2010-2013 Infiniti EX35 Front vs Rear Brakes: What Wears First and What to Replace

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

On a 2010-2013 Infiniti EX35 the front pads and rotors normally wear out first, because forward weight transfer makes the front axle do most of the stopping. But the rear brakes are not a free pass: the EX35's stability and brake-force systems work the rear pads harder than older cars did, so check both axles every time and replace pads and rotors in axle sets, not one corner at a time.

How the EX35 Brake System Is Laid Out

The EX35 uses disc brakes at all four wheels. Infiniti's own maintenance guide describes it simply: the calipers clamp the pads onto rotors that turn with the wheels, and the friction that stops the car also wears both parts over time. The rest of the system is conventional for a luxury crossover of this era:

• Vacuum-assisted booster. The owner's manual states that the brake booster uses engine vacuum. If the engine stalls you can still stop, but it takes much more pedal effort and a longer distance.
• Two hydraulic circuits. If one circuit fails, the manual notes you still have braking at two wheels.
• Brake Assist, ABS and Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC). A faint click and slight pulsation when you press the pedal slowly and firmly is described in the manual as normal Brake Assist operation, not a fault.
• Shoe-type parking brake inside the rear rotors. The foot-operated parking brake uses small shoes that work inside the hat of the rear rotors. The manual calls for a parking brake shoe break-in whenever the shoes or the drums/rotors are replaced.
• DOT 3 fluid. The manual specifies Genuine NISSAN Super Heavy Duty Brake Fluid or an equivalent DOT 3.

The parking brake detail matters on a rear brake job. Because the shoes ride inside the rear rotor hat, a rear rotor replacement is also the time to look at those shoes and their hardware.

Front vs Rear: Which Wears First and Why

Stopping forward momentum pushes the vehicle's weight onto the front axle, which is why manufacturers bias braking toward the front and fit larger front rotors. On the EX35, with a V6 up front, the front pads and rotors carry the bigger share of the work on nearly every stop, so they are usually the first set you replace.

The old rule of thumb that rear pads last twice as long as the fronts does not hold as well on a car like this. Bendix points out that electronic brake-force distribution varies pressure between front and rear depending on speed, road conditions and how hard you brake, and that stability and traction systems brake individual wheels. The EX35's VDC does exactly that. The result is rear pads that can wear faster than an owner expects, and sometimes unevenly side to side.

The practical takeaway: expect to do the fronts first, but measure the rears at the same visit. Do not assume they are fine because they are "the back brakes."

Symptoms and How to Tell Which End Needs Work

The EX35's disc brake pads have built-in audible wear warnings. According to the owner's manual, a pad that needs replacing makes a high-pitched scraping sound while the vehicle is moving. At first you hear it only with the brake pedal pressed; after more wear you hear it all the time, pedal or not. Either way, Infiniti's advice is to have the brakes checked as soon as possible.

To narrow down which axle is the problem:

• Steering wheel shake under braking points to the front rotors. Front rotor thickness variation is felt through the steering.
• Pulsation in the seat or pedal without steering shake often points to the rear rotors.
• Scraping from the back of the car, especially one side only, is a rear pad wear indicator or a sticking rear caliper slide.
• A weak parking brake points to worn or glazed parking brake shoes inside the rear rotor hat, not the rear pads.
• Brake warning light with the parking brake released can mean low fluid. The manual says to check the reservoir level and have the system inspected. A falling level often just reflects worn pads, since fluid moves into the calipers as pads get thinner, but it can also be a leak.

The only way to know for sure is to pull the wheels and look. Check the inner and outer pads at both ends, and measure rotor thickness with a micrometer at the thinnest point of the pad contact area. Power Stop notes that the rotor's minimum thickness is marked on the rotor itself, on the edge, in the vanes or on the hat. If a rotor is below that number, it must be replaced, not resurfaced.

What to Replace, and What to Replace With It

Pads. Always replace pads as an axle set, both front wheels or both rear wheels together, so the car stops straight. If you want more bite than a stock pad, the Hawk HPS 5.0 compound is a street performance pad built for strong initial torque, smooth and predictable release, and good pad and rotor wear life on iron rotors. We carry the Hawk HPS 5.0 rear brake pads for the 2010-2013 Infiniti EX35, and you can compare other options in our brake pads collection or our ceramic brake pads if low dust is your priority.

Rotors. Replace rotors when they are below minimum thickness, warped, heavily grooved, or heat-checked. Power Stop recommends replacing both rotors on an axle at the same time, since a thickness difference side to side causes uneven braking. See our brake rotors for replacements.

Hardware. New abutment clips and slide pin boots keep new pads from dragging or rattling. A brake hardware kit is cheap insurance on either axle.

Rear-only extras. When the rear rotors come off, inspect the parking brake shoes. If they are worn or contaminated, or the parking brake has been weak, replace them and perform the break-in procedure described in the service manual.

Calipers. A caliper with a seized piston or slide pin will eat one pad much faster than its partner. If one pad is far thinner than the other on the same wheel, fix the cause or replace the unit from our brake calipers collection before fitting new pads.

Fluid. Infiniti's maintenance schedule for the EX35 calls for brake fluid replacement every 30,000 miles or 24 months under standard conditions, and every 15,000 miles or 12 months under severe conditions. Brake fluid absorbs moisture as it ages, which reduces braking performance and promotes corrosion. A pad job is a sensible time to flush it if it is due.

Inspection Intervals and How Hard the Job Is

Infiniti's maintenance guide for the EX35 calls for inspecting brake pads and rotors every 15,000 miles or 12 months under standard conditions, and every 7,500 miles or 6 months under severe conditions.

For a home mechanic with jack stands and basic hand tools, a front pad and rotor job on the EX35 is a straightforward caliper-off, bracket-off, rotor-off swap. The rear is similar, with two extra points of care:

1. Make sure the parking brake is fully released before pulling the rotor. If the rotor hangs up on the shoes, back off the parking brake adjuster rather than prying on the rotor.
2. After reassembly, check parking brake holding power. If you fitted new shoes or rotors, follow the service manual break-in procedure.

On either axle, clean and lubricate the caliper slide pins, torque the caliper bracket bolts and lug nuts to the values in the factory service manual, pump the pedal until it is firm before driving, and bed the new pads in with a series of moderate stops. Check the fluid level afterward and top up with DOT 3 only if it is below the MIN mark.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do the front brakes on an EX35 always wear out before the rears?

Usually, but not always. Forward weight transfer gives the front brakes most of the work. The EX35's stability and brake-force systems also use the rear brakes, so rear pads can wear faster than expected. Measure both axles at every inspection.

Should I replace front and rear brakes at the same time?

Only if both are worn. Replace pads and rotors as axle pairs, left and right together. There is no need to replace good rear brakes just because the fronts are done.

What is that scraping noise from my EX35's brakes?

Most likely the pad wear indicator. Infiniti describes it as a high-pitched scraping that first appears when braking and later becomes constant. Have the brakes checked as soon as you hear it, before the pads wear down to the backing plate and damage the rotors.

What brake fluid does the 2010-2013 EX35 use?

The owner's manual calls for Genuine NISSAN Super Heavy Duty Brake Fluid or an equivalent DOT 3 fluid. Do not add silicone-based DOT 5.

Why is my parking brake weak after new rear rotors?

The EX35's parking brake uses shoes inside the rear rotor hat. Infiniti calls for a parking brake break-in whenever the shoes or rotors are replaced, or whenever the parking brake feels weak. The procedure is in the service manual.

Can I resurface my EX35 rotors instead of replacing them?

Only if they will stay above the minimum thickness marked on the rotor after machining. Many rotors are too close to that limit by the time pads are due, and replacement is often the better choice.

Sources

1. 2011 Infiniti EX Owner's Manual - pad wear warning sound, vacuum booster, two hydraulic circuits, Brake Assist, parking brake shoe break-in, DOT 3 fluid spec
2. Infiniti USA - 2012 EX35 Brake Pads and Rotors Maintenance Guide - pad and rotor inspection intervals
3. Infiniti USA - 2012 EX35 Brake Fluid Maintenance Guide - fluid replacement intervals and moisture absorption
4. Bendix - Rear Brake Pads on Vehicles with Stability Control - EBD and stability systems increase rear pad wear
5. Bendix - Brake Bias Explained - forward weight transfer, front bias and larger front rotors
6. Power Stop - Minimum Rotor Thickness - where minimum thickness is marked, measuring, replacing rotors in pairs
7. Hawk Performance - HB370B.559 HPS 5.0 - rear pad compound characteristics and iron-rotor compatibility