Brakes - lot of pedal travel?

5029 Views 19 Replies 14 Participants Last post by kannibul, Jan 18, 2010

kannibul

Discussion Starter · Jan 17, 2010

I commented on this when I was test driving my truck, that I thought the brakes weren't all that great. The guy that was riding with me sold me my 370z, so he of course said it won't brake like the Z (Really? <sarcasm!>)

So, regardless I bought the truck, figuring they just needed to be bedded in or at least given a bit of wear since the truck was fresh off the trailer just a few days before, and had 5 miles on the odometer before I test drove it.

SO...

I have to say it's not gotten any better. It seems there is a lot of pedal travel before the truck feels like it's slowing down, and it takes quite a bit more effort to slow it down than I'd expect.

I'm wondering if this is par for the course, or, if maybe I've got air in the brake lines that needs to come out (ie, weren't properly bled at the factory), or maybe it's something else?

My Ranger, on good days had notably better brakes. On worse days, they were a bit below this truck. I had a vacuum issue on the Ranger that would sometimes "trickle back" to the brakes...kept things interesting...lol

1 - 20 of 20 Posts

ffips

· #2 · Jan 17, 2010

Don't forget, you probably have at least 1000 extra pounds in the frontier that you did not have in the ranger.

A lot complain that the brakes are not adequate. I found that when I need them, they are there. Try an emergency stop sometime.

kannibul

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jan 17, 2010

ffips said:
Don't forget, you probably have at least 1000 extra pounds in the frontier that you did not have in the ranger.

A lot complain that the brakes are not adequate. I found that when I need them, they are there. Try an emergency stop sometime.

I do, just it seems there's little range between slowing down, to triggering ABS.

Frontier is 1K heavier? If so, then that explains things...though my ranger was disk/drum, and I only had ABS in ths rear, when it worked.

mustard23

· #4 · Jan 17, 2010

the brakes are good.. It's the ABS that makes it feel like that.

tac2front

· #5 · Jan 17, 2010

I have to agree with you. Of all the vehicles I've owned, the frontier is the only one where I am able to "floor" the brakes (able to press the brake pedal all the way down to the floorboard until it wont go any further). Also this is the only truck where I am unable to slow down substantially using the emergency brake handle - but I am not sure if this is because mine are not adjusted right (even when the truck was brand new).

mustard23

· #6 · Jan 17, 2010

pull your ABS fuse and try it.. huge deference.

TwoBills

· #7 · Jan 17, 2010

OP: pump the brake pedal a few times. If this hardens them up, you've got a little air. Probably just the abs, tho.

bwarren228

· #8 · Jan 17, 2010

Like Mustard said, its the ABS system. Its called "Brake Force Distribution".

DriBak

· #9 · Jan 17, 2010

I have 91,400 miles on my original NISMO KC brake pads. Is this normal?

ffips

· #10 · Jan 17, 2010

kannibul said:
Frontier is 1K heavier? If so, then that explains things...though my ranger was disk/drum, and I only had ABS in ths rear, when it worked.

I didn't triple check sources, and used a 2004 model ranger. Figure given that ranger hasn't really changed in years, the weights I was finding were fairly correct.

1K is the conservative side. If your ranger was 2wd and your frontier is 4wd, the difference is higher.

It's probably a good idea to go out and do some "panic" stops so you know when the ABS will and won't kick in. It also changes on ice/snow/slush if that applies to your climate.

Many feel in the ice/snow/slush conditions they kick in too early, and I would have to agree. A lot of times one can stop faster on those conditions via pumping the brakes and keeping the ABS out of the equation.

steve500

· #11 · Jan 17, 2010

I've also thought the brakes are just funky in this truck, but hey, they're better than isuzu's break system in my rodeo, but sure is something to get use to!

I like the brakes in my girlfriends 08 offroad colorado, super responsive and easy to control and "get a feel of" ..

hunterdan

· #12 · Jan 17, 2010

I noticed the brakes as well when I bought it, and it took me a week or two to get used to them. I do wish the pedal was firmer, but they do work, and they seem to work fairly decent for me.

Dan

HightecRednec

· #13 · Jan 17, 2010

V6 model curb weights in pounds:
2009 Ford Ranger Super Cab 4x2 - 3,210 (4x4 - 3,606)
2010 Nissan Frontier King Cab 4x2 - 4,165 (4x4 - 4,317)

LINESKIER45

· #14 · Jan 17, 2010

i have driven every Nissan truck and most of there cars.. every one of there trucks feels like u are stepping on a loaf of bread when you brake..

bwarren228

· #15 · Jan 17, 2010

... as opposed to Toyotas, which will throw you through the dashboard if you aren't feather-lite with your footwork. I threw some stainless braided lines on the front and it firmed up nicely.

Mathster

· #16 · Jan 17, 2010

the brakes on my X feel spongy compared to my frontier even after 25K miles.
The brakes are effective, just more movement required.

sexy6chick

· #17 · Jan 17, 2010

Could always try bleeding your brakes and seeing if you can get them any stiffer.

reynoldstn

· #18 · Jan 17, 2010

Stillen cross drilled rotors + Stillen brake pads + ss flex lines + brake fluid replacement (dot 4) = same crappy feeling brakes. Don't bother.
I have checked out the Titan forum, apparently they've had some issues too. There is a big brake upgrade kit for the Titans that got good reviews on their forum. Has anyone tried the AP Racing big brake upgrade for the Frontier?

kannibul

Discussion Starter · #19 · Jan 18, 2010 (Edited)

tac2front said:
I have to agree with you. Of all the vehicles I've owned, the frontier is the only one where I am able to "floor" the brakes (able to press the brake pedal all the way down to the floorboard until it wont go any further). Also this is the only truck where I am unable to slow down substantially using the emergency brake handle - but I am not sure if this is because mine are not adjusted right (even when the truck was brand new).

The ebrake on my 370Z sucks more than the one with the Frontier. I mean it does actually slow the truck (though not at any decent rate), but can hold it at a stop light with it in gear (5AT)

The ebrake on the Z won't even do that. It barely holds it when parked, let alone when in gear (I have a 7AT z...)

HightecRednec said:
V6 model curb weights in pounds:
2009 Ford Ranger Super Cab 4x2 - 3,210 (4x4 - 3,606)
2010 Nissan Frontier King Cab 4x2 - 4,165 (4x4 - 4,317)

My ranger was an I4 5M 2WD Ext Cab w/ Stepside bed. It probably weighed less than 3200lbs.

Well that explains it. This truck is just flat out heavier by around 1100lbs...and that's not considering the weight difference of hte I4 2.3L engine vs whichever V6 that is quoted (3.0L, 3.3L or 4.0L)

kannibul

Discussion Starter · #20 · Jan 18, 2010

TwoBills said:
OP: pump the brake pedal a few times. If this hardens them up, you've got a little air. Probably just the abs, tho.

That explains what was wrong with my old truck - I do that they'd make the pads feel like they were made of wood for about a week...lol

1 - 20 of 20 Posts

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