Brakes - Premature Rear Pad Wear
89nissan07Classification: BR89-006 Section: Brakes
Reference: Technical Bulletin TS89-107
Models: 1984-88 200SX, 1984-89, 300ZX, 1985-88 Maxima
Date: July 20, 1989
PREMATURE REAR BRAKE PAD WEAR
APPLIED MODEL: 1984-88 200SX (S12) 1984-89 300ZX (Z31) 1985-88 Maxima (U11)
SERVICE INFORMATION
This bulletin provides technical information, repair procedures and parts information to resolve rear brake pad premature wear on the Applied Models.
REAR BRAKE PAD PREMATURE WEAR
CAUSE: A. Customer's driving habits
B. Parking brake over-adjusted
C. Rust on rear rotors
D. Brake system adjustments
A. Customer's Driving Habits:
Brake pad life depends on many factors and can vary drastically depending on driving habits. Some driving patterns can cause the rear brake pads to wear out faster than the front pads. Drivers who stop frequently from medium speeds with moderate pedal force may experience this wear pattern.
B. Parking Brake Over-adjusted:
If the parking brake system is over-adjusted, the rear pads will drag on the rotors continuously. This reduces pad life in two separate ways;
- The pads will wear very quickly until some clearance develops between the pad and the rotor.
- The pads will become drastically overheated. This causes a permanent breakdown in the pad material and reduces the pad life by up to 50%.
C. Rust on Rear Rotors:
Rust on the rear rotors can act as an abrasive and can reduce pad life by grinding the pad material away. Nissan front pads are semi-metallic material and automatically remove rust from the front rotor in a few stops. Nissan rear pads are asbestos material and cannot remove rust effectively. If the rear rotors do not have a smooth, polished surface, they should be machined to remove rust and pits.
D. Brake System Adjustments:
Improper brake system adjustments (brake pedal free height and brake booster pushrod length) can increase rear pad wear by not allowing the rear pads to retract completely when the brake pedal is released.
COUNTERMEASURE PARTS:
Nissan has developed improved rear brake pads with thicker material for the Applied Models. They should be used for normal pad replacement and repairs for premature rear pad wear.
REPAIR PROCEDURE: A. Check/adjust parking brake system
B. Check/machine rear rotor surface
C. Check/adjust brake system adjustments
D. Install countermeasure rear brake pads
Figure 1:
A. Check/adjust parking brake system
Inspect the parking brake cable adjustment using the procedure in the appropriate Service Manual. Then check the clearance on the rear calipers between the parking brake lever and the stopper pin on the caliper body (Fig 1). This dimension is critical. This clearance must be 0-3mm. If the clearance is more than 3mm, the cable is over-adjusted and must be loosened.
B. Check/machine rear rotor surface
Inspect the friction surface of the rear rotors. If the surface is rough to the touch due to rust or pitting, it should be machined. Be careful to minimize rotor thickness variation.
C. Check/adjust brake system adjustments
Check the brake pedal free height and free play, and the brake booster pushrod length using the procedure in the appropriate Service Manual.
D. Install the countermeasure rear brake pad as listed in the Parts Information Section. Inspect the pad shims and replace the hardware kit if necessary. Apply PBC grease as shown in the Service Manual to minimize brake squeal.
PARTS INFORMATION
IMPROVED FORMER
PART NAME APPLIED MODELS PART NUMBER PART NUMBER
Rear Brake 300ZX All 1984-89 D4060-01P90 44060-01P90
Pad Kit
200SX All 1984-88 " "
Maxima All 1985-86 44060-D3590 44060-61E90
Hardware Kit 300ZX All 1984-86 NA 44080-02P25
Rear Brake 300ZX All 1987-89 NA 44080-07P25
200SX 4 cyl 1984-88 NA 44080-01P25
200SX VG30 1987-88 NA 44080-02P25
Maxima All 1985-88 NA 44080-02E25
PBC Grease All NA 99990-00939