🔧 Front Brake Pads - Replacement

Replacing the front brake pads restores stopping power and helps prevent rotor damage. On your Sentra, the front brakes use a floating caliper, so you’ll remove the caliper, swap the pads, then compress the piston before reassembly.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 1.5-2.5 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Work on a flat, level surface and chock the rear wheels.
• Use jack stands; never rely on the floor jack alone.
• Brake dust can be harmful. Do not blow it off with compressed air.
• Keep grease and oil off the brake pads and rotors.
• Use a brake caliper compression tool slowly so the brake fluid does not overflow.
• If the brake fluid reservoir is very full, remove a small amount before compressing the piston.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (pair)
• Wheel chocks
• 21mm socket
• Ratchet
• Torque wrench
• 14mm socket
• 12mm socket
• Brake caliper compression tool (specialty)
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Bungee cord or mechanic’s wire
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner
• Shop rags
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Brake hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper grease - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground and set the parking brake.
• Place wheel chocks behind the rear tires.
• Loosen the front lug nuts slightly before lifting the car.
• Do one side at a time so you can use the other side as a reference.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen the front wheel

• Use a 21mm socket and ratchet to loosen the front lug nuts 1/2 turn.
• Do not remove them yet.

Step 2: Raise and support the vehicle

• Use a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) to lift the front of the car at a safe jack point.
• Place jack stands (pair) under the proper support points and lower the vehicle onto them.
• Remove the wheel with the 21mm socket.

Step 3: Remove the caliper

• Use a 14mm socket to remove the caliper slide pin bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and hang it with a bungee cord or mechanic’s wire.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the hose.

Step 4: Remove the old pads and hardware

• Slide the old brake pads out of the bracket.
• Remove the pad clips and hardware if your new kit includes replacements.
• Use a wire brush to clean rust from the pad contact areas.

Step 5: Compress the caliper piston

• Use a brake caliper compression tool (specialty) to slowly push the piston back into the caliper.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir while compressing.
• Go slow to avoid fluid overflow.

Step 6: Install the new pads and hardware

• Install the new pad clips and apply a thin layer of brake caliper grease to the pad ears and contact points.
• Install the new front brake pads into the bracket.
• Make sure the inner and outer pads are in the correct positions.

Step 7: Reinstall the caliper

• Place the caliper back over the new pads.
• Use the 14mm socket to reinstall the caliper slide pin bolts.
• Torque to 32 Nm (24 ft-lbs).

Step 8: Reinstall the wheel

• Put the wheel back on and hand-tighten the lug nuts.
• Lower the vehicle with the floor jack.
• Use a 21mm socket and torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs).

Step 9: Repeat on the other front side

• Repeat the same steps on the other front wheel.
• Always replace pads in pairs.

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✅ After Repair

• Before moving the car, pump the brake pedal several times until it feels firm.
• Check the brake fluid level and top off if needed.
• Test the brakes at low speed in a safe area.
• Listen for rubbing or grinding noises.
• New pads need break-in. Make several gentle stops during the first 100-200 miles.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $220-$420 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $60-$140 (parts only)

You Save: $160-$280 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.0-1.5 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.