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Replacing Front Brakes

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Old Jan 22, 2007 | 06:22 AM
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Replacing Front Brakes

Yesterday I tried to replace my factory rotors and pads with Brembro rotors and Hawk pads...it was morethan a job and a half. I had a hard time bustin the two bolts that hold the pads in place. I ended up knocking out the studs instead to get the rotor off. Needless to say, it took a while to get them back in because there is no room in the back to knock them back in. I had to drive around for a while stop and tighten up the lugs un til they were in completely. Now, my delima is the next side...I am sooo afraid to go near it. Does anyone have any suggestion as to how i can tackle this without repeating the dissaster of yesterday? Don't wnat to keep driving around on one good set of brakes.
Old Jan 22, 2007 | 07:49 AM
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This is 6th gen forum, but i'm not a dush, so i'll help send some info your way! When I did my brakes, my dad suggested taking a big flat piece of wood and banging on the wrench that was on the nut being taken off. Turn the steering wheel all the way to one side and put the proper size wrench or ratchet on the bolt, have some one carefully hold the bottom of the wrench (far enough away so you don't slam them) and give it a few light hits and it'll break free!!! And repeat for other bolts!!! good stuff

Dan
Old Jan 22, 2007 | 07:54 AM
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Originally Posted by !PrjctMax!
This is 6th gen forum, but i'm not a dush, so i'll help send some info your way! When I did my brakes, my dad suggested taking a big flat piece of wood and banging on the wrench that was on the nut being taken off. Turn the steering wheel all the way to one side and put the proper size wrench or ratchet on the bolt, have some one carefully hold the bottom of the wrench (far enough away so you don't slam them) and give it a few light hits and it'll break free!!! And repeat for other bolts!!! good stuff

Dan
Hehe, POLAK potrafi!!!
Old Jan 22, 2007 | 07:59 AM
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Originally Posted by !PrjctMax!
This is 6th gen forum, but i'm not a dush, so i'll help send some info your way! When I did my brakes, my dad suggested taking a big flat piece of wood and banging on the wrench that was on the nut being taken off. Turn the steering wheel all the way to one side and put the proper size wrench or ratchet on the bolt, have some one carefully hold the bottom of the wrench (far enough away so you don't slam them) and give it a few light hits and it'll break free!!! And repeat for other bolts!!! good stuff

Dan
Sounds like a good idea. I do however own a '04 se...I know I need to update my profile. Any others. I trying my best to avoid a repeat. Thanks.
Old Jan 22, 2007 | 08:06 AM
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Originally Posted by xoomer.com
Hehe, POLAK potrafi!!!
no kurwa oczywiscie!!!!!
Old Jan 22, 2007 | 08:10 AM
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Originally Posted by jamaxin97
Sounds like a good idea. I do however own a '04 se...I know I need to update my profile. Any others. I trying my best to avoid a repeat. Thanks.
A piece of pipe to extend the wrench will work wonders.
Old Jan 22, 2007 | 08:12 AM
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Originally Posted by xoomer.com
A piece of pipe to extend the wrench will work wonders.
breaker-bar!
Old Jan 22, 2007 | 04:50 PM
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This makes me happy..

Now that I've read this I'm glad I didn't do them myself. I got Brembo Rotors and Hawk HPS pads and had AZAutoTrends do em. I'll tell you what $175 for the install was well worth it. My baby is stopping like a new car now...
Old Jan 22, 2007 | 06:38 PM
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Originally Posted by werdna58
Now that I've read this I'm glad I didn't do them myself. I got Brembo Rotors and Hawk HPS pads and had AZAutoTrends do em. I'll tell you what $175 for the install was well worth it. My baby is stopping like a new car now...
$175 for brake install?!?!?!?!? It's such an easy job, just need some patience and some muscle power...
Old Jan 22, 2007 | 06:56 PM
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Yeah, $175 is on the steep side. The guys who installed the whole BBK kits with SS lines took less than a buck.

Another guy in Queens wants $125 for BBK installation which requires changing calipers, rotors and brake lines.
Old Jan 22, 2007 | 08:15 PM
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I couldn't bother geeting into that mess again. I ended up paying a garage fifty bucks to change the rotors and pads on the drivers side. It was well worth it.
Old Jan 24, 2007 | 07:50 PM
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you shouldnt of had to bang anything to get the pads out, all you do is loosen the 2 bolts and they slide out...easy as pie.
Old Jan 24, 2007 | 11:44 PM
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Brembro, eh?
Old Jan 25, 2007 | 06:56 AM
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I am looking at purchasing some brembo rotors and hawk brake pads. Anybody know where I can find a deal on them. I purchased my car in FEB 05 changed the rotors and brakes in FEB06 and iI think it is time to get them done again. But I don't want factory parts no more. How long do you guys think that this combo will last?
Old Jan 25, 2007 | 10:08 AM
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interested in as well, which hawk pads are the best to get with the brembo rotors?
Old Jan 25, 2007 | 10:54 AM
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http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=374496

I would recommend RTP zinc plated rotors. They are pretty much the same quality as Brembo, but are zinc plated, which=a nice shinny looking hub for a long time, instead of it rusting and looking like BLAH! imo though, so w/e floats your boat!

dan

edit: hawk street pads are the most practical/economical choice.
Old Jan 25, 2007 | 11:11 AM
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Originally Posted by MIKEDINERO2000
I am looking at purchasing some brembo rotors and hawk brake pads. Anybody know where I can find a deal on them. I purchased my car in FEB 05 changed the rotors and brakes in FEB06 and iI think it is time to get them done again. But I don't want factory parts no more. How long do you guys think that this combo will last?
Wow, you must drive very hard or tailgate all the time to go thru brakes and rotors in a year
Old Jan 25, 2007 | 11:26 AM
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dan - rtp better than the brembo blanks?
Old Jan 25, 2007 | 11:38 AM
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Originally Posted by jamaxin97
I couldn't bother geeting into that mess again. I ended up paying a garage fifty bucks to change the rotors and pads on the drivers side. It was well worth it.
Man, that sucks. If you ever decide to try it again (which you should, it's saves you so much money when you do your own maintenance!) I suggest just using a longer wrench, or even a breaker bar. My brakes were 4 years old when I changed them and the bolts weren't on there THAT tight, so if you change them in a couple years again go ahead and try it yourself first. If you can't get the rotor off, don't be afraid to use something like a hammer. The rotor is going in the trash anyway so it won't hurt anything. Either that or there is a hole where you can put a screw into that will space the rotor away from the hub allowing you to remove it, but you have to find the right tap bolt in order to do it. Well sorry it turned out like that, but better luck next time!
Old Jan 25, 2007 | 11:50 AM
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Originally Posted by eK9aT10pSi
dan - rtp better than the brembo blanks?
Quality of the rotors is almost the same as Brembo-so stated the seller-but the main plus about the RTP rotor is that it has a zinc plating on it; prevents rusting and looks perty!
Old Jan 25, 2007 | 12:00 PM
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Just to let you people know, most newer brembo blank now are made in MEXICO still small quantity are made in Italy.
Old Jan 25, 2007 | 12:01 PM
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and the quality are different from where they are made.
Old Jan 25, 2007 | 05:58 PM
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is there a writeup on how to change your front & rear pads - as well as rotors?

i'm going to be needing a pad change pretty soon and would like to learn how to do it myself - is it worthwhile to go ahead and change the rotors also? i drive spiritedly but don't need to spend extra money on stopping the car faster/better unless it's warranted - stopping power seems just fine with the oem setup
Old Jan 26, 2007 | 06:52 AM
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Originally Posted by DONS459
Wow, you must drive very hard or tailgate all the time to go thru brakes and rotors in a year
No I don't tailgate or brake hard. I drive in NJ. Which means the speed limit is a little faster then everywhere else. I just think that Nissan brakes suck.
Old Jan 26, 2007 | 06:57 AM
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Originally Posted by MIKEDINERO2000
I just think that Nissan brakes suck.
you are not the only one!
Old Jan 26, 2007 | 10:12 AM
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the oem brakes do suck. I had them resurfaced twice since I've had the car and in a matter couples months, driving fifty miles a day on the highway, the damn things are warped again. I'm sure there's a lot more to factor into why they warp so fast but all I know is since I finally got the Brembro's and HPS Hawk installed, I've never been more happier and confident in my brakes...love them.
Old Jan 26, 2007 | 10:16 AM
  #27  
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Originally Posted by MIKEDINERO2000
I am looking at purchasing some brembo rotors and hawk brake pads. Anybody know where I can find a deal on them. I purchased my car in FEB 05 changed the rotors and brakes in FEB06 and iI think it is time to get them done again. But I don't want factory parts no more. How long do you guys think that this combo will last?
Try Tirerack...they have a pretty good deal going. Although I've been trying to get my since early December I finally got them last week from another dealer. Sorry I didn't just wait until Tirerack had them in stock. There service is usually quick.
Old Jan 28, 2007 | 01:33 PM
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bump for some sort of instructions
Old Jan 28, 2007 | 02:40 PM
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Originally Posted by OmarBadu
bump for some sort of instructions
just look at it..it's not that hard.

http://www.motorvate.ca/mvp.php/300
Old Jan 30, 2007 | 09:26 AM
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now you tell me...thanks!
Old Jan 30, 2007 | 11:41 AM
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Why not get 300zx brake conversion instead of OEM crap for about the same price?
Old Jan 31, 2007 | 08:29 AM
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Originally Posted by DeusExMaxima
Why not get 300zx brake conversion instead of OEM crap for about the same price?
Looking into that....there is plenty of new calipers on ebay at failry low prices. Now the clerance will be another thing. Deus do you know if these fit with stock 18"???
Old Feb 1, 2007 | 04:32 PM
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anyone know how much Brembo Rotors and Hawk HPS pads usually cost?
Old Feb 1, 2007 | 06:21 PM
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i did a detailed write up with pics for my front brake job, its somewhere n here but i dnt have search capabilities to get it for u
Old Feb 6, 2007 | 10:27 PM
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I can tell you that hawk HPS usually cost between $150-$170 for front and back
Old Feb 6, 2007 | 10:28 PM
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oh and btw we have one in stock for $150 Front and rear =)
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