I've come to this forum in hopes that you guys can give me the answers I seek. I don't know very much about my car, or cars in general, but I do know something's up with my truck.
I drive a '99 Frontier and recently I noticed some screeching when I brake, even very lightly. It's high pitched and definitely doesn't sound pretty. The car hasn't even been driven around very much, as I got it new a couple years ago and it only has a bit above 50k miles on it.
My first reaction was that I need to replace the brake pads or something. I called a service station and they said I needed to switch up the (probably) front pads and that it was about time i changed it (however i erroneously told them i was at 60k). The mech also told me it would cost around 160-180 bucks.
What do you guys think? Is it the brake pads? Does that really cost 180 dollars to replace? Should I just take it to a Nissan service center?
Hard to diagnose without being there, but I would say brake pads as a first guess.
And anything over about $100 or so is robbery. Shop around for a better price or, better yet, get a manual and do it yourself. Disc brake pads are easy.
__________________ 2005 Frontier Nismo CC 4x2 -- Aztec Red, Rockford-Fosgate, Sunroof, Side Curtain Air Bags, Tow Package, Bed Extender, Hard Tonneau (finally!!), Microfilter, Manik Step Bars, Nissan iPod Interface, Ground Wire Kit, and more to come . . .
I've come to this forum in hopes that you guys can give me the answers I seek. I don't know very much about my car, or cars in general, but I do know something's up with my truck.
I drive a '99 Frontier and recently I noticed some screeching when I brake, even very lightly. It's high pitched and definitely doesn't sound pretty. The car hasn't even been driven around very much, as I got it new a couple years ago and it only has a bit above 50k miles on it.
My first reaction was that I need to replace the brake pads or something. I called a service station and they said I needed to switch up the (probably) front pads and that it was about time i changed it (however i erroneously told them i was at 60k). The mech also told me it would cost around 160-180 bucks.
What do you guys think? Is it the brake pads? Does that really cost 180 dollars to replace? Should I just take it to a Nissan service center?
I'd appreciate any input.
Depending on the type of driving (a lot of city driving say), it could be the pads. Usually when a shop does the brake job they will turn the rotors (machine some metal off the surface to make it even), grease the bearings (2wd vehicles), and put the new pads in.
Brake pads are an easy job and unless the rotors are scored/grooved you can usually bypass turning them, but if you consider yourself a novice mechanic, a brake job may not be the best place to start. You should be able to find a shop (maybe even the dealer) that would be cheaper than $180; you could probably replace the pads and get new rotors (unnecessary unless they are warped or have been damaged or machined too many times -- not likely at 50k miles) for that price.
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Jerry
2004 Frontier, King Cab, XE, 4x1, 4-cyl, 5-spd My Frontier Page
I'm not sure where you live, but if you have a Meineke or brake specialty place anywhere around you, you should be able to bring it in and have them look at it and give you a free quote. You'd be better served having someone look at it in person.. might be hard to accurately diagnose it over the phone.
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2005 Nissan Frontier NISMO 4x2 CC Cardomain Page
If you need to turn down your rotors, there are places where you can take them to be turned down. Usually I check the rotors and if they look fine then I pop in just the new pads. If after driving the brakes do not feel all that good I pull the rotors and take them to a local place to have them turned down.
I have not replaced the rotors on my frontier so I am not sure if just the rotor can be replaced. Can anyone confirm?
My other truck has the rotor and hub ingrated in one-piece so when you pulled the rotor the wheel bearings were exposed (not a job for a novice IMO)
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2001 Frontier SE 4x4 Crew Cab
Mostly stock but always looking for mods...
Yes, you can change just rotors on an '01 Nissan Frontier 2WD.
Take off the wheel.
Unpin the brake caliper.
There is a retainer ring holding the rotor on. Put a screw driver in one of the 2 holes in the ring, tap downward, unscrew.
Somewhere in this process the cap for the front wheel bearing comes off. Super easy, just prys off with a flat screw driver, pops right back in.
The bearing can be pulled out by hand. I did and regreased it. It just slides back in.
Reinstall is the reverse of uninstall. No need to open the brake system. Did mine myself. The only tools I needed were; tire iron, jack, jack stands, hammer, flat head screw driver, a 14 mm wrench and socket w/ ratchet. I think it was 14 mm.
Do I Have a Brake Problem?
I don't know very much about my car, or cars in general, but I do know something's up with my truck.
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