad - grinding and warped (around 60Kmiles will lots of auto-x).
Old 04-13-2007 | 07:02 PM
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So do you think the jump to brembo's would be worth it on the front?
Old 04-13-2007 | 07:08 PM
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Originally Posted by 6SpeedTA95
So do you think the jump to brembo's would be worth it on the front?
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
Old 04-13-2007 | 07:10 PM
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Originally Posted by soonerfan
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
I think the world is going to end!!

Your helping people!
Old 04-13-2007 | 07:12 PM
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Originally Posted by soonerfan
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
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.
Old 04-13-2007 | 07:14 PM
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Originally Posted by The Law
I think the world is going to end!!

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

Old 04-13-2007 | 07:15 PM
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Originally Posted by 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.
FYI, bought my rotors from advance auto parts (similar to autozone there...that i miss) for $48 each (nissan wanted $98)
Old 04-13-2007 | 07:27 PM
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Originally Posted by soonerfan
FYI, bought my rotors from advance auto parts (similar to autozone there...that i miss) for $48 each (nissan wanted $98)
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
Old 04-13-2007 | 07:30 PM
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they dont have the pads...i got mine online. a local tuning/racing store may carry them. call around
Old 04-13-2007 | 07:33 PM
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Originally Posted by soonerfan
they dont have the pads...i got mine online. a local tuning/racing store may carry them. call around
If I still lived in OKC I would but I'm an hour drive from anywhere now
Old 04-13-2007 | 08:05 PM
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so does it really not matter what kind of blank rotors you have?
Old 04-13-2007 | 08:06 PM
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Originally Posted by joebangaa
so does it really not matter what kind of blank rotors you have?

Some say yes... Some say no.

I say no it does not matter at all.
Old 04-13-2007 | 08:40 PM
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Originally Posted by upstatemax
Some say yes... Some say no.

I say no it does not matter at all.
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 )
Old 04-13-2007 | 11:24 PM
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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.

Old 04-14-2007 | 07:27 AM
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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.
Old 04-14-2007 | 07:51 AM
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Originally Posted by nk2k2
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.
wearever brake rotors ($48)
exact same thing that Nissan wanted $98 for
Old 04-14-2007 | 10:25 AM
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No suggested it so I will... how about going with the larger Gen 6 rotors and calipers
Old 04-14-2007 | 10:42 AM
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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
Old 04-14-2007 | 12:01 PM
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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.
Old 04-14-2007 | 12:03 PM
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Originally Posted by nk2k2
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.
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.
Old 04-14-2007 | 12:14 PM
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Pepboys carries Hawk HPS pads...
Old 04-14-2007 | 12:48 PM
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thats what i did..and went with the hawk HPS pads as well, great pad!

Originally Posted by RLW001
No suggested it so I will... how about going with the larger Gen 6 rotors and calipers
Old 04-14-2007 | 02:30 PM
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Raybest QS

Originally Posted by maximo-SE
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.

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.
Old 04-14-2007 | 02:37 PM
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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?
Old 04-14-2007 | 02:38 PM
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Originally Posted by 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?
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.
Old 04-14-2007 | 02:50 PM
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Originally Posted by 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?
large C-clamp will do it.
Old 04-14-2007 | 02:59 PM
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Originally Posted by soonerfan
large C-clamp will do it.
not the rears....you do that and you will jam the piston. They twist in unlike the fronts.
Old 04-14-2007 | 03:03 PM
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Originally Posted by LA02MAX
not the rears....you do that and you will jam the piston. They twist in unlike the fronts.
my bad...didnt realize that
thats stupid...why would the rears be different?
Old 04-14-2007 | 03:04 PM
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Originally Posted by soonerfan
my bad...didnt realize that
thats stupid...why would the rears be different?
They do have the integrated parking brake

The rear brake design overall is much different from the fronts...
Old 04-14-2007 | 03:44 PM
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Originally Posted by LA02MAX
They do have the integrated parking brake

The rear brake design overall is much different from the fronts...
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.
Old 04-14-2007 | 03:46 PM
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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?
Old 04-14-2007 | 03:56 PM
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Originally Posted by soonerfan
my bad...didnt realize that
thats stupid...why would the rears be different?
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
Old 04-14-2007 | 04:09 PM
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Originally Posted by 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?
I'd do them just to get them out of the way. Just get new pads/rotors and you'll be set.
Old 04-14-2007 | 04:10 PM
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Originally Posted by 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
Yep, 5th gens are still the same....



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