The last guy I had work on my brakes was a nissan mechanic who did the job for cash on the side. It came time to do brakes and rotors and I've found no shims, nor shim covers. I called a local Nissan dealer and they say the cost for the shim kit is $70!!! Didn't expect that at all to be honest.

Anyway, I'm ordering the kit tomorrow, but my question is are these really necessary?? These parts haven't been on my max for quite some time and I never really noticed.

A second question semi-related to this one. My hubs and rotor were ....let's say one with each other before my ever so gentle persuasion. (sarcasm). Should I wire wheel the hub before installing the new rotor or is that really necessary?

Thanks.

 

Ok...nevermind the above questions. I bought my shim kit and just put lub between the rotor and hub. BUT, my shim kit seems to be a variety pack....and doesn't look like the FSM. The part number for the kit is 41080-2Y027. It comes with 12 pieces, but I have no idea in which order they are supposed to be placed. Two are black vented shims. Two look like the shim for the 07/2001 + 3.5L on the courtesy nissan site, and two look like the shim covers for the 072001 + 3.5L and two look like the shim covers for the 2000-2001 3.0L. Then it comes with the pad retainers. Outside of the pad retainers, anybody have a clue about the order...or did I just get a jacked up hardware kit???

 

Here is the link to the kit.

http://img830.imageshack.us/i/dscn0170iy.jpg/

If someone can help a brother out, I'd love to put these on tonight and be done with this.

 

I just replaced my rear brakes with new rotors and pads ---> THE PADS CAME WITH THE SHIMS!!!!
I really hope you didn't really spend $70 on those pieces
I spend $75 for my rear rotors and pads from NAPA and yes the pads came with the shims!!!!

 

I bought wagner thermoquiet pads so they didn't come with the shims. I spent $58 on the brake hardware kit. Yes, I know that's a rip off, but just wanted the correct hardware for the car. Now it seems this kit doesn't match up to any schematic I can find, and even the parts guy at the dealer wasn't sure. He was supposed to get back to me this morning. I'm getting pissed enough I'm just gonna return the pads and hardware kit and go buy different pads with the shims......but then I still wouldn't have the shim covers!!!

 

for some reason there isint any rear brake hardware kits for the maxima cept OEM , I got shims with my thermoquiets on the front.

 

Personally, I haven't changed the brakes on my 5th gen or I would try to help. However, try to call David Burnett at South Point Nissan. He's very helpful and extremely patient. Usually if he can't find the information for me, he will point me to someone who can. It's worth a phone call.

 

Some aftermarket pads don't require shims.

If your new a/m pads didn't come with shims, or advise you to use them in their instructions, your wasting your $$$$ buying them.

 

If you still want to use those shims, take a look at the FSM for your car and find pages BR-24 and BR-28. There are diagrams that show where those shims you have should go. It also may help you with the rest of the hardware you received.

 

That's the problem, the FSM doesn't match up with the hardware I received from the dealer....which is why I'm confused.

The wagner pads say shims for specific applications. Not shimmed are considered OE and tell you to use an EMP compound on the back of the pads which acts as a noise suppressant. But, if it's considered OE, shouldn't the shims and shim covers still be used as per the FSM???

Good lord all I wanted to do was change the brakes and rotors...UGH.

 

Do you guys with shims attached to the pads still use the shim covers? If not I'm just gonna return everything I have and go that route.

 

I looked at the FSM for 2000 and noticed that, at least, the second and third rows of shims in your picture, match the ones on the diagram on page BR-24. Which FSM do you have?
EDIT: If we go by those diagrams, then you are missing another set of shims for the front pads.
FWIW, I don't get too picky about the pads and shims. The ceramic pads I've got from Autozone come with shims, with no shim covers, and they have been working fine for me.

 

Here's the funny thing....take a look at this link from courtesy nissan it appears these are parts from different years. All have the same hardware kit number, but there are two versions of that. The picture they show of one of the kits doesn't match up with any exactly...but mostly resembles the 07/2001+ 3.5L model. I guess I am to suppose this is a universal kit that doesn't match any exact model year. I'm just **** about getting stuff right as per FSM.....and it doesn't look like that is going to happen.

http://www.courtesyparts.com/maxima-...2052_2053.html

 

Well after speaking with the parts guy yesterday....who said he'd call back and didn't....then calling him back and him telling me his email was down and didn't get my pic. Then telling me he'd call today....which he didn't so I called him. Finally he passes me over to the tech who tells me he's looking at a nissan FSM and not some aftermarket....so "I would think this Nissan one would be more reliable don't you" so I tell him I've looked at schematics for courtesy nissan and none match....to which he finally says let me go grab the hardware kit (Novel idea huh), and he finally tells me how they go on.....after telling me the wrong way before he looked at the hardware. This only took 15 minutes of phone time. Ok...that's my rant.

SO, for future reference if you go to get this overpriced hardware kit as I did, here's how they go on.

Outter brake pad, vented shim, silver shim cover (looks like it has a hook)
Inner brake pad, shim with two holes, goldish shim cover

And then you'll find the silver shim cover doesn't fit......so I just excluded it.

 

Hey Guys,
I figured I'd share something as I never seen this before. the 2003 maxima went through 3 or 4 hardware adjustments. The original had the to anti rattle springs to return the brakes to the original position.
I changed the brakes on my car the first time and I did not see the springs so that caught my attention, and I only had shims that came with the brakes. After extensive research I found a dealer manual that have for example the Beck/Arney front and rear brake hardware with wings or tabs sticking out the sides.(you can't miss them if you look up the picture) These actually feed through the break sensor. I have no tried it yet as it is freezing in NY right now/ I have never had a car that had a return like that , nor would I think of applying the brakes like that unless with the newest hardware there is no other way. Check it out. I figured I'd mention that to everyone in case anybody was curious. I know I was curious on how the return worked. I bought the car used and the mechanic the guy used cross threaded the bolt that went on the front link stabilizer. So I really have to question his competence. Especially with the brakes now. Looks like original hardware with the brakes just placed in. Nissan advised me of the 4 time upgrade to the hardware then I founf the dealer manual that made mention on the tabs.