🔧 Altima - Front Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

You’ll remove the front wheels, take off the brake calipers, replace the pads and rotors, then reassemble everything with the correct torque. This restores stopping power and prevents vibration/pulsation from worn or warped rotors.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2-4 hours

Assumption: Your Altima uses the common front caliper with 14mm slide-pin bolts and 17mm bracket bolts.

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Support the car with jack stands—never rely on a floor jack alone.
• 🛑 Brake dust is harmful—wear gloves and a dust mask, and use brake cleaner (don’t blow with compressed air).
• 🛑 Brakes may be hot—let them cool before touching parts.
• 🛑 Do not let the caliper hang by the brake hose—support it with a bungee cord.
• 🛑 Keep grease off pad/rotor friction surfaces; clean rotors with brake cleaner.
• 🛑 Battery disconnect is not required for this front brake job.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• 21mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• 14mm socket
• 17mm socket
• Torque wrench (10-150 ft-lbs range)
• Flathead screwdriver
• C-clamp (6")
• Wire brush
• Bungee cord
• Brake parts cleaner spray
• Shop towels
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses
• Dust mask

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Front brake rotors - Qty: 2
• Front pad hardware/clip kit - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper grease (silicone) - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1-2 cans

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🚗 Park on level ground, put the shifter in P, and set the parking brake.
• 🧱 Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• 🧴 Open the hood and remove the brake fluid reservoir cap (this helps the piston push back). Keep it clean.
• 📏 Break loose the front lug nuts about 1/2 turn using a 21mm socket and breaker bar before lifting.
• 🧰 Know these terms: a torque wrench tightens bolts to an exact spec; a C-clamp is used to slowly push the caliper piston back in.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and secure the front of the car

• Lift the front at the proper jack point using a floor jack.
• Set the car onto jack stands and gently rock the car to confirm it’s stable.
• Remove the wheels using a 21mm socket and ratchet.

Step 2: Remove the caliper (do not stress the hose)

• Turn the steering wheel to give yourself room (left for right side, right for left side).
• Remove the two caliper slide bolts using a 14mm socket and ratchet.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and hang it from the strut spring using a bungee cord.
• Torque spec (reinstall later): Torque to 26 Nm (19 ft-lbs)

Step 3: Remove pads and the caliper bracket

• Pull the old pads out of the bracket by hand. Use a flathead screwdriver gently if they’re stuck.
• Remove the caliper bracket bolts using a 17mm socket and breaker bar.
• Remove the bracket and set it aside.
• Torque spec (reinstall later): Torque to 98 Nm (72 ft-lbs)

Step 4: Remove the old rotor

• Slide the rotor off the hub.
• If it’s stuck with rust, thread a couple lug nuts on loosely by hand (to catch the rotor), then tap the rotor “hat” area from behind using the handle of a breaker bar (controlled hits).

Step 5: Clean the hub surface (prevents rotor wobble)

• Clean rust from the hub face using a wire brush.
• Spray the area with brake parts cleaner spray and wipe with shop towels.
• Tip: A clean hub helps prevent vibration.

Step 6: Install the new rotor

• Clean both sides of the new rotor using brake parts cleaner spray and shop towels (removes packing oil).
• Install the rotor onto the hub.
• Hold it in place by threading on one lug nut by hand (snug only), using no tools yet.

Step 7: Service the bracket hardware and slide pins

• Remove the old pad clips from the bracket using a flathead screwdriver.
• Clean the clip “lands” on the bracket using a wire brush, then spray with brake parts cleaner spray.
• Install the new hardware clips by hand.
• Pull the slide pins out (one at a time), wipe clean with shop towels, then apply a thin coat of brake caliper grease (silicone) and reinstall.
• Tip: Grease pins, not pad friction surfaces.

Step 8: Reinstall the bracket

• Reinstall the caliper bracket using a 17mm socket and ratchet.
• Final tighten with a torque wrench: Torque to 98 Nm (72 ft-lbs)

Step 9: Compress the caliper piston

• Place an old brake pad against the piston face.
• Use a C-clamp (6") to slowly push the piston fully back into the caliper.
• Watch the reservoir fluid level under the hood as you compress; wipe spills immediately using shop towels.

Step 10: Install new pads and reinstall the caliper

• Install the new inner and outer pads into the bracket by hand.
• Lower the caliper over the new pads.
• Install the slide bolts using a 14mm socket and ratchet, then final tighten with a torque wrench: Torque to 26 Nm (19 ft-lbs)

Step 11: Reinstall wheels

• Reinstall the wheel and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Lower the car to the ground using the floor jack.
• Torque lug nuts in a star pattern using a torque wrench: Torque to 113 Nm (83 ft-lbs)

Step 12: Restore pedal feel and fluid level

• Before driving, pump the brake pedal 10-15 times until it feels firm.
• Top off brake fluid if needed and reinstall the reservoir cap by hand.
• Clean any overspray with brake parts cleaner spray and shop towels.

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✅ After Repair

• 🧪 With the car in P, press and hold the brake pedal for 30 seconds—ensure it doesn’t slowly sink.
• 🔎 Check for leaks, twisted brake hoses, or anything left loose.
• 🛣️ Do a careful test drive and confirm smooth stops with no pulling or grinding.
• 🔥 Pad break-in (recommended): Do 8-10 moderate stops from ~40 mph down to ~10 mph, with light driving between stops to cool.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $450-$850 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $160-$380 (parts only)

You Save: $290-$470 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 2-3 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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