🔧 Murano - Front Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

You’ll remove the front calipers, replace the brake pads and rotors, then reassemble and torque everything correctly. Worn pads/rotors reduce stopping power and can cause noise, vibration, and longer braking distance.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Support your Murano on jack stands; never rely on a floor jack alone.
• 🛑 Brake dust is unhealthy—wear a dust mask and use brake cleaner, not compressed air.
• 🛑 Don’t let the caliper hang by the hose—support it with a caliper hanger hook (a hook that holds the caliper safely).
• 🛑 Keep grease and brake fluid off pad/rotor friction surfaces.
• 🔋 Battery disconnect is not required for this 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
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• 1/2" drive torque wrench (20-200 ft-lbs range)
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 3/8" drive torque wrench (10-80 ft-lbs range)
• 14mm socket
• 22mm socket
• Flathead screwdriver
• C-clamp (6" minimum)
• Caliper piston compressor tool (specialty)
• Caliper hanger hook
• Wire brush
• Rubber mallet
• Brake parts cleaner
• Shop rags
• 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 brake hardware kit (clips/shims) - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper slide pin grease (silicone brake grease) - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1
• DOT 3 brake fluid - Qty: 1 quart
• Anti-seize compound - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🅿️ Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• 🔧 Loosen the front lug nuts 1/2 turn using a 21mm socket and breaker bar before lifting.
• 🧴 Open the hood and check the brake fluid level. If it’s very full, remove a little with a clean rag so it doesn’t overflow when you compress the pistons.
• 🧠 Do one side at a time for reference.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and remove the front wheels

• Lift the front using a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) and support with jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Remove lug nuts with a 21mm socket and take off the wheel.

Step 2: Remove the front caliper (do not disconnect the hose)

• Turn the steering wheel to give yourself more room (left for right side, right for left side).
• Remove the caliper slide bolts using a 14mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket. If it’s stuck, gently pry with a flathead screwdriver.
• Hang the caliper securely using a caliper hanger hook.
• Torque spec on install (caliper slide bolts): Torque to 28 Nm (21 ft-lbs)

Step 3: Remove old pads and hardware

• Pull the pads out by hand. If tight, use a flathead screwdriver carefully.
• Remove the pad clips/hardware from the bracket.
• Clean the bracket contact points using a wire brush and brake parts cleaner.

Step 4: Remove the caliper bracket

• Remove the bracket bolts using a 22mm socket and 1/2" drive breaker bar.
• Set the bracket aside.
• Torque spec on install (caliper bracket bolts): Torque to 133 Nm (98 ft-lbs)

Step 5: Remove the old rotor

• Pull the rotor straight off.
• If rusted in place, tap the rotor hat (the “top-hat” center area) with a rubber mallet until it loosens.
• Clean the hub face with a wire brush and spray with brake parts cleaner.
• Apply a very thin film of anti-seize compound to the hub face to help prevent future rotor sticking.

Step 6: Install the new rotor

• Clean both sides of the new rotor with brake parts cleaner and shop rags (removes shipping oil).
• Slide the rotor onto the hub.
• Hold rotor with one lug nut finger-tight.

Step 7: Reinstall the bracket with new hardware clips

• Install the new pad clips from the front brake hardware kit onto the bracket.
• Reinstall the bracket bolts using a 22mm socket.
• Tighten with a 1/2" drive torque wrench: Torque to 133 Nm (98 ft-lbs)

Step 8: Lubricate slide pins and pad contact points

• Pull the slide pins out of the bracket by hand.
• Apply a thin coat of silicone brake grease to the smooth part of the pins (not the threads).
• Reinsert pins and make sure they move freely.
• Apply a very thin coat of silicone brake grease where pads touch the clips (not on pad friction material).

Step 9: Compress the caliper piston

• Place an old pad against the piston face.
• Use a C-clamp (6" minimum) or caliper piston compressor tool (specialty) to slowly push the piston fully back into the caliper.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir level as you compress.

Step 10: Install new pads and reinstall the caliper

• Install the new pads into the bracket.
• Lower the caliper over the new pads.
• Install the slide bolts using a 14mm socket.
• Tighten with a 3/8" drive torque wrench: Torque to 28 Nm (21 ft-lbs)

Step 11: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall the wheel and hand-thread all lug nuts.
• Lower the vehicle off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern using a 1/2" drive torque wrench: Torque to 113 Nm (83 ft-lbs)

Step 12: Repeat on the other front side

• Repeat Steps 1–11 on the other front wheel.
• Never reuse pads from side to side.

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✅ After Repair

• 🦶 With the engine OFF, pump the brake pedal slowly 10–15 times until it feels firm (this seats the pistons).
• 🧴 Check brake fluid level and top off with DOT 3 brake fluid if needed.
• 🔍 Inspect for leaks and make sure both wheels spin freely with no heavy drag.
• 🧪 Road test at low speed first. Confirm quiet operation and straight braking.
• 🔥 Pad bedding (recommended): make 8–10 moderate stops from ~40 mph to ~10 mph, with short cool-down driving between stops. Avoid hard stops for the first 200 miles.
• If pedal stays soft, do not drive—recheck work.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $450-$900 (parts + labor)

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

You Save: $290-$520 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5-2.5 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.

Assumption: Torque specs listed match the most common Murano front brake setup; verify if you have aftermarket calipers/brackets.