"When I learned to drive we were always told to pump the brakes (and on old drum brake cars like my Dodges, Galaxies, Studebakers, etc) but with the invention and common application of antilock brakes constant and firm pressure is what's needed. Maybe a lot of people still don't realize that."
You are absolutely right. The level of willful ignorance that people have about automobiles is stunning.
About every other week, Car Talk gets a call from some ignorant idiot whose problem turns out to be perfectly functioning antilock brakes. They've never read the manual or even ASKED about why their brake pedal pulses when they brake on a slippery surface.
These are, in my sublime opinion, the same auto-ignorant people who used to lock up their brakes and skid directly into an accident instead of steering around it. You can BET that what they learned from their dad in 1965 about braking is still how they do it.
I also have reservations about the shim idea. If there is a friction point that is making a pedal hang up and a stainless steel square washer about the size of your thumbnail can eliminate the friction, so be it. But I'm not betting this problem is solved.
And I'm also surprised, because I think the 2007 Nissan Murano I just bought also has an electric sensor rather than a cable between throttle and gas feed. I'm bummed about that...I spent some time checking the shop manual last night and all I can find is sensors.
Stupid, stupid, stupid idea.
