2002-2008 Infiniti G35 Brake Caliper Problems and Replacement

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

Caliper trouble on an Infiniti G35 usually shows up as a pull to one side, one wheel that runs much hotter than the others, pads worn unevenly on one corner, or a soft pedal with a falling fluid level. The fix is a new or remanufactured caliper on the bad corner, fresh pads and usually rotors, and a full bleed with DOT 3 fluid. The first job is figuring out which caliper your G35 actually has, because Brembo-equipped cars and standard cars take completely different parts.

Which calipers does your G35 have?

Infiniti built the first-generation G35 as a sedan and a coupe, and some trims left the factory with Brembo brakes while the rest used standard brakes. That split matters more than the model year when you shop for calipers, pads or rotors. Hawk, for example, lists its HB545 front pad family only for G35 and Nissan 350Z models built with Brembo brakes, and those pads do not fit a standard-brake car.

The two designs work differently. Brembo explains that a fixed caliper is one aluminum body bolted rigidly to the knuckle, with two or more pistons pushing on the pads from opposite sides. A floating (sliding) caliper has its piston on one side only; the body slides on guide pins to pull the outer pad into the rotor. Fixed calipers are lighter and wear pads more evenly; floating calipers are cheaper, compact and robust, but leave more residual drag if the slides bind.

How to tell at a glance: look through the front wheel. A Brembo caliper has pistons on the outboard face too and usually carries the Brembo name cast or printed on it. A floating caliper has a plain outer face and two guide-pin bolts on the back side. If you are unsure, match the pad shape to the listing before ordering.

Symptoms of a failing G35 caliper

• Pulling under braking. A caliper that applies late or weakly lets the opposite side do more of the work, so the car tugs toward the good side. A caliper that drags pulls toward the bad side even when you are coasting.
• One hot wheel and a burning smell. After a drive, a dragging corner is far hotter than the others, and the wheel may be coated in fresh, dark dust.
• Uneven pad wear. One pad down to the backing plate while its partner still has life is the classic sign of a stuck piston or seized slide pins.
• Soft pedal or falling fluid. A leaking piston seal lets fluid out and air in. The G35 owner's manual says that if brake fluid must be added frequently, the system should be checked, and that the brake warning light also covers low fluid level.
• Screeching that never stops. The G35's disc pads have audible wear indicators that make a high-pitched scraping or screeching sound whether or not the pedal is pressed. On a car with a dragging caliper, that one corner reaches the indicator long before the others.

Not every noise is a failure. The owner's manual notes that occasional squeak or squeal during light stops is normal, and that high-performance sport brake pads can squeal more often because of their high friction. Noise alone, with even wear and no pull, is usually a pad or shim issue, not a caliper.

Quick diagnosis before you buy parts

1. Check the pedal. The owner's manual gives a pedal-height check: with the engine running and 110 lb (490 N) of force on the pedal, the pedal top should stay at least 3.74 in (95 mm) above the floor on automatics and 3.54 in (90 mm) on manuals. Less than that points to air, a leak or worn parts.
2. Check the fluid. Level between MIN and MAX, and no wet spots at the caliper, hose or bleeder.
3. Spin each wheel. With the car safely on stands, a free wheel turns with light pad contact; a dragging one fights you or stops almost immediately.
4. Measure the pads. Compare inner and outer on each corner and side to side. A big gap in one caliper confirms it.
5. Rule out the parking brake. A rear corner that drags may be the parking brake, not the caliper. The manual lists 2 to 3 notches for the foot pedal (automatics) and 6 to 7 clicks for the lever (manuals) under 44 lb (196 N); well outside that range means the parking brake needs attention.

What causes G35 calipers to stick or leak

Most caliper failures on a car this age come down to moisture and heat. Infiniti's own maintenance guidance for the 2006 G35 explains that brake fluid absorbs moisture over time, and that water in the system can turn to compressible vapor and cause corrosion. Inside a caliper that corrosion roughens the piston and bore, so the piston stops retracting cleanly. Torn dust boots let road grit and water reach the piston directly, and on floating calipers dried or missing grease lets the slide pins seize. Brake hoses also age from the inside, and a hose that swells or collapses internally can hold pressure on a caliper after you release the pedal.

Cardone points out that calipers are fed hydraulic fluid from the master cylinder through high-pressure lines, and that the whole system should be inspected periodically and serviced to OE guidelines. On a G35 that means inspecting the fluid on the maintenance schedule and replacing it when it is dark or contaminated.

Replacing the caliper and what to do at the same time

Replace calipers in axle pairs when both sides are old, so pressure and response match side to side. At minimum, a new caliper needs new pads; installing old, heat-glazed or fluid-soaked pads in a fresh caliper throws away the repair.

• Pads. For Brembo-equipped cars, the Hawk Performance Ceramic Street front pads for G35 with Brembo are a quiet, low-dust daily choice, and the Hawk HP Plus front pads for G35 with Brembo suit spirited driving and track days. Standard-brake cars use a different pad; see our brake pads by vehicle.
• Rotors. A dragging caliper overheats the rotor. If it is scored, blued, below minimum thickness or causing pulsation, replace it. Options that fit include the EBC USR slotted front rotor set for the 2002-2004 G35 automatic and the EBC BSD front rotors for the 2003-2004 G35 manual with Brembo, or browse all brake rotors.
• Calipers and hardware. Order by brake type and position (front or rear, left or right) from our brake calipers. Fresh clips, shims and pins from brake hardware kits stop rattles and binding.
• Hoses. If the old hose is cracked or swollen, or the caliper was dragging, replace it with new brake hoses while the system is already open.
• Fluid. Refill and bleed with Genuine Nissan Super Heavy Duty Brake Fluid or an equivalent DOT 3, which is what the G35 owner's manual specifies. Use only new fluid from a sealed container, and wash off any spill right away, because brake fluid damages paint.

Torque the caliper bracket bolts, caliper bolts and banjo bolt to the values in the factory service manual, and always use new copper sealing washers on a banjo fitting.

How hard is the job?

A single floating caliper swap is a moderate driveway job for someone who has done pads before: remove the wheel, pinch or plug the hose, unbolt the caliper, move the pads and hardware, bolt it on and bleed. Brembo calipers are simpler to mount but the parts cost more, and you must make sure the replacement is a Brembo-type caliper, not a standard one. The hardest part is bleeding. The G35 has ABS, so a thorough pressure or two-person bleed starting at the corner farthest from the master cylinder gives the best pedal. If the pedal is still low after bleeding, or the ABS light stays on, stop and have it checked before driving.

Also worth knowing: NHTSA recall 03V200000 covered certain 2003 G35 sedans and coupes whose brake stop lamp switch could malfunction, leaving the brake lights dark when the pedal is pressed. It does not involve the calipers, but if you own a 2003 and the brake lights act up, check that recall with a dealer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put standard G35 pads on a car with Brembo brakes?

No. The Brembo calipers use a different pad shape, which is why Hawk lists its HB545 pads only for Brembo-equipped G35 and 350Z models. Check whether your calipers say Brembo before ordering pads, rotors or calipers.

Should I replace both front calipers if only one is bad?

If the car is older and both calipers are original, doing the pair keeps braking even side to side and saves a second repair soon after. If one caliper failed early from a torn boot or damage and the other is in good shape, a single replacement with a thorough bleed is acceptable.

What brake fluid does the G35 use?

The owner's manual specifies Genuine Nissan Super Heavy Duty Brake Fluid or an equivalent DOT 3. Use fresh fluid from a sealed container and never reuse fluid drained from the system.

Why does my G35 squeal with new pads?

Infiniti notes that occasional squeal during light stops is normal and that high-friction sport pads squeal more. Persistent squeal usually means missing shims, dry pad hardware or glazed rotors rather than a caliper problem.

Can a stuck parking brake feel like a stuck rear caliper?

Yes. A rear wheel that drags after the parking brake is released can be a parking brake that is out of adjustment. The owner's manual gives a notch or click range for checking it; sort that out before replacing a rear caliper.

Sources

1. 2006 Infiniti G35 Owner's Manual - DOT 3 fluid spec, audible pad wear indicators, sport pad noise note, pedal height and parking brake check values
2. Brembo: Brake caliper technology and operation - fixed vs floating caliper design, materials and trade-offs
3. Hawk Performance HB545Z.564 - pad fitment limited to G35 and 350Z with Brembo brakes
4. Infiniti maintenance schedule: 2006 G35 brake fluid - why moisture in brake fluid causes corrosion and reduced braking
5. NHTSA recall 03V200000 - 2003 G35 brake stop lamp switch recall
6. Cardone: Brake caliper function and common failures - how calipers are fed by the master cylinder and the need for periodic OE-guided inspection