🔧 Sentra - Rear Brake Pads & Rotors Replacement

This job replaces the rear brake pads and rotors, which wear down over time and can cause noise, vibration, or longer stopping distances. You’ll remove the rear wheels, swap the rotors, install new pads (with new hardware), and then verify pedal feel and braking.

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

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Support your Sentra on jack stands; never rely on a jack alone.
• 🧤 Brake dust is harmful—wear gloves and a dust mask, and use brake cleaner instead of blowing dust with air.
• 🔥 Brakes can be hot after driving—let everything cool before starting.
• 🧱 Chock the front wheels with wheel chocks so the car can’t roll.
• 🅿️ Release the parking brake before removing rear calipers/rotors.

---

🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Dust mask
• Breaker bar (1/2")
• Torque wrench (10-150 ft-lbs range)
• 21mm socket
• 14mm socket
• 19mm socket
• Ratchet (3/8")
• Ratchet (1/2")
• Flathead screwdriver
• Bungee cord
• Wire brush
• Rubber mallet
• Rear disc brake piston wind-back tool (specialty)
• Needle-nose pliers
• Drain pan

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Rear brake rotors - Qty: 2
• Rear brake pad hardware kit (abutment clips) - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 2 cans
• Silicone brake lubricant - Qty: 1
• Medium-strength threadlocker (blue) - Qty: 1

---

📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, set the transmission to P, and place wheel chocks at the front tires.
• Loosen the rear lug nuts slightly with a 21mm socket and breaker bar before lifting.
• Release the parking brake fully (your rear calipers can’t come off cleanly if it’s applied).
• Open the hood and check the brake fluid level. If it’s near MAX, be ready to remove a little fluid with a clean syringe/turkey baster (do not spill on paint).

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and secure the rear

• Use a floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum) to lift the rear of your Sentra at the correct jack point.
• Place jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum) under solid rear support points and lower onto them.
• Remove the rear wheels using a 21mm socket and ratchet (1/2").

Step 2: Remove the rear brake caliper

• Turn the steering wheel slightly if it helps you access bolts (rear access is tight).
• Remove the caliper slide pin bolts using a 14mm socket and ratchet (3/8").
• Lift the caliper off and hang it from the suspension using a bungee cord.
• Never let the caliper hang by the hose.

Step 3: Remove old pads and caliper bracket

• Remove the old pads and pad clips using a flathead screwdriver if needed.
• Remove the caliper bracket bolts using a 19mm socket and breaker bar (1/2").
• Set the bracket aside.

Step 4: Remove the rotor

• Pull the rotor straight off the hub. If it’s stuck, tap around the hat section with a rubber mallet.
• Clean rust from the hub face using a wire brush so the new rotor sits flat.

Step 5: Install the new rotor

• Spray both sides of the new rotor with brake cleaner over a drain pan and wipe dry (removes shipping oil).
• Slide the new rotor onto the hub.

Step 6: Reinstall the caliper bracket

• Apply a small amount of medium-strength threadlocker (blue) to the bracket bolt threads.
• Install and tighten the bracket bolts using a 19mm socket and torque wrench.
• Torque to 98 Nm (72 ft-lbs)

Step 7: Install new pad hardware and pads

• Install the new pad clips (from the hardware kit) onto the bracket. Use needle-nose pliers if needed.
• Apply a thin layer of silicone brake lubricant where the pad “ears” slide on the clips.
• Install the new pads into the bracket.
• Keep grease off pad friction material.

Step 8: Retract the rear caliper piston

• Use a rear disc brake piston wind-back tool (specialty) to push and rotate the piston back in.
• A wind-back tool is a tool that turns the piston while pressing it, which many rear calipers require because the parking brake mechanism is built in.
• Retract the piston until the caliper fits over the new pads.

Step 9: Reinstall the caliper

• Place the caliper over the pads and align the slide pin bolt holes.
• Install the slide pin bolts using a 14mm socket and torque wrench.
• Torque to 26 Nm (19 ft-lbs)

Step 10: Repeat on the other side

• Repeat Steps 2 through 9 on the other rear wheel.
• Do both sides—brakes should be replaced in pairs.

Step 11: Reinstall wheels and lower the car

• Reinstall the wheels and snug the lug nuts using a 21mm socket.
• Lower your Sentra off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern using a torque wrench.
• Torque to 113 Nm (83 ft-lbs)

---

✅ After Repair

• 🦶 Pump the brake pedal 10-15 times before driving until it feels firm (this seats the pistons and pads).
• 🧪 Check brake fluid level and top off only if needed.
• 🔎 Check for leaks and make sure the brake hose isn’t twisted.
• 🛣️ Bed-in the brakes: make 6-10 moderate stops from ~30 mph to ~5 mph, letting brakes cool a bit between stops. Avoid hard panic stops for the first ~200 miles.
• 🅿️ Re-apply and release the parking brake a few times to confirm normal feel.

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $140-$320 (parts only)

You Save: $310-$530 by doing it yourself!

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