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Car Forum / Nissan / Nissan Cars / August 200697 Pathfinder noise and heat on front wheels
I recently purchased a 97 Pathfinder that according to the dealer still had >50% of the life of the front brakes on it. During the test drive there was some squealing sound that sounded a lot like metal on metal and I made mention of this to the sales person and got word that it would be inspected and fixed prior to my taking the vehicle. Flash forward a week and I take the car, on the drive home...the squeal returns. It takes about 15ish minutes to show up, and I think in their work they never drove it more than around the parking lot. I make arrangements to bring the car back for work to be done later in the week but a few days later while driving the sound comes up fairly quickly and while driving I smell something very hot almost like it is burning. I stop and take a deeper look into things and discover the front wheel rotors are hot enough to boil my spit. If I had just finished driving down a steep grade and rode my brakes the whole time, this would be normal, but I just finished driving on a road that had a 35 mph speed limit with no stop lights. The heat had to have come just from driving. Any ideas as to what this could be? I've read some things about some seals inside of the wheels drying out and requiring more grease, but would that happen on both sides at the same time? The service dept at the dealership seems to be clueless and I'd rather not get my complaints and their failure to address them documented, wait for the front end to catch on fire, and sue them...I just want the vehicle fixed. Could this also be as simple as the calipers being set too tight? Or there being too much brake fluid that forces the brakes to be partially applied all the time? > I recently purchased a 97 Pathfinder that according to the dealer still > had >50% of the life of the front brakes on it. [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > wait for the front end to catch on fire, and sue them...I just want the > vehicle fixed. There's no adjustment to make the calipers "too tight". And too much fluid would just make a mess. > Could this also be as simple as the calipers being set too tight? Or > there being too much brake fluid that forces the brakes to be partially [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] >> wait for the front end to catch on fire, and sue them...I just want the >> vehicle fixed. > There's no adjustment to make the calipers "too tight". And too much > fluid would just make a mess. Ditto, no adjustment. Is this a 4x4? I'd we thinking wheel bearings. I wouldn't drive too far until you know. more likely, the calipers are hanging-up. probably not able to slide in the caliper mount and the caliper piston is also stuck (due to gunk/junk in caliper & brake fluid). you'll probably need to get them over-hauled or get pre-loaded calipers. > Could this also be as simple as the calipers being set too tight? Or > there being too much brake fluid that forces the brakes to be partially [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] >> wait for the front end to catch on fire, and sue them...I just want the >> vehicle fixed. I thought it was just my car. I have a '95 and it does the same thing. I get the squeal after it's been driving for 10-15 mins. I've had the brake work done, my axle replaced, and still squeal. I was told it might be an alignment issue. Anybody else have any ideas? : p wrote: > more likely, the calipers are hanging-up. probably not able to slide in the [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > >> wait for the front end to catch on fire, and sue them...I just want the > >> vehicle fixed. alignment wont cause or have anything to do with brake squeal. It'd only affect drivability and tire wear. brake squeal can be caused by poor quality pads, pads fitting poorly in the mount, no anti-rattle clips, mounts/slides rusty (even light rust) or dirty and not lubricated (I use a very light coating of anti-seize on metal to metal contact areas where movement is allowable), calipers not sliding properly, rear brakes not adjusting properly. even driving habits can cause a problem (heavy foot/constantly riding brakes). >I thought it was just my car. I have a '95 and it does the same thing. > I get the squeal after it's been driving for 10-15 mins. I've had the [quoted text clipped - 46 lines] >> >> the >> >> vehicle fixed. Update of sorts for the original post... The Lexus dealership where I bought the Pathfinder spent a day and a half looking at the thing and driving it around. They said the brakes were completely fine and nothing was set up in a way with that that would cause any issues. One of the techs drove it around for what they said was 20 minutes and never heard any squealing, another said he heard normal braking sounds while SPEEDING UP!? and slowing down. I was also told the heat on the front wheels is something normal. I took the car (which had the stereo at a much higher volume when I got it than the off position it was in when I left it with them...wonder if that helped their hearing) and about 12-15 minutes after leaving the squeal had returned. It is independent of braking in every way aside from the fact that changing the speed of the car changes the pitch of the sound. It sounds like metal rubbing on metal and is most easily heard at around 15-40 mph (any faster and I think the pitch goes out of my hearing range, slower and it sounds like scratching more than squealing). Upon returning to the dearlship I got out and felt the front and back wheels...the front wheel rotors could again vaporize water, but the back was cool to the touch. I know the front brakes take on more of the load of stopping the car and after a lot of braking they should generate a little more heat...but nothing this different. I'm out of ideas and getting frustrated. On 8/9/06 10:12 AM, in article 1155136350.132311.209290@i3g2000cwc.googlegroups.com, > Update of sorts for the original post... > [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > > I'm out of ideas and getting frustrated. Take it somewhere else for a second opinion. These guys are either not interested in fixing it (do they have a warranty obligation?), or too unfamiliar with Pathfinders to properly diagnose it. The salesperson was able to duplicate the problem and the car is now at a Nissan dealership. Hopefully they can find the cause of the problem and get it fixed. I don't know if anyone is still reading this...but hopefully closing the problem... The Nissan techs machined the rotors and changed the brakepads. They also put grease on what I am assuming was the front wheel bearing seal, but I'm not sure, and having the conversation about the car through 3 layers of people doesn't help in trying to find out what was really wrong (it also made it fun to explain the problem). I go pick the car up later today...hopefully it is fixed, and hopefully the other person in this thread who had the issue can get their car fixed too. |
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