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How to decide whether to use OEM or Aftermarket


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ahsan24
User

Sep 17, 2014, 12:02 PM

Post #1 of 24 (2453 views)
  post locked   How to decide whether to use OEM or Aftermarket  

2008 Nissan Sentra 2.0 CVT 50,000 Miles

New to DIY auto repair. I want to replace the brakes and rotors and not sure whether to buy OEM or after market. Questions:
1) How does aftermarket products like Akebono compare to OEM product?
2) Do the rotor, pad require to be from same brand?
3) I had drums in rear, can I use performance rotors and brake pads in front? Does rotor come in performance category?

Thanks!


kev2
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kev2 profile image

Sep 17, 2014, 12:11 PM

Post #2 of 24 (2449 views)
  post locked   Re: How to decide whether to use OEM or Aftermarket  

with regard to brake parts, you can use aftermarket pads shoes drums rotors... be sure they are NOT what the trade calls "white box" those parts where PRICE is the first concern. The known brands - raybestos, bendix - come to mind there are others - NAPA has a respected line -
The components do NOT need be from the same brand- just same type ie Metallic, semi metallic, ceramic etc...

As for High performance- here price and wear are NOT the consideration. Although vented disks are nice - do the math- the origional set up lasted how long? is it worth upgrading read $$$$

SUGGESTION stick with a known brand and for everyday driving that would be adequate.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Sep 17, 2014, 12:21 PM

Post #3 of 24 (2447 views)
  post locked   Re: How to decide whether to use OEM or Aftermarket  

Akebono is a premium brand and usually an OEM upgrade. As far as performance rotor, why on earth would you even consider that on a Sentra. I doubt drilled and slotted rotors are even available for that vehicle. I have never had a problem with white box rotors. I see no need to buy expensive names brands there. The pads however, it does make a difference. I would go with something in Ceramic.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



ahsan24
User

Sep 17, 2014, 12:32 PM

Post #4 of 24 (2440 views)
  post locked   Re: How to decide whether to use OEM or Aftermarket  

The only reason I wanted the perforated rotors if it would not warp, definitely I'm not intending to drag race with the Sentra Blush, just want to avoid the vibration in future. I just read on eHow that perforations may make the metal more susceptible to warping... confused Unsure


ahsan24
User

Sep 17, 2014, 12:36 PM

Post #5 of 24 (2439 views)
  post locked   Re: How to decide whether to use OEM or Aftermarket  

BTW... do drums also warp, or should I replace rotors only?


Hammer Time
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Sep 17, 2014, 12:52 PM

Post #6 of 24 (2436 views)
  post locked   Re: How to decide whether to use OEM or Aftermarket  

Any rotor will warp if subjected to the right conditions and those are extreme heat followed by rapid cooling. In other words, abusing your brakes and then hitting a puddle will warp them in a heartbeat. If you drive it normal and don't abuse the brakes, you won't have a problem.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



kev2
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Sep 17, 2014, 1:45 PM

Post #7 of 24 (2432 views)
  post locked   Re: How to decide whether to use OEM or Aftermarket  

If you drive it normal and don't abuse the brakes, you won't have a problem.

simple and true...

and YES drums do warp - more often called "out of round"


(This post was edited by kev2 on Sep 17, 2014, 1:47 PM)


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Sep 17, 2014, 2:36 PM

Post #8 of 24 (2422 views)
  post locked   Re: How to decide whether to use OEM or Aftermarket  

Quote">>Questions:
1) How does aftermarket products like Akebono compare to OEM product?
2) Do the rotor, pad require to be from same brand?
3) I had drums in rear, can I use performance rotors and brake pads in front? Does rotor come in performance category?<<"


1) Not familiar with that brand but just ask for OEM equivalent + rating.
2) No.
3) Use same OEM front and rear. Already said what are you even thinking about for performance in a Sentra!!?? If it called for it OE it would specify it.


Suggestions: If price matter you may lose rust resistance and perhaps balance for rotors or drums so IMO super cheap even if legal isn't worth it.


Ceramics: Done with this now but one set used totally claiming dust free, fade free and last forever. They suked for me and gone already for one specific vehicle not called for dust free which is annoying.


The suggestions already say it. Don't drive and do wild stops all the time or about nothing is going to be good or last. Make sure rotors and drums are ready to install if only cleaning with water (required where I am that only water if anything at all) and do NOT require machining/turning new. If a new one did for any reason other than abuse it was a bad brand or bad from new IMO.


? First at DIY with brakes? Learn how to properly retract a disc piston(s) and where to clean and lube with correct products. If you are at all unsure you really should have an experienced person at the ready or do it with you. No room for mistakes with brakes.........


T



ahsan24
User

Sep 18, 2014, 11:45 AM

Post #9 of 24 (2404 views)
  post locked   Re: How to decide whether to use OEM or Aftermarket  

Thanks for all the suggestions! I think I'll go for plain rotors with good rating like Wagner and similar rating pads/shoes. I have replaced the brake fluid a few months back, and reviewed a few videos how to replace rotors and pads.

The only remaining question, is whether I should first replace the front rotor and check if vibration goes away or just replace all rotors and drums? In other words, if I replace shoes on a warped drum, will the new shoes get damaged?


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Sep 18, 2014, 11:50 AM

Post #10 of 24 (2402 views)
  post locked   Re: How to decide whether to use OEM or Aftermarket  

I would hold off on the rear drums. It's pretty rare for a drum to warp. It won't bother the shoes in the short term. It's usually the front that causes the pulsations.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
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Sep 19, 2014, 4:16 AM

Post #11 of 24 (2393 views)
  post locked   Re: How to decide whether to use OEM or Aftermarket  

OP - Is anything warped now? Do you even need brakes at all right now and have you checked or had them checked?


T



ahsan24
User

Sep 19, 2014, 6:08 AM

Post #12 of 24 (2388 views)
  post locked   Re: How to decide whether to use OEM or Aftermarket  


In Reply To
OP - Is anything warped now? Do you even need brakes at all right now and have you checked or had them checked?


T

The millage is 50k on original brakes, so yes the brakes are needed, and I do feel vibration with moderate braking.

In Reply To


ahsan24
User

Sep 19, 2014, 6:09 AM

Post #13 of 24 (2387 views)
  post locked   Re: How to decide whether to use OEM or Aftermarket  


In Reply To
I would hold off on the rear drums. It's pretty rare for a drum to warp. It won't bother the shoes in the short term. It's usually the front that causes the pulsations.

Thanks! This helps!


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Sep 19, 2014, 9:53 AM

Post #14 of 24 (2383 views)
  post locked   Re: How to decide whether to use OEM or Aftermarket  

I'll try to make just this one more comment about this. Disc/drum set ups it's true drums don't generally warp but do very commonly leave an unworn ring where shoes haven't rubbed against sometimes it's a rusty ring.


A drum being what it is (a round cylinder of sorts) wears to a different diameter or turned if possible to stay within limits marked on it will then be a different contact area for new shoes to break in. You really should think about both shoes and drums being new and same with rotors as there isn't a lot of extra metal to remove and the thinner the more apt to really warp with heat of even normal use can do that when at thinner specs and you end up doing them again as it would be annoying if nothing else.


Pay attention to lube in the right spots and pins for calipers. You seem to know these are originals and can be at higher miles too on some and still fine but you feel a change so agree it's time.


Also pay attention that each side on fronts and rear show the same wear. If one side is noticeably different just pads/shoes and respective rotors and drums are NOT going to fix what caused them to wear differently!


That's where some experience comes in to play to know what else and how far to go. There's more to brakes than just the minimum as it's a lot of components including a parking brake so consider that it correct as well. Most do NOT need adjustment and only if parts to it are replaced should be called for at all in order with the service brake being all correct first. That can mess up a job if not proper,


T



ahsan24
User

Sep 20, 2014, 7:02 AM

Post #15 of 24 (2366 views)
  post locked   post icon Re: How to decide whether to use OEM or Aftermarket  


In Reply To
I'll try to make just this one more comment about this. Disc/drum set ups it's true drums don't generally warp but do very commonly leave an unworn ring where shoes haven't rubbed against sometimes it's a rusty ring.


A drum being what it is (a round cylinder of sorts) wears to a different diameter or turned if possible to stay within limits marked on it will then be a different contact area for new shoes to break in. You really should think about both shoes and drums being new and same with rotors as there isn't a lot of extra metal to remove and the thinner the more apt to really warp with heat of even normal use can do that when at thinner specs and you end up doing them again as it would be annoying if nothing else.


Pay attention to lube in the right spots and pins for calipers. You seem to know these are originals and can be at higher miles too on some and still fine but you feel a change so agree it's time.


Also pay attention that each side on fronts and rear show the same wear. If one side is noticeably different just pads/shoes and respective rotors and drums are NOT going to fix what caused them to wear differently!


That's where some experience comes in to play to know what else and how far to go. There's more to brakes than just the minimum as it's a lot of components including a parking brake so consider that it correct as well. Most do NOT need adjustment and only if parts to it are replaced should be called for at all in order with the service brake being all correct first. That can mess up a job if not proper,


T

Thanks for cautioning me! I don't know what to do now...


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Sep 20, 2014, 9:13 AM

Post #16 of 24 (2364 views)
  post locked   Re: How to decide whether to use OEM or Aftermarket  

Quote ">>Thanks for cautioning me! I don't know what to do now... <<"


You can get in trouble with just taking apart for a complete check. So, have real pro or a helper with plenty of experience at the ready for problems. Best is to work with someone, do one at a time and keep in total mind that things are asymmetrically (= mirror image) opposite left or right side too for several parts,


T



(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on Sep 20, 2014, 9:14 AM)


ahsan24
User

Oct 7, 2014, 1:01 PM

Post #17 of 24 (2328 views)
  post locked   Re: How to decide whether to use OEM or Aftermarket  

I installed the rotor and pads in the front, working fine so far, getting on highway in 20 minutes Angelic but I couldn't get the drum off from rear and had to put the tires back on... if anyone has any video link how to work on a 2008 Nissan Sentra 2.0 rear drum brake, please send... I couldn't find any.... although looking from it, looks like I need to screw two bolts in holes provided to push the drum out, not sure how I measure the thread diameter and where I find the right bolts to use. Any tips appreciated.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Oct 7, 2014, 1:36 PM

Post #18 of 24 (2324 views)
  post locked   Re: How to decide whether to use OEM or Aftermarket  

I believe they are 8mm x 125



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Oct 7, 2014, 2:13 PM

Post #19 of 24 (2322 views)
  post locked   Re: How to decide whether to use OEM or Aftermarket  

Near certain as well 8mm X 1.25 pitch bolts should thread in and pull drum off hub. Go easy and a little each at a time with hub lightly lubed. It's supposed to be real snug but any corrosion they are tough. Reasonable tapping on edges of drum back and forth as well. For back on go as far as you can by hand if fine and the lug nuts with wheel push it back into proper place. If you strip out those threads you are in trouble,


T



ahsan24
User

Oct 8, 2014, 7:07 AM

Post #20 of 24 (2316 views)
  post locked   Re: How to decide whether to use OEM or Aftermarket  

Thanks! I assume auto part stores shall have them.

BTW: While working on the front brake, I found the front shock pistons rubber covers are all torn, matter of fact parts of the rubber cover were sucked-into the piston which I pulled back. How bad is it not to have the cover, for how long, is there a safety issue other than pistons will gather dirt in them? I'll probably use the correct section of the forum if needed.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Oct 8, 2014, 7:54 AM

Post #21 of 24 (2313 views)
  post locked   Re: How to decide whether to use OEM or Aftermarket  

For the bolts a hardware store should do as they are not automotive specific. Do yourself a favor and spray some (little drop) of PB in that hole and on the hub - just a little mind you.


Shock boot? You got me! Some come without and some you can change colors for fun but would be a lot of work just for that IMO. I don't know what you mean "sucked into piston" as it if anything just keeps the shiny rod from debris and rusting if possible not the seal for the "STRUTS" which are shocks too. Like this new...........



Shock bumper and bellows they are called are available and what you are looking at no doubt.........



OK - On that check the function of the struts/shocks as a whole as this if oily or bad other than just rubber isn't an emergency IMO but must function properly. These will take more work and an alignment strongly suggested if you pull apart all that out of car to do these.


So in short they would be nice to be perfect but not so sure they are mandatory - the rubber boot part alone. Your call if just lousy looking for now,


T



ahsan24
User

Oct 20, 2014, 4:40 PM

Post #22 of 24 (2278 views)
  post locked   Re: How to decide whether to use OEM or Aftermarket  

Thanks! I didn't see any leaks so relief I don't have to work on it this winter Tongue I'll see if I can get the drums taken care of with the bolts... thanks a lot!


ahsan24
User

Nov 20, 2014, 11:22 AM

Post #23 of 24 (2187 views)
  post locked   Re: How to decide whether to use OEM or Aftermarket  

Finally I got all brakes completed about 10 days ago, works great! Thanks for all your help! Got a bunch of new tool in my garage, and after two tries, rear drum shoe changes took 15 minutes each!


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Nov 20, 2014, 11:47 AM

Post #24 of 24 (2185 views)
  post locked   Re: How to decide whether to use OEM or Aftermarket  

Sounds good. Will close out thread as done and YOU can request it to be re-opened by any mod if needed,


T







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