🔧 NX - Front Brake Pad Replacement

You’ll be removing the front wheels, swinging the front calipers up, and swapping the old brake pads for new ones. Replacing worn pads restores safe stopping and prevents rotor damage.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.5-3 hours

Assumption: torque specs listed are typical for your NX.

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on level ground and support the NX with jack stands before going under or removing wheels.
• ⚠️ Brake dust and cleaner are harmful—use safety glasses and gloves.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while a caliper is off the rotor.
• ⚠️ Keep brake fluid off paint; it can damage the finish.
• ⚠️ No battery disconnect is required for front pads.

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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)
• 14mm socket
• 17mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 3/8" drive torque wrench (10–80 ft-lbs range)
• Flat trim tool
• Brake caliper piston compressor tool (specialty)
• Bungee cord
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner spray
• Shop towels
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Front brake pad hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper grease (silicone) - Qty: 1
• Brake parts cleaner - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground and place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• Loosen the front lug nuts 1/2 turn using a 21mm socket and breaker bar while the NX is on the ground.
• Open the hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir. Do not remove the cap yet—just know where it is (fluid may rise when you compress pistons).

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and secure the front end

• Lift the front using a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) at the front center jacking point.
• Set the NX onto jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) at the approved support points.
• Remove the lug nuts with a 21mm socket and 1/2" drive breaker bar, then remove both front wheels.

Step 2: Locate the caliper and remove the slide pin bolts

• Turn the steering to give more room at the side you’re working on.
• On the back of the caliper, remove the two slide pin bolts using a 14mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet.
• Slide pins are the caliper’s moving bolts.

Step 3: Swing the caliper up and support it

• Carefully pivot the caliper upward off the rotor.
• Hang the caliper from the suspension spring using a bungee cord.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the brake hose.

Step 4: Remove old pads and hardware

• Pull the inner and outer brake pads out by hand. Use a flat trim tool if they’re stuck.
• Remove the stainless pad clips (hardware) from the bracket using a flat trim tool.
• Clean the bracket pad lands (where pads touch the bracket) using brake cleaner spray, shop towels, and a wire brush.

Step 5: Compress the caliper piston

• Position the old inner pad against the piston, then use a brake caliper piston compressor tool (specialty) to slowly push the piston fully back into the caliper.
• Compress slowly to avoid fluid overflow.
• If brake fluid starts to rise too high, pause and monitor the reservoir under the hood.

Step 6: Install new pad hardware and pads

• Install the new stainless pad clips from the front brake pad hardware kit into the bracket by hand. Ensure they snap fully into place.
• Apply a thin film of brake caliper grease (silicone) where the pads slide on the clips (do not get grease on pad friction material).
• Install the new pads into the bracket in the same orientation as the old ones.

Step 7: Reinstall the caliper

• Lower the caliper back over the new pads and rotor.
• Install the two slide pin bolts using a 14mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet.
• Torque to 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs) using a 3/8" drive torque wrench (10–80 ft-lbs range).

Step 8: Reinstall wheels

• Reinstall both front wheels and hand-thread the lug nuts.
• Lower the NX off the jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) using the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Torque lug nuts in a star pattern using a 1/2" drive torque wrench (20–200 ft-lbs range): Torque to 140 Nm (103 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• With the engine off, pump the brake pedal 10–15 times until it feels firm.
• Check the brake fluid level in the reservoir and top off only if needed.
• Start the NX and do a slow test in a safe area to confirm normal braking and no pulling/noises.
• Bed-in the pads: make 6–10 moderate stops from ~30–40 mph to ~5 mph, letting brakes cool a minute between stops.
• Recheck for leaks, abnormal smells, or wheel-area smoke (a light smell is normal at first).

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $250-$450 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $60-$150 (parts only)

You Save: $190-$300 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.0-1.8 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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