Another update on brakes .

[amati5]

Initially I posted that Douglass Nissan in Oragne wais gonna replace the rotors and pads. The service writer even told me that yesterday when I bought the car in. However, when I took the car home and read the receipts, they didn't replace the rotors but resurfaced them instead. I called and was explained that the tech had predicted that by the time the parts get in, my rotors would have been out of spec but they weren't.

The steering wheels stops shaking when brakes are applied as well as the firmed up brake pedal but I only drove 10 miles at city speed so I am not sure about the long term result.

[Big Platinum]

There is probably no point in replacing them anyway because they are just going to go bad again. Until Nissan gets a real fix, I'm waiting, mine aren't too bad yet.

[ATitan4Me]

I have had my rotors resurfaced at 3500 miles. I know have 8000 miles and I nedd them to be resurfaced again. I have placed calls with Nissan to ask about the 12000 mile warranty that covers our brakes and they have said that they will not extend the warranty because its not their resposnibility. I the told them that I would never purchase a Nissan again. Now I have been in contact qith the R&D department explaining my drivng habits and what conditions I normally drive in. Hopefully this will help all of our problems in the future and as for the fix now they are performing the TSB and giving me new rotors.

[TITAN21]

Originally Posted by ATitan4Me

I have placed calls with Nissan to ask about the 12000 mile warranty that covers our brakes and they have said that they will not extend the warranty because its not their resposnibility. I the told them that I would never purchase a Nissan again.

haha, i like how blunt that was.

[overdose]

I wonder why some people have not had this problem, does it have to do with the way they drive? Because i'm at 3,400 right now and i'm positive i'm not due for rotor resurfacing.In fact, i got my oil changed couple weeks ago, got the rotors checked,and the rear differential also, and all was good. Dealer checked and i checked to make sure. The question of the driving comes because obviously everyone sees everyone else drive. What i have seen is that many people (especially here in southern california) do not know how to come to a stop, either at a stop light or sign. I have seen that when coming to a stop, they will stop abruptly, not a smooth stop like I do. You know what i'm talking about, they stop at the last freakin' second, you can see that the inertia on the vehicle is still going forward. I know the front rotors on the TITAN are too small, but i'm just curious why the warped rotors has happenned to some and not all.

[amati5]

Originally Posted by overdose

I wonder why some people have not had this problem, does it have to do with the way they drive? Because i'm at 3,400 right now and i'm positive i'm not due for rotor resurfacing.In fact, i got my oil changed couple weeks ago, got the rotors checked,and the rear differential also, and all was good. Dealer checked and i checked to make sure. The question of the driving comes because obviously everyone sees everyone else drive. What i have seen is that many people (especially here in southern california) do not know how to come to a stop, either at a stop light or sign. I have seen that when coming to a stop, they will stop abruptly, not a smooth stop like I do. You know what i'm talking about, they stop at the last freakin' second, you can see that the inertia on the vehicle is still going forward. I know the front rotors on the TITAN are too small, but i'm just curious why the warped rotors has happenned to some and not all.

May be the mushy brake pedal (used to be, fixed) has something to do with how people brake late and caused the rotors to be warped. I always try to stop smoothly coming to a stop but sometimes I forgot how deep I had to push to slow down the car, especially when the car was still new to me.

[ssdivot]

Exact same issue, mileage and response from Nissan. While in the shop today, Elk Grove CA, for 7500mi service ($90), one of the service staff said that Nissan has a service bulletin out regarding rotors/brakes. I paid Nissan to fix the problem at 3400 miles. Now, I'm hoping that someone has a link to the service bulletin and everyone can get it fixed - - for free! And yes, I'll be asking for a refund. Otherwise, I love the truck and gave my wife the Tahoe Z71.

[37L1]

Originally Posted by ssdivot

Exact same issue, mileage and response from Nissan. While in the shop today, Elk Grove CA, for 7500mi service ($90), one of the service staff said that Nissan has a service bulletin out regarding rotors/brakes. I paid Nissan to fix the problem at 3400 miles. Now, I'm hoping that someone has a link to the service bulletin and everyone can get it fixed - - for free! And yes, I'll be asking for a refund. Otherwise, I love the truck and gave my wife the Tahoe Z71.

http://www.infinitihelp.com/Ownershi.../NTB04-066.htm

[Steamguy]

Originally Posted by amati5

May be the mushy brake pedal (used to be, fixed) has something to do with how people brake late and caused the rotors to be warped. I always try to stop smoothly coming to a stop but sometimes I forgot how deep I had to push to slow down the car, especially when the car was still new to me.

Amati,

Here's all of the pieces of the puzzle. I had three Dodge trucks before the Titan: Dakota, 1500, 3500 dually. The first two had this stupid brake problem that people are having now. It has a lot to do with the design of the rotor and the brake caliper.

You are RIGHT in it has everything to do with the way that people stop. It has NOTHING to do with the mushy brake pedal. I was griping about the mushy brake pedal, and could not get the dealer to bleed the brakes for me, so I went to a good shop and had it done. PROBLEM SOLVED!

Now then: to the warped rotor thing. The design of the rotor does NOT let it dissipate heat quickly enough when stopping; so here's what you do:

When stopping fast, stop SHORT of the vehicle in front of you. This will position the hot brake pucks in one spot on the disks. Do not allow the truck to 'rest' in that one spot. Instead, allow the truck to roll SLOWLY toward the vehicle in front of you. This will allow the hot brake pucks to spread their heat over the ENTIRE rotor, instead of on just one small spot. Overheating one small spot like this is what causes warping. If you think of the brake pucks in one spot on the wheel, then think of moving that hot spot on the wheel gradually around to distribute the heat.

With my Dodges, whenever I noticed some steering wheel shimmy on a stop, I would stop REALLY HARD and perform this practice. Generally I would try to do it a couple of times when no one was around, since I was trying to stand the truck on its nose. It always worked.

Now, I'm not saying that this will work perfectly for everyone, but I now have better than 10,000 miles on my very early truck (11-11-03) and have had NO problems.

Give this a try, and if it works, spread the word.

[Big Platinum]

Good advice Steamguy...

I've also heard you can try running in reverse and slamming the brakes, haven't tried it yet but couldn't hurt.

5000 miles on mine and brakes holding OK, whenever I have to brake hard or for a long period of time, I take advantage of that sweet floor mounted shifted and slam it in third. It'll at least save my brakes until Nissan comes out with a good fix, or I can get a set of cross drilled or slotted rotors.

[04ArmadaGalaxySE4x2]

I have driven 6,000 miles since I have purchased my Armada 4/27/2004, and I don't have any brake problems. My vehicle was built in March 2004.

Is it possible for everyone to post the build date of their vehicles? Nissan changed parts and/or suppliers to remedy complaints, and the build dates may give everyone a general idea when the changes were made.

I do not have the same brakes found on earlier built, that is probably why I do not have a brake problem. Yes, they probably have a fix. Nissan knows when the stopped using the defective brake parts. I would call Nissan and raise hell for new pads and rotors!

[Truck41]

this brake problem, is not a people problem, it is most certainly a manufacturing problem. brakes systems are not designed just for the easy braker, they're supposed to be designed for the intended use, and in this case, a full size truck, that can pull 9500lbs. if what you say about driving habits is true, then they should have different trucks for little old ladies, and the brute. what is true, is that nissan an its supplier are having quality control problems. the same company that build rotors for dodge, may have built them for nissan.

[Tony]

Bought truck the last week of 2003. Now at 12,050 miles, I can just detect the beginnings of brake "judder" (or whatever the new tech term for rotor warping).

History:
Two RX7s 81, 83 - no judder
74 & 76 Euro Capris - brake judder with occasional severe favoring of left over right (and vice versa) front calipers. What an adventure fighting that steering wheel!
90 T-Bird SC - 4 sets of new rotors over 110K miles!
93 Mark VIII - 2 sets of new rotors over 80K miles
94 Ram - didn't keep this sieve long enough to know.
95 Lightning - 120K miles with never a whimper from brakes. (performance designed brakes?)
93 Supra t-turbo - perfect.
98 BMW 3-series - once, rotors turned.
95 J30 - once, rotors turned.
86 944 stock - no problem.

Point: I don't think it is driving style. (And Ford may be getting the hang of it now.)IMO it's a combination of design, and wheel lug torque and tightening sequence.

[Big Platinum]

Hey Tony, how would the wheel lug torque and tightening sequence affect the rotors?

[Tony]

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/torque.htm
http://www.tireguides.com/tip3.html
http://www.mobilexhibit.com/wheels&.html
http://www.mdzclub.org/techtips/nuts.html
These explain it better than I