I hear a lot of people get their rotors resurfaced. I'm actually thinking I might now need to have the same done.

Recently I started getting the shimmy in the wheel when I apply the breaks at all speeds, which is a classic case of warped rotors. The real kicker is the shimmy only started after I rotated my tires.

I've been a hobby mechanic for sometime so rotating the tires isn't really brain surgery, the only thing you have to know is the TQ specs on the lug nuts, which is 80lbs. I tightened them to just about 90lbs to 95lbs - because that's what I had my impact gun set to.

Then it occurred to me... I've replaced my fair share of wheels and tires in the past - mostly on my own Jeep and a few others. Twice I have ruined rotors by over tightening the lugs, but that was because I over tightened the lugs down to 150lbs or more... Yes you can actually force your rotors to warp from the amount of lbs per sq inch being pulled from studs and the heat that is generated from breaking will cause the rotor to deform. This is why there are specs for lug nuts. The spec isn't just there to insure the wheel held to the rotor safely.

So I hear, and have no actual evidence to back this up, that Nissan uses cheap rotors. How so? Is the rotor just poor quality metal? Could it be possible that since I over tightened my rotors by 15lbs caused the rotors to warp because of the claimed cheapness of the rotor?

Think about it...

 

I know they had some issues with the Titans on smaller than average rotors, but nothing I have heard relates that to the Maxima. Sorry to hear about that, but if it just started after you rotated, there has to be a related cause there.

 

I have less than 24K on my '04, and I'm taking her back in on Thursday for the rotors (2nd time). Seems like there's something up with them.

 

Its my understanding that Nissans' policy is to resurface the rotors one time, and if the problem re-occurs to replace the rotors and pads at that time (if the mileage is low enough). I had mine replaced under warranty as have a number of other owners.

CM.

 

If that's their policy, it hasn't hit my dealer yet. I've had my rotors resurfaced twice and never replaced in the course of 14000 miles...

 

the poor rotor tag is based solely on the many owners on the org. Maxima oem rotors are known to warp here.

It is dealer policy not Nissan to do any courtesy turns or replacements.

 

Specs call for 80 foot pounds on the Maxima lugs, but mine came with (IIRC) between 87 (loosest) and 96 (tightest) foot pounds.

I immediately retorqued to 75 foot pounds (I've used 75 on my Maximas for over a decade). My son (the auto expert in my family) uses 70 foot pounds on his TL Type 'S', and has used 70 on many vehicles over the years.

He does the brakework on both his car and his friend's cars, and has long felt that overtorqued lugs can be one of the causes of warped rotors.

I have 13 months and over 10K on my SL, without the slightest hint of rotor shimmy.

For those who may have any question about torqueing lug nuts, there is a 'STICKY' at the top of this board that gives great detail on this process.