🔧 Altima - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

Replacing the rear brake pads on your Altima means removing the rear wheels, unbolting each rear caliper, swapping the worn pads, and carefully compressing the caliper piston before reassembly. This keeps the rear brakes quiet, safe, and able to stop the car evenly.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on a flat, solid surface only. Never rely on a jack alone.
• ⚠️ Always support the Altima with jack stands before removing a wheel.
• ⚠️ Brake dust is harmful. Wear safety glasses and gloves, and avoid blowing dust with compressed air.
• ⚠️ Rear brake calipers on your Altima use a screw-in piston. Do not force it straight in with only a C-clamp.
• ⚠️ Do not disconnect the parking brake cables from the calipers unless replacement is needed.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not required for this rear pad replacement.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• 21mm lug nut socket
• 14mm socket
• 3/8-inch ratchet
• 3/8-inch torque wrench
• Flathead screwdriver
• Rear disc brake piston wind-back tool (specialty)
• Brake caliper hanger hook
• Floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses
• Brake cleaner spray
• Shop towels

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Rear brake pad hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper slide pin grease - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner spray - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🅿️ Park your Altima on level ground and shift to Park.
• 🧱 Place wheel chocks in front of the front tires so the car cannot roll.
• 🛑 Release the parking brake before starting. The rear calipers must be free to move.
• 🧤 Put on gloves and safety glasses before handling brake parts.
• 📘 A caliper is the clamp-like brake part that squeezes the pads against the rotor.
• 📘 A rotor is the round metal disc behind the wheel that the brake pads press against.
• 📘 A torque wrench tightens bolts to the correct tightness so they are not too loose or too tight.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen the Rear Lug Nuts

• Use a 21mm lug nut socket and 3/8-inch ratchet to loosen the rear wheel lug nuts about half a turn.
• Do this while the tires are still touching the ground.
• Loosen first, lift second.

Step 2: Raise and Support the Rear of the Altima

• Use a floor jack rated 2-ton minimum to lift the rear of the car at the proper rear jacking point.
• Place jack stands rated 2-ton minimum under the rear side pinch welds or approved support points.
• Lower the car gently onto the jack stands.
• Lightly shake the car by hand to confirm it is stable before working near the wheels.

Step 3: Remove the Rear Wheels

• Use the 21mm lug nut socket and 3/8-inch 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 4: Inspect the Rear Brake Assembly

• Use a flashlight if needed to look at the caliper, pads, rotor, and parking brake cable routing.
• Use brake cleaner spray and shop towels to clean heavy dust from the visible brake area.
• Do not spray brake cleaner on painted body panels.

Step 5: Remove the Rear Caliper Bolts

• Use a 14mm socket and 3/8-inch ratchet to remove the two rear caliper slide pin bolts.
• Hold the caliper steady with your other hand while removing the last bolt.
• The slide pins are small moving pins that let the caliper move evenly as the pads wear.

Step 6: Lift Off and Support the Caliper

• Use a flathead screwdriver gently between the old pad and rotor if the caliper is snug.
• Lift the caliper off the brake pads.
• Hang the caliper from the suspension using a brake caliper hanger hook.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the rubber brake hose.
• Never stretch the brake hose.

Step 7: Remove the Old Brake Pads and Hardware

• Use your hands with nitrile gloves to pull the old inner and outer brake pads out of the bracket.
• Use a flathead screwdriver to carefully remove the old stainless pad clips from the caliper bracket.
• The pad clips are thin metal guides that help the pads slide quietly and evenly.

Step 8: Clean the Caliper Bracket

• Use brake cleaner spray and shop towels to clean the pad contact areas on the bracket.
• Make sure the new pad clips can sit flat in the bracket.
• Do not get grease on the rotor face or pad friction surface.

Step 9: Install the New Pad Hardware

• Use your hands with nitrile gloves to press the new rear brake pad hardware clips into the caliper bracket.
• Make sure each clip snaps fully into place.
• Apply a thin film of brake caliper slide pin grease to the pad ears where they touch the clips.
• The pad ears are the small tabs at the ends of each brake pad.

Step 10: Wind Back the Rear Caliper Piston

• Use the rear disc brake piston wind-back tool to rotate and press the caliper piston back into the caliper.
• The caliper piston is the round part inside the caliper that pushes the inner pad.
• Turn the piston clockwise while applying steady inward pressure.
• Stop when the piston is fully seated and the slots in the piston face are aligned to fit the small pin on the inner brake pad.
• Go slow and keep it straight.

Step 11: Install the New Rear Brake Pads

• Use your hands with nitrile gloves to install the new inner and outer pads into the caliper bracket.
• Make sure the pad friction material faces the rotor.
• Confirm the pads slide smoothly in the new clips.
• If the inner pad has a locating pin, make sure it matches the slot in the caliper piston.

Step 12: Reinstall the Rear Caliper

• Use your hands to lower the caliper over the new pads.
• If it does not fit, use the rear disc brake piston wind-back tool again to seat the piston farther.
• Install the two caliper slide pin bolts by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Use a 14mm socket and 3/8-inch torque wrench to tighten the caliper slide pin bolts to Torque to 32 Nm (24 ft-lbs).

Step 13: Repeat on the Other Rear Side

• Use the same 14mm socket, flathead screwdriver, rear disc brake piston wind-back tool, and brake caliper hanger hook on the opposite rear brake.
• Always replace rear brake pads in pairs so braking stays even.

Step 14: Reinstall the Rear Wheels

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

Step 15: Lower the Altima and Torque the Lug Nuts

• Use the floor jack rated 2-ton minimum to lift the car slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove the jack stands rated 2-ton minimum.
• Lower the car until the tires touch the ground.
• Use a 21mm lug nut socket and 3/8-inch torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern to Torque to 113 Nm (83 ft-lbs).

Step 16: Pump the Brake Pedal

• Sit in the driver seat and press the brake pedal slowly 5-10 times until it feels firm.
• This moves the caliper pistons back out against the new pads.
• Do not drive until the pedal feels firm.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Check the brake fluid level in the reservoir and make sure it is between MIN and MAX.
• ✅ Reapply and release the parking brake several times to confirm normal operation.
• ✅ Start with a slow test drive in a safe area and confirm the Altima stops straight without grinding or pulling.
• ✅ Bed in the new pads with 8-10 gentle stops from about 30 mph, allowing time between stops for cooling.
• ✅ Avoid hard braking for the first 200 miles unless needed for safety.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $220-$380 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $45-$110 (parts only)

You Save: $175-$270 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.

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