My XE 2000 has 23000 miles and I just did
oil change at 22.5 k miles and declined the
dealer service menu. I am thinking of doing
brake service done at a local repair shop
instead of doing it at dealer.

How long does the brake pads last in Xterra
considering 50 % highway miles and 50 %
stop and go driving at 23000 miles.

What has been the experience of Xterra
owners with brakes and its service schedule.
Any other service required at 23 k miles.

Please share your experience.

x_owner




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I have 36K miles, and have not had the brakes done. The dealer will just insepct them. Or take it to an ASE mechenic and have them inspected.

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Pains heal,
Chicks dig scars,
and glory lasts forever

I just had the brakes inspected when they rotated the tires at the local Goodyear shop.

16K miles an plenty o' pad here.

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All your trail are belong to us

The front discs on an X are one of the easiest DIY jobs you'll find. You can save yourself some big $ and replace the pads yourself if you're the least bit mechanically inclined. You just need a socket set and a good-sized C-clamp (to depress the pistons). Other than removing the wheel, there's just 1 bolt per side to remove.

Brent

Well, I have 35K miles and my front pads appear to have atleast 50% left. I do mostly city driving and have the manual transmission, but I don't ride my brakes at all.

I have no idea about the rears...I can't see them.



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ChuckH
2000 SE 4x4, Aztec Red

Just had them done. 47K miles. The inside pads were worn much more than the outside pads. I was watching the outside since they are much easier to see, but the wear sensor's started squealing a couple of days ago, and it was the one on the inside that were rubbing.

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SouthWestern Xterra Club Member #3
Denim Blue SE 4x2

[This message has been edited by RReuscher (edited 07-03-2001).]

Hi RReuscher,

Does the wear sensor starts sqealing noise
when brake pedal is pressed or does it
do all the time.

I have 24k miles and the sqealing noise comes
sometimes when the brake pedal is pressed.

Also, how much brake service should usually cost at the dealer ? One dealer told me the price of around $225 + tax.

Please share your expereince

Thanks

x_owner



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Yeah, I've been wondering about this, too. I have just under 20K on my X and the brakes squeak the first few times after I start it up. It doesn't sound like the wear indicator. I guess I should check them out. Anyone else have this happen?

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2001 Super Black XE - 3 packages w/ black brush guard

The wear sensors make noise when the wheels turn, when you apply the brakes they stop. Helps to be in enclosed area like a parking garage to hear them, the sound gets bounced back to you. Mine always squealed a little when I first started up.

Had them done at a dealership, Midas did not have pads for them (like that lifetime warranty on the pads there, I used that 6 times with my old blazer), $168 and change with tax.

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SouthWestern Xterra Club Member #3
Denim Blue SE 4x2

[This message has been edited by RReuscher (edited 08-01-2001).]

That is really not a terrible price for the brakes. I may make an attempt at doing my own. I have never changed the brakes on a 4x4 before, but I doubt there is anything different from anything else.

My wife's Honda just had to have brakes on it. 1999 model cost us about 165.00 for the front. I thought that was too high, especially when the car only has about 24,000 miles on it. The Xterra has 19,800 on it and the brakes look solid so far.

Knock on wood...



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Roll Freakin' Tide!!!

The front pads are a no-brainer. 7 bolts, 6 of which hold the wheel on
As long as the rotor doesn't need to be re-surfaced, it's a cakewalk.

Brent

Don't assume that the squeak you hear is the wear indicator. If the X has been sitting a while or if it has been really wet out your brakes may squeal the first few times you use them. I have 22,000 miles and I checked my brakes this weekend. I was amazed at how much pad was left especially since I sit in 3 hours of stop and go traffic every day.

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Just turned over 30K on my X. Front pads were worn to 10% left while rears had 60% left. Time to do the fronts!

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2000 SE 4x4 Aztec Red

Damn, the fronts are completely worn down but the rears are still very useable. Seems like the front brakes are doing all the work when it comes to stopping. This is the type of thing I'm (and others) are talking about when we say the rear brakes do not need upgraded.

I hope bringing the discussion here doesn't piss anyone off, it was just a perfect example of what I was trying to point out.



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Jay's X
"You have to remember there's a little Homer Simpson in all of us." - Homer Simpson Episode #7603

I don't think that should be suprising. The rear brakes always last longer than the fronts. It's not an Xterra phenomenom (sp?)

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I did mine recently, 35K. The dealer soked me for about $90 for the pads alone, they were not available anywhere else. They are a piece of cake to do yourself.


2000 SE Super Black

I have 23K on my x and the brake light has been on for about 2k, it just came on and off to start. now it stays on. anyone know why? I also fell a little pulsing on the pedal when I slow, is this common. BTW, the sensor on the brake doesn't make any noise yet.

My red "brake" light has been coming on and off for a few weeks now. I'm 95% sure it's something related to the vacuum system, as it usually blinks on when the engine kicks down. I'll get around to checking it out one of these days, but my gut tells me it's just an annoyance.

Brent

I just replaced my front brakes, turned rotors, new pads, repacked hub bearings, at 58,000 miles. the brake pads were down to about 10-15% left with no squealing to be found. I wonder if it's because the squealer had broken, I think it's the little tab on the end of one of the brakes.

I turned the rotors because, IMHO, 58000 miles deserved a new turn. they were a whopping 24.00 to turn. they will have plenty of rotor left after turning. I figure if I am lucky I will have to turn them 3 times... that puts me at more than 200,000 miles. Yes, I am looking to Keep the X.

I drive 25-25-50. freeway congested, freeway open road, city/coutry roads.

at about 20k my brake pads were horribly worn..they were so worn that the metal that hold them in place was ruined...

I had to pay 1k to fix this. Just be carefull and get your brakes replaced on time. There was a large rattling/squeeking noise when I would drive. Didn't know where this was from. I reported it to the dealer and they said they couldnt figure out what it was. It was from the damaged brakes.

Do you think I could get my money back because I reported a problem to them and they could not diagnose it?

also at the very end when I started getting pissed because the dealer said nothing was wrong...when I would brake regularly the anti-lock brakes system would be activated when I was braking under normal conditions.
I told them specifically to check the brakes when I had gone in a couple months earlier. The damage is obviously a result of their incompetence.

***TAKE IT TO THE DEALER IMMEDIATLeY! YOU HAVE WORN PAST THE BRAKE PADS!!! YOU ARE CAUSING MORE DAMAGE BY DRIVING. This happened to me and I was charged almost 1k! Brakes could also fail very soon!******

[ 08-13-2001: Message edited by: ej2k ]

I am off to the dealer at lunch and will keep you posted. I am almost positive I have not worn the pads out as there is no medal grinding or anything like that going on but better safe than sorry.

If your going thru brake pads and calipers in 23,000-miles, you really need to reconsider how your driving your X. I'd also be willing to bet that unless your calipers were eating into your rotors you could have turned your rotors, put on new pads, and put new o-rings in your calipers and saved a ton of money.

How hard was it to remove the rotors, and what was involved? Are any special tools required, such as something to pre-load the bearings, etc?