Brakes or at least poor response is one of the few failings that most zed owners will agree on.

 

I have posted threads before about this topic and with the focus on the rear brakes rather then the fronts but again I have been reminded with two zeds in a row over the past week or so with poor brake problem despite the owners fitting new pads and discs on the front.

 

Yes the fronts take the major parts of the braking job, but with poor rear brakes the fronts will soon be over worked, so the rears need looking at and what the problem is.

 

Seized calipers can and do occur on the fronts but not on the rears maybe seen it a couple of times in 14 years, so that aside there are some particular traits that can and do cause problems with the rear calipers.

 

One of the zeds had the common problem of pad separation, pad burr issues and the original caliper shims fitted with after market pads.

 

Looking at the disc condition through the wheel is the first step, and if it looks anything like the first picture chances is your rear brakes are toast and putting extra pressure on the fronts, it goes without saying the handbrake surface will be poor also if the outers are not good.

 

 

 

There is a few reasons the rear set up fails to perform, in the main it is due to the pads fouling in the caliper section or/ and the retaining pins, also the original Nissan pads worked with two end steel anti-rattle shims, however with after market /spurious pads they can can cause the pads to not retract fully, the upshot of all of these problems is overheated pads that glaze up and discs that take on the strange look as in the photos.

 

 

The recent zeds in question had the same problem of pad material separation, quite nasty but due to overheat, the pads had become stuck in the calipers due to the edge burr not been removed when fitted, aslo Nissan pads are slightly slimmer and end guards are fitted if these are fitted with spurious pads the issue of jamming is much more likely.

 

 

 

 

So when fitting new pads be sure to clean the burr off the pad edge, do not refit the pad guards if fitting non Nissan pads and be sure the fixing pads are cleaned, with these precautions you should be good provided of course the discs are still in good order.

 

 

Jeff TT

What's wrong with them they look spot on :lol:

 

Bet it made an awfull sound

What's wrong with them they look spot on :lol:

 

Bet it made an awfull sound

 

That`s the problem they did not, and the next to useless test done on brake testers for MOT did not even pick them up.

 

Jeff TT

I would be embarrassed to drive around with discs like that lol

I would be embarrassed to drive around with discs like that lol

 

Trouble is the standard wheel kind of hides it, unlike after market larger wheels give a better view of the disc so not always clear to the owner.

 

Jeff

Yeah true they have big centres don't they, bit like the mk3 supra, don't think I've ever had a car like that ?

Thanks for that Jeff.....

 

.....Off to look at mine now; as I think my rear brakes have seen better days....:wink: