My Infiniti brakes are squeaking should I just go to any garage?...

My Infiniti brakes are squeaking should I just go to any garage?

Hi everyone, I need some honest advice because I am a bit stressed about this. My Infiniti QX60 started making this awful squeaking noise whenever I slow down, especially in the mornings. At first I thought maybe it was just dust or something because I park outside, but it has been two weeks now and the noise is getting worse. Sometimes I also feel a slight vibration in the pedal when I brake at higher speeds. My wife is telling me to take it somewhere immediately but I am the kind of person who likes to do research first before handing over my money. I have asked a few friends and everyone gives me different answers. One guy said brake pads are brake pads and just go to the cheapest place. Another friend said Infinitis are sensitive and you cannot just put any cheap parts on them or you will ruin the rotors. I honestly do not know who to believe. I looked online and found a place that advertises professional brake pad replacement for Infiniti which sounds promising because they seem to specialize in our cars. But I have been burned before by places that say they are specialists and then they turn out to be just a normal garage with a fancy website. What should I actually be looking for when choosing a shop for brake work? Should I insist on original Infiniti brake pads or are there good aftermarket options that cost less? Also how do I know if I only need pads or if my rotors are damaged too? I really do not want to get ripped off and be told I need new rotors when a simple pad change would fix the problem. But at the same time I do not want to be cheap and then end up in a dangerous situation because my brakes fail. Driving here is crazy enough with all the sudden stops on the highway. I just want my car to stop quietly and safely without spending a small fortune. If any of you have gone through a brake replacement on your Infiniti recently please tell me what you paid and whether you were happy with the work. Also how long did the new pads last before you started having issues again? I would really appreciate any tips on what questions to ask when I call around for quotes. Thanks so much in advance for helping a confused car owner out.

Pedal vibration at higher speeds combined with squeaking usually means the rotors have some warping already, not just worn pads. Don't let anyone tell you it's only pads without actually measuring rotor thickness first. Ask them to show you the measurement before agreeing to anything.

Replaced brakes on my QX60 last year and went with OEM pads specifically after a bad experience with aftermarket ones on a different car. The aftermarket pads were cheaper but wore down within eight months and made noise almost immediately. Paid more for OEM the second time and it has been quiet and smooth for over a year now. Worth the extra cost honestly for peace of mind on brakes specifically.

Two weeks of worsening squeaking means the pads are likely down to the wear indicator already. Don't wait much longer, that grinding feeling you'll get next means metal on metal contact with the rotor.

Ask for a written quote that separates pads, rotors, and labor clearly before they start any work. That way you can see exactly what they're charging for and compare with other places.

Get rotor thickness checked properly before deciding, sometimes resurfacing is enough and full replacement is unnecessary. A shop that immediately pushes new rotors without measuring first is being either lazy or dishonest. Brakes are not where you want to cut corners though so balance caution with getting a fair price.