🔧 Altima - Front Brake Pad Replacement

Replacing the front brake pads on your Altima means removing the front wheels, opening each front brake caliper, swapping the worn pads, and safely compressing the caliper piston so the new thicker pads fit.

This is a good beginner brake job if you work slowly, support the vehicle safely, and do one side at a time so the other side can be used as a reference.

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

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Never work under or beside a vehicle supported only by a jack. Always use jack stands.
• ⚠️ Brake dust can be harmful. Do not blow it with compressed air; use brake cleaner and a shop towel.
• ⚠️ Brake fluid damages paint. Wipe spills immediately with water.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while a caliper is removed from the rotor.
• ⚠️ Support the brake caliper with a bungee cord or hanger. Do not let it hang by the rubber brake hose.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not required for this front brake pad replacement.

---

🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• 21mm lug nut socket
• 14mm socket
• Ratchet handle 3/8-inch drive
• Breaker bar 1/2-inch drive
• Torque wrench 1/2-inch drive
• Torque wrench 3/8-inch drive
• Disc brake piston compression tool (specialty)
• Flat-blade screwdriver medium
• Small wire brush
• Bungee cord or mechanic’s wire
• Floor jack rated 2-ton minimum
• Jack stands rated 2-ton minimum
• Wheel chocks
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses
• Shop towels
• Brake cleaner aerosol

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Front brake hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake lubricant - Qty: 1
• DOT 3 brake fluid - Qty: 1 small bottle

---

📋 Before You Begin

• Park your Altima on level ground.
• Shift the CVT into Park and apply the parking brake.
• Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• Open the hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir. The reservoir holds brake fluid for the brake system.
• Check the brake fluid level before compressing the caliper pistons. If it is near MAX, remove a small amount with a clean towel or suction tool to prevent overflow.
• Do one front side at a time. This helps you compare the unfinished side if you forget how something fits.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen the Front Lug Nuts

• Use the 21mm lug nut socket and breaker bar 1/2-inch drive to loosen each front lug nut about 1/2 turn.
• Do not remove the lug nuts yet.
• Loosen nuts while tires touch ground.

Step 2: Raise and Support the Front of the Vehicle

• Use the floor jack rated 2-ton minimum at the front center jacking point or the correct side pinch weld lift point.
• Place jack stands rated 2-ton minimum under the approved front support points.
• Gently lower the vehicle onto the jack stands using the floor jack rated 2-ton minimum.
• Lightly shake the vehicle by hand to confirm it is stable before removing wheels.

Step 3: Remove the Front Wheels

• Use the 21mm lug nut socket and ratchet handle 3/8-inch drive to remove the loosened lug nuts.
• Remove both front wheels and set them flat on the ground.

Step 4: Inspect the Brake Setup

• Put on safety glasses and nitrile gloves.
• Look at the brake caliper, rotor, pads, and brake hose before taking anything apart.
• The caliper is the clamp-shaped part that squeezes the pads against the rotor.
• The rotor is the round metal disc behind the wheel.
• Check for brake fluid leaks, torn rubber boots, deep rotor grooves, or uneven pad wear.

Step 5: Remove the Lower Caliper Slide Pin Bolt

• Turn the steering wheel to give yourself better access to the caliper.
• Use the 14mm socket and ratchet handle 3/8-inch drive to remove the lower caliper slide pin bolt.
• A slide pin lets the caliper move slightly as the pads wear.
• If the pin spins, hold the flat area of the slide pin with an appropriate wrench while loosening the bolt.

Step 6: Swing the Caliper Up

• Use the flat-blade screwdriver medium to gently pry the caliper outward just enough to create a small gap.
• Swing the caliper upward from the bottom.
• Support the caliper with a bungee cord or mechanic’s wire.
• Do not stretch, twist, or kink the rubber brake hose.

Step 7: Remove the Old Brake Pads

• Use your hands or the flat-blade screwdriver medium to slide the old inner and outer pads out of the caliper bracket.
• Note the position of any wear indicator tab before removing the pads.
• The wear indicator is a small metal tab that squeals when pads are worn out.

Step 8: Remove and Clean the Pad Hardware

• Use the flat-blade screwdriver medium to carefully pop the old metal pad clips out of the caliper bracket.
• Use the small wire brush and brake cleaner aerosol to clean the bracket lands where the clips sit.
• Wipe the area dry with shop towels.
• Do not get brake lubricant on the rotor surface or pad friction material.

Step 9: Install the New Hardware

• Install the new front brake hardware kit clips into the caliper bracket by hand.
• Apply a very thin film of brake lubricant to the areas where the pad backing plates contact the clips.
• Do not lubricate the face of the brake pads.
• Thin grease only. More is not better.

Step 10: Compress the Caliper Piston

• Place one old brake pad against the caliper piston.
• Use the disc brake piston compression tool (specialty) to slowly push the piston fully back into the caliper.
• A piston is the round part inside the caliper that pushes the inner brake pad.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir while compressing. Use shop towels if fluid approaches the top.
• Compress slowly to avoid forcing fluid backward too quickly.

Step 11: Install the New Brake Pads

• Slide the new front brake pad set into the caliper bracket by hand.
• Make sure each pad sits flat and moves smoothly in the new clips.
• If a pad is tight, remove it and recheck the hardware position. Do not force it with a hammer.

Step 12: Lower the Caliper

• Remove the bungee cord or mechanic’s wire.
• Swing the caliper down over the new pads by hand.
• If the caliper does not fit, use the disc brake piston compression tool (specialty) again to fully seat the piston.

Step 13: Reinstall the Caliper Slide Pin Bolt

• Start the lower slide pin bolt by hand to avoid cross-threading.
• Use the 14mm socket and ratchet handle 3/8-inch drive to snug the bolt.
• Use the torque wrench 3/8-inch drive and 14mm socket to tighten the front caliper slide pin bolt to Torque to 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs).

Step 14: Repeat on the Other Front Side

• Repeat Steps 4 through 13 on the other front brake assembly.
• Use the same 14mm socket, flat-blade screwdriver medium, disc brake piston compression tool (specialty), small wire brush, and brake cleaner aerosol.
• Replace pads in pairs. Never replace only one front side.

Step 15: Reinstall the Front Wheels

• Place each wheel back onto the hub.
• Install the lug nuts by hand first.
• Use the 21mm lug nut socket and ratchet handle 3/8-inch drive to snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.

Step 16: Lower the Vehicle and Torque the Lug Nuts

• Use the floor jack rated 2-ton minimum to lift the vehicle slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove the jack stands rated 2-ton minimum.
• Lower the vehicle until the tires touch the ground.
• Use the torque wrench 1/2-inch drive and 21mm lug nut socket to tighten lug nuts in a star pattern to Torque to 113 Nm (83 ft-lbs).

Step 17: Pump the Brake Pedal

• Sit in the driver seat.
• Press the brake pedal slowly several times until it feels firm.
• This moves the caliper pistons back out against the new pads.
• Do not drive until the pedal feels firm.

Step 18: Check Brake Fluid Level

• Use shop towels to clean around the brake fluid reservoir cap.
• Check the level in the reservoir.
• Add DOT 3 brake fluid only if the level is below the MIN mark.
• Reinstall the reservoir cap securely by hand.

---

✅ After Repair

• ✅ Start your Altima and press the brake pedal again. It should stay firm and not sink to the floor.
• ✅ Test the brakes at very low speed in a safe area before normal driving.
• ✅ Listen for scraping, grinding, or clunking. Stop and recheck the work if you hear anything unusual.
• ✅ New brake pads need a gentle break-in. Avoid hard stops for the first 100-200 miles unless it is an emergency.
• ✅ After the first short drive, recheck the brake fluid level and inspect for leaks.
• ✅ Recheck lug nut torque after about 25-50 miles using the torque wrench 1/2-inch drive and 21mm lug nut socket.

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $45-$120 (parts only)

You Save: $175-$300 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.

---

🎯 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.