MDMetal Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 Hi all, I picked up a 54 (2004) Z 2 weeks ago, had it checked by the AA who pointed out a tail pipe crack and the tyre tread, standard stuff, the exhaust was rewelded all was well. However now that im used to the car and have the stereo turned off Ive had several issues. The clicking rear axel at speed (Having read the forum I can see thats a greasing issue), a lower speed grinding rear left, on brakes or when turning sharply or coasting off throttle. Taken it to a good garage (not nissan though!) they cant work out whats going on but during the work they've found a new crack in the exhaust in a seperate place, and the rear pads are apparantly down to 1k miles, they're saying that since the discs have an outer lip the discs need replacing too so im looking at £700 plus labour thats just to fix the brakes let alone find the grinding. They're recomending brembo discs and pads being better quality than nissan ones and cheaper. So a few questions to anyone feeling helpful... 1) are brembos the way to go, I just bought the car Im not looking to spend alot of money but im also not interested in cheap fixes 2) The clicking sounds like a common issue but has anyone got the grinding? Its definetly a rotary sounding noise 3) is it worth taking it to nissan and having them look if its a common issue 4) The garage said I should have 6 months under SOGA to talk to the dealer and come to some arrangement, clearly the pads are probably wear and tear but the grinding and clicking isnt and should be fixed 5) how hard do I yell at the aa for not spotting any of these issues?! Thanks for anyone who can help! Im loving my 350 I just wish it didnt have so many issues Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vik54 Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 Hi all, I picked up a 54 (2004) Z 2 weeks ago, had it checked by the AA who pointed out a tail pipe crack and the tyre tread, standard stuff, the exhaust was rewelded all was well. However now that im used to the car and have the stereo turned off Ive had several issues. The clicking rear axel at speed (Having read the forum I can see thats a greasing issue if you want it to return in a few months), a lower speed grinding rear left, on brakes or when turning sharply or coasting off throttle. Taken it to a good garage (not nissan though!) they cant work out whats going on but during the work they've found a new crack in the exhaust in a seperate place, and the rear pads are apparantly down to 1k miles, they're saying that since the discs have an outer lip how big is the lip?the discs need replacing too so im looking at £700 plus labour thats just to fix the brakes let alone find the grinding. They're recomending brembo discs and pads being better quality than nissan ones and cheaper. So a few questions to anyone feeling helpful... 1) are brembos the way to go, I just bought the car Im not looking to spend alot of money but im also not interested in cheap fixes nope plenty other choices out there - but surely that's what's on there already anyway if you've got a GT? 2) The clicking sounds like a common issue but has anyone got the grinding? Its definetly a rotary sounding noise someone had this recently was diagnised as rear plate rubbing against rotor - in your case probably just knackred pads 3) is it worth taking it to nissan and having them look if its a common issue nope find a local independent 4) The garage said I should have 6 months under SOGA to talk to the dealer and come to some arrangement, clearly the pads are probably wear and tear but the grinding and clicking isnt and should be fixed you've only had it two weeks - take it back and tell them to fix 5) how hard do I yell at the aa for not spotting any of these issues?! probably wasting your breath - although the issues with the brakes should've been spotted by any competent technician Thanks for anyone who can help! Im loving my 350 I just wish it didnt have so many issues Welcome to the forum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tprice Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 they are all really easy fixes so wouldnt worry too much! see what the garage you bought it off says Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neilp Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 A dealer can't sell a car with all those faults. If its on finance, contact them and they will deal with it very effectively. Tell them you are rejecting the vehicle in terms of it being unfit for purpose. Did you not test drive before buying ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scubapics Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 Clicking is not fixed by re-greasing! You need replacement outer CV joints. A lip on the discs is quite normal as the discs wear. What matters is the thickness of the discs. If they are still in specification then they do not need changing. I think you have two millimetres from new to minimum on the rears (can't really remember). When I checked mine this summer it had worn half way, i.e. 1 whole mm and had 1mm left. The car is 6 years old so I expect to get a year or more out of them before I need to change them as I'm quite confident that the discs are original. If your car is fitted with Brembo callipers then the Nissan supplied pads will be Brembo too. I would expect Nissan would also supply Brembo discs. The grinding noise. If it's not occurring all the time and only as you unload the car, i.e. off the gas it "could" be the differential. Based on the "lip" comment from the garage you went to I'd go elsewhere! Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDMetal Posted December 8, 2011 Author Share Posted December 8, 2011 Thanks guys! Few quick answers.. The lip is a few mm, im told thats enough that just swapping the pads will cause squeeking and the pads wont fit flush against the discs which makes sense to me but im the first to say im not knowledgeable at all! The garage deals in high end specialist cars so im pretty sure their reliable but again im sure they like making money too! so does it sound like a few mm lip on the edge of the discs is fine and the pads will just take awhile to wear the lip into them and make full contact? Its a GT so Brembo calipers and stock discs from the look of it Where do people think i stand with the wear and tear on discs vs the grinding? I did test drive it but its such a step up from my previous cars I had little refrence and it feels fine to drive (the grinding needs a good 10 min-5miles or more to appear so never showed up on the test) As annoyed as I am I see the discs and pads similar to tyres, theyre not unfit theyre just low and while I or the AA report should have picked them up and knocked some cash off the price or had them swapped before I bought them neither did and thats not the dealers fault realisticly its mine, the grinding though definetly is the dealers problem. Annoyingly its not a local dealer. Again thanks for the replies feeling a bit more calm and collected now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neilp Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Where are you based? Alot of our members are willing to help out as long as you supply coffee and biscuits. We can also recommend garages trusted and used consistently with the guys on the forum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ds2000 Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 They all sound little things but as I'm sure you're aware, they do mount up I've also got a grinding on hard left and right turns, haven't had chance to look at it yet but think mine is brake related as well or possibly the banana arm bushes. Either way, nothing too horrendous (I hope ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BulletMagnet Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Also, in the colder weather, some of the bushes will develop a squeak, as the ambient temp causes them to be harder than in the summer. At least in my mind that works, lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDMetal Posted December 9, 2011 Author Share Posted December 9, 2011 Im down in cambridge, this morning the malfunction indicator popped on I cant see anything to do but take it to nissan and get them to tell me what faults it has and what the existing faults are, it might cost some money but i should have a conclusive list of issues I can take back to the dealer and demand fixed its getting a bit silly 260 miles since i bought it and stuffs going wrong left right and centre I love the car I just want it to work properly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bakes100 Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Make sure you check the inside pad on the rear. On mine the outside pad didnt look too bad but the inside pad was worn right through, they wear a lot quicker on the inside, I think thats due to less cooling. When they say 1k remaining they may just be looking at the outside pad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDMetal Posted December 14, 2011 Author Share Posted December 14, 2011 Quick update discs and pads replaced, the inside of the discs were shot the outside was pretty bad, inner pads were seized in the calpiers and the discs had lots of corrosion where the pads should have been rubbing (on the inside), sadly though the noise is unchanged, il be filing a complaint through the AA though whats the point in a vehicle inspecition if they cant tell you the discs look iffy and the brakes feel a tad unresponsive as theres only a pad a disc in contact Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodgeevans Posted December 14, 2011 Share Posted December 14, 2011 Could the grinding noise not be the wheel bearing, comon failure likely the left corner will go first jack up the car and spin the wheels by hand and listen for noise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vik54 Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 Quick update discs and pads replaced, the inside of the discs were shot the outside was pretty bad, inner pads were seized in the calpiers and the discs had lots of corrosion where the pads should have been rubbing (on the inside), sadly though the noise is unchanged, il be filing a complaint through the AA though whats the point in a vehicle inspecition if they cant tell you the discs look iffy and the brakes feel a tad unresponsive as theres only a pad a disc in contact The thing with the AA inspections is when you stop to read the small print - as with many things - they will get out of it. In this case they will say that unless you expressly requested to remove wheels and fully inspect the pads then is a case of 'buyer beware' - and unless you're familiar with the Brembo fitment on the zed you wouldn't know that you can't inspect the rear inside pads properly without the wheels off Good luck with this I sincerly hope you get somewhere Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neilp Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 Of the car was bought on finance. Contact them and tell them you're rejecting the vehicle on terms of it being unroadworthy. It will soon get things moving. I got new wheels, steering column and gearbox and clutch from mini on a cooper s with 35 k on clock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDMetal Posted December 16, 2011 Author Share Posted December 16, 2011 Paid outright for it (rich git i know) currently talking to the dealer, my garage agrees its currently at the point where they may as well fix the clicking tsb by replacing the cv joint and swapping the wheel bearing at the same time which should kill two birds with one stone, the dealer seems to have admitted it needs fixing its just who does it, where and when so slowly moving forwards! On the AA front ive filed a complaint, while they cant take the wheels off they can run their fingers over the disc face and as 'experts' can give a recomendation of "you really want to check that out" vs, "the car is mechanically perfect" that and an exhaust crack they missed so lets see what happens. I agree the more small print you read the more it boils down to "we'll drive the car see if it explodes and if anything is hanging off otherwise your on your own" When I do get another car (hoping to be keeping the z for a loooooooong time cus shes sexy ) hoping I either know enough to be confident in my own inspection abilities or some clever company has spotted theres a market for genuine honest full inspections with some sort of financial backing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDMetal Posted December 23, 2011 Author Share Posted December 23, 2011 Well got her back today so far so good no noise, the dealers replaced the rear left axel/cv joint Id thought it was the bearing as well but apparantly thats fine, guessing the grinding could be an advanced stage of the clicking issue maybe? either way fingers crossed all the issues solved and i can get on enjoying my Z! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.