🔧 Pathfinder - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

You’ll be removing the rear wheels, swinging the rear brake calipers up, swapping the old pads for new ones, and then putting everything back together with the correct torque. This restores safe braking and prevents metal-to-metal damage to the rear rotors.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.5-3.0 hours

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on a level surface and support your Pathfinder with jack stands before going under or removing wheels.
• ⚠️ Chock the front wheels; you’ll release the parking brake and the vehicle must not roll.
• ⚠️ Brake dust is harmful—wear a mask and use brake cleaner, not compressed air.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while a caliper is off the rotor.
• ⚠️ Watch the brake fluid level when pushing pistons in; overflow can damage paint.

---

🔧 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 socket
• Breaker bar (1/2" drive)
• Ratchet (3/8" drive)
• 14mm socket
• 19mm socket
• Torque wrench (10-200 ft-lbs range)
• C-clamp (6" minimum)
• Flathead screwdriver
• Needle-nose pliers
• Wire brush
• Brake parts cleaner spray
• Bungee cord
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses
• Dust mask

---

🔩 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
• Silicone brake lubricant - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1

---

📋 Before You Begin

• 🧰 Park on level ground, shift to Park, and release the parking brake.
• 🧰 Place wheel chocks at the front wheels.
• 🧰 Open the hood and check the brake fluid reservoir level; be ready to remove a little fluid if it gets too full when compressing pistons.
• 🧰 Loosen rear wheel lug nuts slightly before lifting.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and secure the rear

• Use 21mm socket and breaker bar to loosen the rear lug nuts 1/2 turn.
• Lift the rear with a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) at the correct rear jacking point.
• Set the vehicle onto jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Remove the wheels using the 21mm socket.

Step 2: Remove the caliper bolts

• Locate the rear brake caliper (the “caliper” is the clamp that squeezes the pads).
• Use a ratchet (3/8" drive) with a 14mm socket to remove the two caliper slide pin bolts.
• Hang caliper; never let it dangle.

Step 3: Support the caliper and remove the old pads

• Lift the caliper off and support it from the suspension spring with a bungee cord.
• Remove the old inner and outer pads by hand. If they’re stuck, gently pry with a flathead screwdriver.
• Remove the pad hardware clips from the caliper bracket using needle-nose pliers.

Step 4: Compress the caliper piston

• Use a C-clamp (6" minimum) to slowly push the caliper piston back into the caliper.
• Place an old pad against the piston face to protect it while you tighten the C-clamp (6" minimum).
• If brake fluid rises near the MAX line, stop and remove a small amount from the reservoir before continuing.

Step 5: Clean and install new hardware

• Spray the caliper bracket pad lands with brake parts cleaner spray.
• Lightly scrub rust where the clips sit using a wire brush (pad lands must be smooth).
• Install the new hardware clips from the kit by hand.

Step 6: Lubricate contact points and install the new pads

• Apply a thin film of silicone brake lubricant to pad ears where they touch the hardware clips.
• Do not get lubricant on pad friction material or rotor.
• Install the new inner and outer pads into the bracket by hand.

Step 7: Reinstall the caliper

• Lower the caliper over the new pads.
• Install the slide pin bolts using a 14mm socket and ratchet (3/8" drive).
• Tighten slide pin bolts with a torque wrench (10-200 ft-lbs range): Torque to 25 Nm (18 ft-lbs).

Step 8: Reinstall wheels

• Reinstall the wheels by hand-threading lug nuts.
• Lower the vehicle off the jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) using the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Torque lug nuts in a star pattern with a torque wrench (10-200 ft-lbs range): Torque to 133 Nm (98 ft-lbs).

Step 9: Seat the pads and confirm fluid level

• With the engine off, slowly pump the brake pedal 10-15 times until it feels firm.
• Recheck brake fluid level and top off only if needed.

---

✅ After Repair

• ✅ Test brake pedal feel before moving; it should be firm and consistent.
• ✅ Do a low-speed test in a safe area; confirm no pulling, grinding, or warning lights.
• ✅ Bed-in the pads: make 8-10 moderate stops from ~30 mph to 5 mph, allowing short cool-down between stops.
• ✅ Recheck for any brake fluid seepage and verify lug nut torque after 25-50 miles.

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $300-$550 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $60-$150 (parts only)

You Save: $150-$450 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.

---

🎯 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.