2003 Nissan Altima

Breaks squeal. Have more than 60% left. So breaks are good. Uh...was told by my retired mechanic it's fine. Breaks were recently replaced earlier this year. He mentioned to me it was just the type of breaks he replaced them with. I guess there are 3 types. The cheapy type, the middle type and the higher end types. Something like that. Sorry...can't remember word for word. Basically, I got the middle type (average type ones).

I can't stand the squeal anymore. It only happens when I press on the breaks of course. Is there anything I can do...adjust something or anything? Or...is this not a DIY thing?

What I have been doing is just turning the radio on loud enough so I don't hear it and so it doesn't bother me but I'm sure the cars next to me are annoyed. If the squeal is ok...then I can just continue listening to my music loud but if it's going to cause more problems for me in the long run...I'd rather get it taken care of-either DIY or have someone else do it.

 

I think they sell a spray at auto zone that will clean the discs and stop the squealing for a while, read the label instructions carefully, make sure you don't spray brake fluid hose line and other brake parts.

 

Cool Thanks. I'll look into it. Ummm...excuse my lack of knowledge as I don't usually work on my own car and I'm a female (not that that means anything) but would I have to take the tires off and stuff?

 

Have you been driving on any dry dusty roads? Sometimes dirt can get in there and make it sound bad. We have a long gravel driveway and the brakes on my wife's merc sound like they're wore out. I've got where I just ignore it [and her ] I've double checked them too many times and know they still have plenty of life left.

It is also possible that a brake shoe or spring [only on rear] has gotten misaligned and is rubbing slightly. I assume your mechanic checked for that.

 

If you can see the disc brake surface w/out taking wheel off ( holes or opening of the rim design ) you should be ok with just spraying from opening, just make sure you actually hit the disc surface.
now this stuff works but only for a while most likely you'll have to do it again at some point.

 

marksr,

Hmmm.... nah...I don't think so. Maybe. I dunno. Don't remember ever doing that. So the theory of cheap vs. good vs. average breaks has nothing to do with it huh?

I think constant spraying when needed is good enough. Now if I have to do it every day...argh! I think I should be able to see the disc brake. It's silver and shiny right?

 

The rotor is silver and shiny, the pads are on the caliper which holds them in contact with the rotor. Spraying the rotor might get enough on the pads. The pad itself is a grayish black but the metal part is painted whatever color that brand uses

I usually buy brakes according to price and warranty. The better brakes usually wear longer and some of the new ones [ceramic] are supposed to help keep your wheels clean - no brake dust. Used to be they put holes in the pads to cut down on noise but I haven't seen that in a while.

 

I just tell the guy I need new breaks. It was a friend of the family so...I just ask and he does whatever he thinks is best . I'm glad you mentioned that b/c it's good to know these things. I guess with better breaks and better warranty it'll cost more too eh?

Thanks for all that info marksr! ARgh! I got confused now. I think I'll look at a diagram or something. However, you didn't mention what the disc brakes look like! Or...did you name it but it's also called a disc brake? Are the rotors the same as the disc brake?

I think it's time to actually take the hub cap off and looky looky!

 

The rotor is round, slightly smaller in diameter than your hub cap probably is. The pads are held in place by the caliper which sets one pad on each side of the rotor. The pads squeeze against the rotor to stop the car. The pad itself isn't all that big - maybe a couple inches wide and 5-6" long.

I don't know for sure but if you go to autozone.com [or similiar site] they may have a pic or diagram of the front brakes. Labor for cheap versus expensive brakes is the same. Price for the brake shoe/pad itself varies. I always buy the lifetime warranty brakes and install myself. If your mechanic used lifetime warranty pads and kept the reciept [or the stores computer did] next time you'll only need to pay for the labor.

 

Thanks again I'll see what I can actually see. Worse case I can just take the tires off. THAT...I can do If I run into trouble, I'll post a pic and I should be able to explain things better and have an idea of where everything is located and what everything is called.

I doubt they were lifetime warranty ones. He's retired now and I don't go to the shop anymore. Just trying to do what I can in the meanwhile.

 

Nissan brakes are great for squeeling......So much so that Nissan doesn't address the problem anymore..........they just sorta ignore it........Altima's Maxima's ...........The Murano in particular..........Sprays and such work for a short time, but aren't a permanent fix. I have found, over time, that replacing the pads with Ceramic pads solves these problems ...........for the most part.........
the ceramic pads aren't cheap but they perform better than the semi metallic

 

Hmmm...interesting to know-thanks! I think I'll look into that next time. In all honesty, I just want something that lasts long and well worth the cost and not cause me problems.

Ok...so I'm not going to do this over night but I'll get to it.

Thanks guys