🔧 Altima - Rear Brake Pad & Rotor Replacement

This repair replaces the rear brake pads and rear brake rotors on your Altima. The rear calipers have an electronic parking brake, so the parking brake motors must be placed in service mode before the calipers are removed.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Do not remove the rear calipers until the electronic parking brake is fully retracted using service mode or a scan tool.
• ⚠️ Never support the car with only a jack. Use jack stands on solid, level ground.
• ⚠️ Brake dust is harmful. Wear safety glasses and a dust mask, and use brake cleaner instead of compressed air.
• ⚠️ Brake fluid damages paint. Keep the brake fluid reservoir covered and wipe spills immediately.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while the rear calipers are removed.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not normally required for this repair, but keep the ignition off after service mode is active.

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🔧 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
• 21mm lug nut socket
• 1/2-inch drive breaker bar
• 1/2-inch drive torque wrench
• 3/8-inch drive ratchet
• 14mm socket
• 19mm socket
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Brake caliper piston compressor tool
• Disc brake spreader tool
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner spray
• Shop towels
• Bungee cord
• Rubber mallet
• Scan tool with electronic parking brake service function (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 lubricant - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park your Altima on level ground and keep the transmission in Park.
• Chock the front wheels with wheel chocks so the car cannot roll.
• Do not apply the parking brake before lifting the rear of the car.
• A scan tool is an electronic diagnostic tool that talks to the car’s computers; for this job, it retracts the electronic parking brake motors safely.
• Use the scan tool to enter electronic parking brake maintenance/service mode before removing rear brake parts.
• Open the hood and check the brake fluid reservoir. If it is near the MAX line, remove a small amount with a clean suction tool to prevent overflow when compressing caliper pistons.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Put the Electronic Parking Brake in Service Mode

• Connect the scan tool with electronic parking brake service function to the diagnostic port under the driver-side dashboard.
• Turn the ignition ON without starting the engine.
• Use the scan tool menu for Electronic Parking Brake > Maintenance Mode > Retract.
• Wait until the scan tool confirms the rear parking brake motors are fully retracted.
• Turn the ignition OFF after the scan tool says the procedure is complete.
• Do not skip this step.

Step 2: Loosen the Rear Lug Nuts

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

Step 3: Lift and Support the Rear of the Car

• Use the floor jack to lift the rear of your Altima at the approved rear jacking point.
• Place jack stands under the rear side pinch weld support areas.
• Lower the car gently onto the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Shake the car lightly by hand to confirm it is stable before working underneath or near the wheels.

Step 4: Remove the Rear Wheels

• Use the 21mm lug nut socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to remove the loosened lug nuts.
• Remove both rear wheels and place them flat under the side of the car as an extra safety backup.

Step 5: Remove the Rear Caliper

• Use the 14mm socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to remove the two rear caliper slide pin bolts.
• Slide the caliper off the rotor by hand.
• Support the caliper with a bungee cord so it does not hang by the brake hose.
• A caliper is the brake clamp that squeezes the pads against the rotor to stop the car.
• Never let the caliper dangle.

Step 6: Remove the Old Brake Pads and Hardware

• Use a flat-blade screwdriver to gently pry the old brake pads out of the caliper bracket.
• Remove the old stainless pad clips from the bracket by hand or with the flat-blade screwdriver.
• Pad clips are small metal guides that help the brake pads slide smoothly.

Step 7: Remove the Caliper Bracket

• Use the 19mm socket and 1/2-inch drive breaker bar to remove the two rear caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the caliper bracket from the knuckle.
• Set the bolts aside where they will stay clean.

Step 8: Remove the Rear Rotor

• Pull the rear rotor straight off by hand.
• If the rotor is stuck, tap the rotor hat with a rubber mallet until it loosens.
• Use brake cleaner spray and shop towels to clean the hub face.
• Use the wire brush to remove rust from the wheel hub surface.
• The hub is the round metal surface the rotor sits against.
• A clean hub prevents brake vibration.

Step 9: Install the New Rear Rotor

• Clean both sides of the new rotor with brake cleaner spray and shop towels.
• 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 10: Clean and Prepare the Caliper Bracket

• Use the wire brush to clean the pad contact areas on the caliper bracket.
• Install the new rear brake hardware clips by hand.
• Apply a thin layer of brake lubricant to the pad contact areas using gloved fingers.
• Do not put lubricant on the rotor surface or brake pad friction material.

Step 11: Reinstall the Caliper Bracket

• Position the caliper bracket over the rotor by hand.
• Start both bracket bolts by hand to avoid cross-threading.
• Use the 19mm socket and 1/2-inch drive torque wrench to tighten the caliper bracket bolts.
• Torque to 84 Nm (62 ft-lbs).

Step 12: Install the New Brake Pads

• Slide the new rear brake pads into the bracket by hand.
• Make sure the pads move freely in the new clips.
• If a pad is tight, remove it and clean the bracket again with the wire brush.
• Pads should slide, not jam.

Step 13: Compress the Rear Caliper Piston

• Use the brake caliper piston compressor tool or disc brake spreader tool to slowly push the caliper piston straight back into the caliper bore.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir while compressing the piston so it does not overflow.
• The piston is the round metal part inside the caliper that pushes the pad.
• Do not twist the piston unless your tool instructions specifically require it.

Step 14: Reinstall the Rear Caliper

• Remove the bungee cord and place the caliper over the new pads by hand.
• Start both caliper slide pin bolts by hand.
• Use the 14mm socket and 3/8-inch drive torque wrench to tighten the caliper slide pin bolts.
• Torque to 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs).

Step 15: Repeat on the Other Rear Side

• Repeat Steps 5 through 14 on the other rear wheel using the same tools.
• Always replace rear pads and rotors in pairs so braking stays even.

Step 16: Reinstall the Rear Wheels

• Remove the temporary lug nut holding each rotor by hand.
• Install the wheels onto the hubs by hand.
• Start all lug nuts by hand.
• Use the 21mm lug nut socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.

Step 17: Lower the Car and Torque the Lug Nuts

• Use the floor jack to lift the rear slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove the jack stands.
• Lower the car fully to the ground with the floor jack.
• Use the 21mm lug nut socket and 1/2-inch drive torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Torque to 113 Nm (83 ft-lbs).

Step 18: Exit Electronic Parking Brake Service Mode

• Connect the scan tool with electronic parking brake service function again.
• Turn the ignition ON without starting the engine.
• Use the scan tool menu for Electronic Parking Brake > Maintenance Mode > Release/End.
• Wait until the scan tool confirms normal parking brake operation is restored.
• Turn the ignition OFF.

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✅ After Repair

• Press the brake pedal slowly 5-10 times until it feels firm before moving the car.
• Check the brake fluid level and adjust it to the proper range if needed.
• Start the car and test the electronic parking brake switch several times.
• Check that no brake warning or parking brake warning lights stay on.
• Perform a slow test drive in a safe area and confirm the brakes stop smoothly.
• Bed in the new pads with several gentle stops from about 30 mph, allowing the brakes to cool between stops.
• Avoid hard braking for the first 200 miles unless needed for safety.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $180-$350 (parts only)

You Save: $270-$400 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5-2.5 hours.

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