Whats up fellas? I have a 05 S with VDC. And this might be a stupid question but when the slip light comes on and the brakes grind alittle is that hurting my truck. Because we have had like 3ft of snow here in CO. I was wondering if all that slipping and grinding is Bad. It is also hard to do donuts because the VDC comes on automatic even when I shut it off.

The sound you are hearing in the ABS kicking in and the computer taking control of your throttle. It is frantically trying to stop the wheel(s) from spinning. Its not doing any harm, that's the way the system works. However, if the VDC is still active after you shut it off, that is a problem. Is your truck still under warranty? Maybe have the dealer look at it.

--Matt

The sounds are normal.

The problem you are having doing donuts is probably not the VDC but the ABLS which you can not turn off.

The VDC seems to do some damage I believe and here is why. Several months ago while doing some fishing and having to climb some hills, my VDC was tested to the max as I do not have 4WD. The way that the manual tells you to use it, I did. I simply made sure it was on and then mashed the throttle to the floor and let the VDC control how much slip it needed to get the truck moving. I was impressed with the hill I was able to climb. Just for grins, I turned it off and did not even make it two feet. With it back on, no problem, I continued right up the hill. Anyways, the noise you are hearing is the ABS going crazy. It will make the same noise if you slam on the brakes and the wheels want to lock up. It comes from the front left side in your engine bay just above the wheel. In fact, when you drive for the first time after the X has been off, you will here it test itself within the first few feet. Sounds like a clunk. Well, what I have found months later and many VDC slip lights later, is that my back brakes are now squealing bad at low speeds, like traffic. I removed the wheels and did not notice anything unusual and still had plenty of pad left. My mexterra only has 26,000 miles to date. Couple of things could have happened. Either the pads have gotten glazed from the heat, which is what I think. Or the pads are the incorred size. The second reason I was told by a friend. He has a 2005 Frontier and took it to the dealer for service. They told him there was a TSB (technical service bulletin) on his truck for the brake pads being too small on 2005 and up Frontiers, Xterra's, and Pathfinders. I have yet to take mine in. As for the X not being able to do doughnuts, you just need to try harder! :) You will hear the noise, but I can guarantee the wheels will spin. I have had the wheels spinning and the tach reading 6 grand for 100 feet at some points (proving to the non-believers what the X is about). Just to let you know.

ill have to say that shows what the xterra with the VQ40 is about!
i can do that if i have a good stretch of mud with my VG33
:fussball-big:

Give those rear pads another look. I have 33k miles on my 05 X and just replaced the brakes on all four corners last week. The rear pads were completely gone and the front still had a little bit of meat on them. The rear wore out faster than the front.

Give those rear pads another look. I have 33k miles on my 05 X and just replaced the brakes on all four corners last week. The rear pads were completely gone and the front still had a little bit of meat on them. The rear wore out faster than the front.
i would guess thats from the new x's lsd correct?

I honestly don't know why. The obvious thing is that it's rear disc and not drum (drum brakes last much longer).

But If I need it, I lock the rear, so the ABLS has probably worked harder on the front brakes than on the rear.

The rear pads are also MUCH smaller. Not so much thinner, but the pad surface is smaller. Maybe this has something to do with it.

I was impressed that I got 33K miles out of a stock set of pads and the rotors are as smooth as can be (especially seeing as I wore the rear down to nothing). The bad part is I couldn't find pads any place. I ended up ordering Bendix from Advance Auto and the total came to $98 for all four corners.