fishhouse

iTrader: (1)

i need to replace my front brake pads...got some squeaking noise and grinding vibration going on.

just wondering if any of you had any tips for me...considering doing it myself. never done it before, though.

anyone know where i could find a write up/how-to with detailed directions or pics?

any suggestions on brands, kind, and prices to look for. never shopped for pads before - clueless on what to get.

thanks in advance.

Uconn411

This is for a 2001, that is from another member's old post:
Brake Install Notes:

Front:

1. Remove the bolts holding the upper piece of the caliper on...14mm...these came off without any effort...slide the caliper off and hang it on the coil of the spring.
2. Remove the brake pads...they pop right off...pay attention to the way they are seated.
3. Remove bolts holding the lower piece of the caliper on...19mm...these require some elbow grease to remove, but I did not need any liquid wrench or a breaker bar...slide the second caliper piece off and set aside.
4. Remove the rotor...requires some rocking and tapping to remove...my stock rotors did NOT have a bolt hole easy removal so I did some light tapping on the back side with a mallet as I turned the rotor.
5. Install new rotor...clean up the wheel hub first and rub some grease around the hub to prevent the new rotor from rusting onto the hub like the stock one.
6. Reinstall lower piece of caliper...clean it up first to remove all the brake dust...tighten up 19mm bolts good and tight.
7. Install new brake pads...ensure that you remove the backing plates off the old pads and install them to the new pads.
8. Compress the piston on the upper piece of the caliper...loosen cap on the brake fluid resevoir by the driver's side strut tower in the engine bay to make piston compression possible...use a clamp and equally distribute pressure as you compress...watch for brake fluid overflow.
9. Reinstall upper piece of the caliper...clean it up first to remove all the brake dust...tighten up the 14mm bolts marginally (remember how easy they were to remove).


You're all done. Differences for the rears:

• You must remove the 14mm bolt holding the mount for the emergency brake cable to get the upper part of the caliper off...underneath the caliper.
• Lower piece of caliper is held on by 17mm bolts instead of the 19mm on the front.
• Piston needs to be turned clockwise to be compressed...I suppose you could use pliers, but you can buy a small piston compression tool which hooks on to a ratchet and makes life really easy...the one they sell at Sears has a piston pattern which fits the rear calipers on the Maxima.
• Make sure you hook the emergency brake cable onto the spring mechanism before reinstalling the upper caliper piece as it will be hard to hook back on after the caliper is assembled.

fishhouse

iTrader: (1)

i wasn't going to do the rotor too...but maybe i should just do it all.

anything else i should consider doing while i've got it all apart?

one of my friends mentioned draining the brake lines too. is that needed/worth it. if so, anyone know how to do it exactly?

2002 Maxima SE

iTrader: (3)

http://www.motorvate.ca/mvp.php/300

That should help. As for draining the caliper, I would recommend that. It's not too difficult but requires two people (unless you use self bleeding caliper screws)

1)Have someone pump the brakes (increase pressure) and open the brake reservoir.
2)Put rubber hose over caliper drain bolt.
3)Have someone press down on the brake pedal.
4)Turn drain bolt 1/4 of a turn (until fluid pours out of tube).
5)Before brake pedal hits the floor board, tighten the drain bolt.
6)Prepare to add fluid.
7)Add fluid as someone releases brake pedal.

Repeat. You should drain/refill in this order RR, LR, RF, LF (furthest tire from the reservoir to closest).

2002 Maxima SE

iTrader: (3)

This guy used "Speed Bleeders" which seams to be the way to go so you can:

A)Do it yourself
B)Completely eliminate the possibility of air getting in.

http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/sho...&threadid=3104

They come in the following sizes:
Anyone know the size of our front/rear caliper bleeders?