I installed my new rotor and pads all around. On the front I lost 1 of the v shaped clips that goes in the holes of the pads. There are 2 per caliper; only for the front left and right. What is the purpose of this clip. I went to nissan and there computer does not show it at all. And it is not included in the brake hardware kit. I called another nissan and the guy said it come from the factory but when u change pads, u dont need it anymore. wtf, thats stupid, then why was is there to begin with. Nissan must have a replacement for it.

Please help,
Thanks

 

Which part are you speaking of? Are you talking about the inner and outer shim?

 

Go to any auto store and ask for a front brake hardware kit. There's one in there. They help spread the pads after you brake

 

i know exactly what ur talkin about. its that v clip that holds the pads together or so it seems. i actually took them off and nothing seems weird it was all fine. so id say dont worry about it.
truthfully those clips are too flimsy to actually have any effect

 

yah i lost mine too back in august and it seems fine

 

but I kinda hear a grazy sound when braking slowly at a light from the wheel taht has a clip missing. I dont see the clip on the diagram or the one on Nissans computer. How come they dont include it in their brake hardware kit, They only have the shims and the clip thats the top and bottom edge of the pad contacts on the caliper.

 

Those are just springs to help spread apart the pads like PAREDLINE said. They help keep the pads from rattling around when your foot is off the brakes by pussing them up against the calipers and off the rotors. Don't panic. You should be able to get rid of any funny noise by putting some antisqueal greese between the backs of the pads and caliper/piston. The stuff works great. Anyone like Oreilly or Autozone should have the spring. If not I don't see why the dealer doesn't. But if you can't find them it shouldn;t really hurt to have them off.

 

but if peice of the pad is always rubbing the rotor when not pressing that pad. Wouldnt that wear your pads faster?

 

I just got new rotors and new pads. I had been hearing the rear right rattle when I hit bumps and when I hit the brake. Now that I have new pads and rotors, I don't hear it on the bumps, but when I hit the brake sometimes, I hear it. Not nearly as often, though. It's like now that the pad is a lot thicker it doesn't move so much or something. There were no kits on either side in the back before I got new brakes. Would a hardware kit keep this thing from rattling? And why does it rattle only on the right side?

Also, I know I posted this already, but if it can get an even broader audience, then it's gravy. My emergency brake has to be pulled all the way up to even get a bite on the rotors. And if I was on a steep hill, I'm sure it would not hold the car still. What could have been done during the rotors and pads installation to make the emergency brake this way? The guy I had do it said just to adjust the lever tension, but I'm afraid to do that until I know why it's loose in the first place. I've gotten a few responses in my other thread, but what do you guys think? That is, if you aren't the same guys who've already replied.

 

well the dealer said its only a part that comes from the factory. And not needed when puting a new set of pads? So why would you need it there to begin with. So do any of you guys who had the car brand new and did the brake job yourself know what I'm talking about?

 

Loe max, thats the diagram of the rear caliper. Only the front has the clips. Do you have a pic of the front caliper diagram?

 

Thats absolutely corret.
That's why they don't show up in Nissan diagrams.

 

Yup. I have purchased both front and rear brake hardware kits from Nissan and neither included those V-springs. I've had no problems without them.

 

i know what ur talking about. i think its also for vibration.

 

If you need one that badly, why not just go to the junk yard? Nissan probably put them on to help reduce brake wear, noise etc. but NOT having the springs would not affect operation of the caliper or the pad. The pads actually move away from the rotor while you drive anyway. Known as "chatter".

 

They are there for vibration..I broke one of mine when I did my fronts...
I know for a fact that they are not on all the years, mines a 96...I stopped by an auto parts store and bought an ANTI-VIBRATION kit for the front of the maxima...it came with shims and those V clips...

-matt

 

The "V" clip is a vibration damper. It transfers vibrations from the pads back and forth. This causes the energy produced by the vibration to be expended by motion rather than sound. It is not necesary for safe operation.

If your rear breaks work, and you'd know if they didn't, it should be safe to adjust the tension on your rear break cable. It is not uncommon for them become loose after service.

 

Phew, that's what I've been wanting to hear. I hope you're right cause I'm gonna go ahead and tighten it up. I prefer not to leave my car in gear when I park it and I just know I'd forget that my e-brake is not tight and it would be cruising down the hill. I actually did something similar to my moms old sentra when I was 17. Car rolled down our driveway, through two houses across the street and into the woods behind them. It just so happened that the guy who parks across the street from our driveway was not there. We had to get a tow truck to fish it out of the woods. My dad was laughing and my mom was peaved cause the car was in the woods and because my dad was laughing. Good times.

EDIT: Please indulge me just a little more. What do you think about what these guys (maybe on another thread?) have said about the pistons not being centered or something not being even and causing the e-brake not to tighten after the Haynes recommended 8 to 10 clicks?

 

Wait, you let a car roll through two houses and yo ustill don't leave it in gear when you park?????

 

Yeah. That's why the e-brake is so important to me. The time the car rolled down the hill I just forgot to pull up the e-brake. I've never forgotten since and i dare say that I never will again.

 

Leaving a car in gear when parked stresses the trany.

If you havn't checked to see that your pads are seated on the piston corectly you should. It only takes a few minutes. Just lift each back wheel, pull the wheel, and look. Your car came with a jack and wrench if you don't have any tools. Check for problems talked about in your other post.
Other wise if you are really unsure take it to a shop. Explain what is wrong and what has already been done (i.e. pads changed ect.)... Chances are they can fix it for very little.
Good Luck

 

The part is called a Pad Return Spring according to page BR-12 of the Nissan shop manual, and only on the front calipers. Looks like it is NOT on the rears. I tried to buy the part today at the Nissan dealer, and it isn't even on their diagrams. It also isn't in their brake hardware kit. The parts guy said he's only seen them on aftermarket brakes. I just got a rebuilt front caliper at NAPA today, and it actually came with the Pad Return Springs. I haven't had the springs on mine for years and it hasn't seemed to make any difference. Call NAPA and see if they sell them in a kit.