🔧 Altima - Rear Brake Pad & Rotor Replacement

This repair replaces the rear brake pads and rear brake rotors on your Altima. The rear brakes use an electronic parking brake, so the parking brake motors must be placed into service mode before removing the calipers.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2-3 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Your Altima has an electronic parking brake. Do not force the rear caliper piston back in unless the parking brake is in service mode.
• ⚠️ Work on level ground and support the vehicle with jack stands. Never rely on a floor jack alone.
• ⚠️ Brake dust can be harmful. Wear safety glasses and a dust mask, and do not blow brake dust with compressed air.
• ⚠️ Brake fluid can damage paint. Keep rags nearby and wipe spills immediately.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not normally required, but keep the ignition OFF after putting the electronic parking brake into service mode.

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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 lug nut socket
• 1/2-inch drive breaker bar
• 1/2-inch drive torque wrench
• 3/8-inch drive ratchet
• 14mm socket
• 17mm socket
• 14mm wrench
• Flathead screwdriver
• Brake caliper piston compression tool (specialty)
• Brake caliper hanger hook
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner spray
• Shop towels
• Rubber mallet
• Small bungee cord
• OBD scan tool with EPB service mode (specialty)
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Dust mask

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Rear brake rotors - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Rear brake hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper slide pin grease - Qty: 1
• Brake parts cleaner - Qty: 1-2 cans

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park your Altima on level ground, shift to Park, and chock the front wheels.
• Release the parking brake before starting the rear brake service.
• A scan tool is the safest way to retract the electronic parking brake. EPB means “electronic parking brake,” which uses a small motor at each rear caliper.
• Using the scan tool, select the Nissan EPB rear brake service function before removing the rear calipers.
• Open the hood and check the brake fluid reservoir. If it is very full, remove a small amount with a clean suction tool to prevent overflow when compressing the pistons.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Put the Electronic Parking Brake in Service Mode

• Use an OBD scan tool with EPB service mode and plug it into the diagnostic port under the driver side dash.
• Turn the ignition ON without starting the engine.
• On the scan tool, choose the parking brake or brake system menu, then select rear brake pad replacement or EPB maintenance mode.
• Follow the scan tool prompts until both rear parking brake motors retract.
• Turn the ignition OFF after the scan tool confirms service mode is active.
• Listen for motor noise at the rear wheels.

Step 2: Loosen the Rear Lug Nuts

• Use a 21mm lug nut socket and 1/2-inch drive breaker bar to loosen each rear wheel lug nut about half a turn.
• Do not remove the lug nuts yet.

Step 3: Lift and Support the Rear of the Vehicle

• Use a floor jack rated 3-ton minimum at the correct rear lift point to raise the rear of your Altima.
• Place jack stands rated 3-ton minimum under the approved rear support points.
• Lower the vehicle gently onto the jack stands.
• Give the vehicle a small shake by hand to confirm it is stable.

Step 4: Remove the Rear Wheels

• Use the 21mm lug nut socket to remove the rear lug nuts.
• Remove both rear wheels and set them flat on the ground.

Step 5: Remove the Rear Caliper

• Use a 14mm socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to remove the rear caliper slide pin bolts.
• If the slide pin turns with the bolt, hold the pin with a 14mm wrench while loosening the bolt.
• Lift the caliper off the pads.
• Use a brake caliper hanger hook or small bungee cord to hang the caliper from the suspension.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the rubber brake hose.

Step 6: Remove the Old Brake Pads and Hardware

• Use a flathead screwdriver to gently pry the old rear brake pads out of the caliper bracket.
• Remove the old pad clips from the caliper bracket by hand or with the flathead screwdriver.
• Pad clips are thin metal pieces that help the pads slide smoothly and quietly.

Step 7: Remove the Caliper Bracket

• Use a 17mm socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to remove the two rear caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the caliper bracket and set it on a clean surface.

Step 8: Remove the Rear Rotor

• Pull the rear rotor straight off the hub by hand.
• If the rotor is stuck, tap the rotor hat area with a rubber mallet.
• Do not hit the wheel studs.
• If the parking brake was not fully retracted, stop and repeat the EPB service mode step with the OBD scan tool with EPB service mode.

Step 9: Clean the Hub and Bracket

• Use a wire brush to clean rust from the wheel hub face where the rotor sits.
• Use brake cleaner spray and shop towels to clean the caliper bracket.
• Clean the pad clip contact areas until the new clips sit flat.
• A clean hub prevents brake vibration.

Step 10: Install the New Rear Rotor

• Use brake cleaner spray and shop towels to clean the protective oil from both sides of the new rotor.
• Slide the new rotor onto the hub by hand.
• Thread one lug nut on by hand to hold the rotor flat while you work.

Step 11: Reinstall the Caliper Bracket

• Position the rear caliper bracket over the rotor.
• Start both bracket bolts by hand to avoid cross-threading.
• Use a 17mm socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to snug the bolts.
• Use a 1/2-inch drive torque wrench to tighten the caliper bracket bolts to Torque to 98 Nm (72 ft-lbs).

Step 12: Install New Brake Hardware and Pads

• Snap the new rear brake hardware clips into the caliper bracket by hand.
• Apply a thin layer of brake caliper slide pin grease only to the pad ears where they touch the clips.
• Do not put grease on the pad friction material or rotor surface.
• Slide the new rear brake pads into the bracket by hand.

Step 13: Compress the Rear Caliper Piston

• Use a brake caliper piston compression tool to slowly push the rear caliper piston back into the caliper.
• A piston compression tool pushes the brake piston inward so the thicker new pads will fit.
• Go slowly and watch the brake fluid reservoir under the hood so it does not overflow.
• If the piston does not move smoothly, stop and confirm EPB service mode is active with the OBD scan tool with EPB service mode.

Step 14: Reinstall the Rear Caliper

• Place the caliper over the new pads and rotor.
• Start both caliper slide pin bolts by hand.
• Use a 14mm socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to snug the bolts.
• If needed, hold the slide pin with a 14mm wrench.
• Use a 1/2-inch drive torque wrench to tighten the caliper slide pin bolts to Torque to 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs).

Step 15: Repeat on the Other Side

• Use the same tools and steps to replace the rear pads and rotor on the opposite side.
• Always replace rear brake pads and rotors in pairs.

Step 16: Reinstall the Rear Wheels

• Remove the temporary lug nut holding each rotor.
• Install both rear wheels by hand.
• Use the 21mm lug nut socket to snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Use the floor jack rated 3-ton minimum to raise the vehicle slightly, then remove the jack stands rated 3-ton minimum.
• Lower your Altima to the ground.
• Use a 1/2-inch drive torque wrench and 21mm lug nut socket to tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern to Torque to 113 Nm (83 ft-lbs).

Step 17: Exit EPB Service Mode

• Turn the ignition ON without starting the engine.
• Use the OBD scan tool with EPB service mode to exit rear brake service mode.
• Follow the scan tool prompts to apply and release the electronic parking brake.
• Confirm there are no parking brake warning messages on the dash.

Step 18: Pump the Brake Pedal

• With the engine OFF, press the brake pedal slowly several times until it feels firm.
• This moves the caliper pistons back against the new pads.
• Do not drive until the pedal feels firm.

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✅ After Repair

• Check the brake fluid level and top off only if needed with the correct brake fluid listed on the reservoir cap.
• Start the vehicle and confirm the brake pedal feels normal.
• Apply and release the electronic parking brake several times to confirm proper operation.
• Perform a slow test drive in a safe area and make several gentle stops.
• Bed in the new pads by making 8-10 moderate stops from about 30 mph to 5 mph, allowing a short cooling period between stops.
• Avoid hard braking for the first 200 miles unless needed for safety.
• Recheck lug nut torque after the first short drive using the 1/2-inch drive torque wrench.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $450-$750 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $160-$320 (parts only)

You Save: $290-$430 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5-2.0 hours.

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