brakes "grind" under medium pressure - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

adey · 04-24-2002, 04:26 AM

My brakes've been squealing moderately since I got the car, but this is new -- After the brakes squeal (only under light load) it starts to feel like something's grinding or scraping up front-- A slight sound, but more like pedal feel. This comes under moderate braking, but disappears under hard braking.

Any idea what it could be? I'm guessing it's not alignment because driving is fine all the way past 90mph (when it starts to vibrate slightly). What could possibly be "grinding"!? I won't have time to take wheels off to visually examine, as examinations are rolling around, so any suggestions (errr) would be appreciated.

guidot · 04-24-2002, 08:55 AM

many things could be grinding.  The wear indicators could be bent and up against the pad so they would be scraping a hole in your rotor.  You could have something on your pad or rotor, some kind of imperfection....get em checked out...those are the most important things on a car!

nrcooled · 04-24-2002, 09:08 AM

I had the same problem.  Solution--brakes were fried.  After a couple of high speed braking fiascos I warped the rotors and killed the pads.

the grinding was from the warping and needed to be replaced.  Think of it as a good reason to get some crossed drilled and sloted rotors and some good pads. Brembos!!!  Or maybe even a big brake conversion::hahaha::

adey · 04-24-2002, 02:23 PM

thanks for the ... uh... encouraging words, nrcooled. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='

'>  I will have these things checked out asap... that is, in early may after finals. D'oh.

BlackFox · 04-24-2002, 02:37 PM

I'm getting the Brembo big brake kit, 13" rotors, 4 piston calipers, 3cm wide rotors  <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbsup:'>  I should be able to get a pretty good discount, let me know if any of you are interested in Brembo stuff

adey · 04-24-2002, 03:01 PM

Holy shit how much is that going to run?!!  I'd actually hoped to upgrade all 4 corners eventually, though.

Unfortunately chances are I will have to pass on the offer, especially with money going into fixing the body. I'm also short (like really short) on cash, which doesn't really help anything.

Halz · 04-25-2002, 06:26 PM

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (BlackFox @ April 24 2002,3:37)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I'm getting the Brembo big brake kit, 13" rotors, 4 piston calipers, 3cm wide rotors <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbsup:'> I should be able to get a pretty good discount, let me know if any of you are interested in Brembo stuff</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
I could be interested in Brembo's..

[email protected]

*sykikchimp* · 04-26-2002, 08:45 AM

Just fyi, but generally when you think your rotors are warped, they aren't technically warped.  It takes VERY high pressure and heat to actually get an Iron rotor to warp.  What happens is your pads get above their peak operating temperature and lay an uneven layer of pad down on the rotor.  When the pad material cools it becomes something called cementite, which is harder than the rotor itself.  (this is the stuff they scrape off when turning your rotors)  That uneven layer is what causes the problem with vibration in your braking.  This can usually be avoided with proper brake-in of your rotors and brake pads.  LITE braking for the first 500 miles when you get your new rotors.  and repeat the procedure anytime you get new pads.  This will lay down an even layer of pad material on the rotor.  And should prevent future problems

adey · 04-26-2002, 11:18 PM

I was under the impression that to "properly" bed the pads, you had to do a series of 25-0, 50-0 and 100-0 stops...? I don't have the link to where I read that, but does that sound about right, or was that some crazy guy shooting off sh*t?

As far as I've heard, there's a similar process you need to go through when seasoning your rotors, too. And no, it's not a pinch of pepper. (oooh, ha. ha. ha. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hmmm.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':hmmm:'> )

04-24-2002, 04:26 AM	#1
adey Post Whore! Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 3,072 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	My brakes've been squealing moderately since I got the car, but this is new -- After the brakes squeal (only under light load) it starts to feel like something's grinding or scraping up front-- A slight sound, but more like pedal feel. This comes under moderate braking, but disappears under hard braking. Any idea what it could be? I'm guessing it's not alignment because driving is fine all the way past 90mph (when it starts to vibrate slightly). What could possibly be "grinding"!? I won't have time to take wheels off to visually examine, as examinations are rolling around, so any suggestions (errr) would be appreciated. __________________ Instagram: @SX180HKG

04-24-2002, 08:55 AM	#2
guidot Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cape Cod, MA Age: 45 Posts: 443 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	many things could be grinding.  The wear indicators could be bent and up against the pad so they would be scraping a hole in your rotor.  You could have something on your pad or rotor, some kind of imperfection....get em checked out...those are the most important things on a car! __________________ -Jeff T. 96 240SX 240SXONE http://www.240sxone.com

04-24-2002, 09:08 AM	#3
nrcooled Nissanaholic! Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Turn 8 'bout to get rolled by a SC'd ITR Age: 46 Posts: 1,849 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I had the same problem.  Solution--brakes were fried.  After a couple of high speed braking fiascos I warped the rotors and killed the pads. the grinding was from the warping and needed to be replaced.  Think of it as a good reason to get some crossed drilled and sloted rotors and some good pads. Brembos!!!  Or maybe even a big brake conversion::hahaha:: __________________ '91 hatch w/ SR Sold; '03 Evo Sold 401 HP; '03 MS Protege sold; '00 Evo 6.5 TME Sold 300HP

04-24-2002, 02:23 PM	#4
adey Post Whore! Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 3,072 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	thanks for the ... uh... encouraging words, nrcooled. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>  I will have these things checked out asap... that is, in early may after finals. D'oh. __________________ Instagram: @SX180HKG

04-24-2002, 02:37 PM	#5
BlackFox Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 534 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I'm getting the Brembo big brake kit, 13" rotors, 4 piston calipers, 3cm wide rotors  <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbsup:'>  I should be able to get a pretty good discount, let me know if any of you are interested in Brembo stuff __________________ Current Cars: 1976 Mercedes Benz 300D 1995 240sx SE aka Kate (winner: Best Stock S14 @ 2002 National Convention) http://community.webshots.com/user/jeff976cal If you're interested in parts email me [email protected]

04-24-2002, 03:01 PM	#6
adey Post Whore! Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 3,072 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Holy shit how much is that going to run?!!  I'd actually hoped to upgrade all 4 corners eventually, though. Unfortunately chances are I will have to pass on the offer, especially with money going into fixing the body. I'm also short (like really short) on cash, which doesn't really help anything. __________________ Instagram: @SX180HKG

04-25-2002, 06:26 PM	#7
Halz BANNED Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: bay area Age: 41 Posts: 214 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (BlackFox @ April 24 2002,3:37)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I'm getting the Brembo big brake kit, 13" rotors, 4 piston calipers, 3cm wide rotors <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbsup:'> I should be able to get a pretty good discount, let me know if any of you are interested in Brembo stuff</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'> I could be interested in Brembo's.. [email protected]

04-26-2002, 08:45 AM	#8
sykikchimp WOW addicted Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the moon Age: 44 Posts: 6,525 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Just fyi, but generally when you think your rotors are warped, they aren't technically warped.  It takes VERY high pressure and heat to actually get an Iron rotor to warp.  What happens is your pads get above their peak operating temperature and lay an uneven layer of pad down on the rotor.  When the pad material cools it becomes something called cementite, which is harder than the rotor itself.  (this is the stuff they scrape off when turning your rotors)  That uneven layer is what causes the problem with vibration in your braking.  This can usually be avoided with proper brake-in of your rotors and brake pads.  LITE braking for the first 500 miles when you get your new rotors.  and repeat the procedure anytime you get new pads.  This will lay down an even layer of pad material on the rotor.  And should prevent future problems __________________

04-26-2002, 11:18 PM	#9
adey Post Whore! Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 3,072 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I was under the impression that to "properly" bed the pads, you had to do a series of 25-0, 50-0 and 100-0 stops...? I don't have the link to where I read that, but does that sound about right, or was that some crazy guy shooting off sh*t? As far as I've heard, there's a similar process you need to go through when seasoning your rotors, too. And no, it's not a pinch of pepper. (oooh, ha. ha. ha. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hmmm.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':hmmm:'> ) __________________ Instagram: @SX180HKG