I took my car in this morning for it's 15,000 mile service. They told me $217. Hard to believe for 15,000 miles, but I left it anyway. Before I got back to my office,
10 minutes away, there was a phone mail message.

My car (at 15,000 miles) needs new front brakes. BTW - These were 15,000 easy miles as I spend most of my time on the freeway. I asked the service guy if he didn't
think this was unusual? He said no that was what they were seeing on G35's. I asked if this didn't seem like a defect and he said no. Then he told me the price of $180
and I said, no thanks, I will take it to my private mechanic for the brakes if I really need them.

Is this one of those cases of planned obsolecence? Or maybe this is why the G35's price is so good?

One more thing. I have filed a complaint with Infiniti consumer affairs though I don't think they will do anything.

 

This has been discussed already. It seems that in order to get the good stopping power that the G has they used very soft metallic brakes...which means quicker replacement times. Some have decided to go with harder brakes to last longer but this will decrease your braking performance.

Red/Canadian

 

I must have missed that thread. Thanks for the info.

 

My sister and mom's accord usally need brakes around 15000 miles... its due to the automatic transmission... when people drive manuals they downshift when they slow down, thus using the engine to slow them down along with the brakes.. this take a lot of stress off the brakes...

If you want more then 15000 miles out of your brakes, I suggest you drive in manual mode and downshift when coming to a stop... you should get atleast another 8000-10000 miles out of your brakes....

Example... My brother had a 98 Prelude with automatic.. I had a 2000 prelude with stick shift... He would get between 14000-16000 miles out of his brakes, while i was getting around 32000 miles out of mine.. exact same car with the exception of the transmission...

 

I'm used to getting 40-60000 miles on brake pads. 15,000 just doesn't seem right no matter how I drive.

I think I will just switch to harder pads.

Thanks though.

 

Naw, keep using the brakes. A brake job is cheaper than a transmission repair (and/or clutch job). Engine braking is hard on the transmission. Only use it when necessary, such as going down steep slopes.

2003.5 G35 Sedan Desert Platinum/Graphite Premium/Sport/Aero/Nav/Winter

 

Howard, you are lucky you got 15,000 miles , I only got 12,500 miles and that was with driving with them almost down to the metal. This is an Infiniti thing, I had a Q45 in the early 90's with the same problem, every service inspection I was either changing the front or the rear pads. I am curious to see how long my new front pads last as during winter driving the slip light (Traction Control) comes on alot and as you know everytime the slip light comes on pressure is automatically being applied to the brakes by the computer, so the brakes are wearing even when you are not pressing on the brake.

 

Must be a recent Infiniti thing. I had a J30 and the brakes wore normally (to my thinking).

But thanks to all of you for letting me know I'm not alone.

 

15,000 miles for brake pads? I had a 1997 Toyota Supra Twin Turbo and I took that car out for street racing all the time. The brakes gave in at ~32,000 miles. The funny thing was the rear breaks were out first due to the traction control. The pads were so hard on the pads that rotors had to be replaced. Back to G35 Coupes. It sounds like the pads on the G35 are too soft. What is included for $217? Just to replace the front 4 pads? What about the rotors? Resurface?

Wen-Ja
2003 Red G35 Coupe Auto with Premium pakcage.

 

Are these the regular Infiniti brakes...? I have the 6M coupe w/ the Brembos...anyone have this problem with the Brembos...? I got 38000 out of my old accord which was a 5 speed...

 

If you've never changed your own pads, it's extremely simple, and cheap. I was a little nervous, but changed my wife's out on her volvo last week, rotors and all. Total time on the first wheel was about 45 minutes, each wheel after that (after I figured out how to do it) took only about 10 minutes.

Easy work.

 

no offense, but I've been driving ATs all my life and the fact that I use the brakes instead of the engine to stop has never had an adverse effect on my brake pad life. my 2001 maxima se had about 24k bf I traded for GC and the brakes were just fine on it.

 

A lot of it has to do with how aggressive the driver is, if he just cruises then he will get longer break life, but if he is a aggrssive driver then using the engine to slow you down will improve the life of your pads.

I know i'll get a lot of responses like "I never drive fast or tailgate, yadda yadda". My sister drives like a crazy fool tail gating people and using the brakes at the last second and then complains about her brakes not lasting long, when I try and tell her its her driving style she wont beleive me, she thinks shes a good driver and is easy on her car. So i don't take much stock in people saying there not hard on there car.

When I get my 6MT sedan i'll post the miles I get when it comes time to replace the brakes. I could be wrong but I bet i'll get over 35000 miles out of the brakes easily.

 

Dan, I totally agree with you and i knew this before i made my post. Individual driving styles always affect cars' wear and performance, whether they are AT or stick. i felt the need to respond to the orig comment about AT because it implied AT's were responsible for premature brake wear, without mentioning other factors like u did..such as driving style.

 

I think it may also have to do w/ the brake assist feature the G35 has. You really can't just lightly touch the brakes without them grabbing. just me opinion. late.

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