🔧 Maxima - Rear Brake Pads & Rotors Replacement

You’ll be removing the rear calipers, swapping the rear rotors, and installing new rear brake pads. On your Maxima, the rear brakes work with the electronic parking brake (EPB), so you must put the EPB into service mode before pushing the caliper pistons back.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Never work under a car supported only by a jack—use jack stands.
• ⚠️ EPB warning: do not force the rear piston back until the EPB is in service mode, or you can damage the EPB actuator.
• ⚠️ Brake dust is harmful—use brake cleaner, don’t blow with compressed air.
• ⚠️ Brake fluid can damage paint—wipe spills immediately.
• ⚠️ Keep the ignition OFF while you have fingers/tools near moving brake parts.

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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 socket
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• 1/2" drive torque wrench (20-150 ft-lbs range)
• 14mm socket
• 19mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 3/8" drive torque wrench (10-80 ft-lbs range)
• Flat trim/pry tool
• Bungee cord
• Brake caliper piston compression tool (specialty)
• Wire brush
• Rubber mallet
• Micrometer or vernier caliper (specialty)
• Brake cleaner spray
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses
• Scan tool with Nissan EPB service function (specialty)

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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 (abutment clips) - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper slide pin boots (if damaged) - Qty: 1
• High-temp silicone brake grease - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 2 cans
• DOT 3 brake fluid - Qty: 1 quart

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park your Maxima on level ground and place wheel chocks at the front wheels.
• Make sure the EPB is released (parking brake light off).
• Set up your scan tool with Nissan EPB service function (specialty) so you can command EPB maintenance/service mode.
• Pop the hood and check the brake fluid reservoir level. If it’s near “MAX,” remove a little fluid first to prevent overflow when compressing pistons.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen lug nuts and raise the rear

• Use a 21mm socket and breaker bar to loosen the rear lug nuts about 1 turn.
• Lift the rear with a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) and support with jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Remove the wheels using the 21mm socket.

Step 2: Put the EPB into service (maintenance) mode

• Connect the scan tool with Nissan EPB service function (specialty).
• Use the scan tool to command the rear EPB to retract/enter maintenance mode (wording varies by tool).
• Don’t skip this—prevents EPB damage.

Step 3: Remove the rear caliper (leave the hose connected)

• Turn the steering wheel is not needed for rear work; just position yourself safely.
• Use a 14mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet to remove the two caliper slide bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket. Support it with a bungee cord so it’s not hanging by the brake hose.

Step 4: Remove pads and hardware

• Remove the inner and outer pads by hand (use a flat trim/pry tool gently if stuck).
• Remove the pad abutment clips from the bracket using the flat trim/pry tool.
• Clean the bracket pad lands with a wire brush and brake cleaner spray.

Step 5: Remove the caliper bracket

• Use a 19mm socket and breaker bar to remove the caliper bracket bolts.
• Set the bracket aside.

Step 6: Remove the rotor

• Pull the rotor straight off. If it’s stuck, tap around the hat with a rubber mallet.
• If the rotor won’t come off, make sure the EPB is fully retracted using the scan tool with Nissan EPB service function (specialty).

Step 7: Prep the hub and install the new rotor

• Clean the hub face with a wire brush and brake cleaner spray until it’s smooth (this helps prevent brake pulsation).
• Clean the new rotor faces with brake cleaner spray to remove packing oil.
• Install the new rotor onto the hub.

Step 8: Reinstall the bracket and torque bolts

• Reinstall the caliper bracket using the 19mm socket.
• Tighten with a torque wrench: Torque to 98 Nm (72 ft-lbs).

Step 9: Service slide pins and install new hardware

• Pull the slide pins out of the bracket by hand (wipe them clean with a shop towel you supply).
• Apply a thin coat of high-temp silicone brake grease to the slide pin (not on the pad surface).
• Reinstall slide pins and confirm they move smoothly.
• Install new abutment clips from the hardware kit.
• Sticky pins cause uneven pad wear.

Step 10: Compress the caliper piston

• Install an old pad against the piston face (optional) and use a brake caliper piston compression tool (specialty) to push the piston straight back slowly.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir while compressing. Stop if it’s going to overflow.
• Do not twist the piston—with EPB service mode active, it should press straight in.

Step 11: Install new pads and reinstall the caliper

• Apply a very thin layer of high-temp silicone brake grease to the pad backing plate contact points (not the friction material).
• Install the new inner and outer pads into the bracket.
• Place the caliper over the new pads and start the slide bolts by hand.
• Tighten slide bolts using the 14mm socket and torque wrench: Torque to 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs).

Step 12: Repeat on the other rear side

• Repeat Steps 3–11 for the other rear wheel.
• Replace rear rotors and pads as a set (both sides).

Step 13: Reinstall wheels and lower the car

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

Step 14: Exit EPB service mode

• Use the scan tool with Nissan EPB service function (specialty) to command EPB to close/initialize and exit maintenance mode.
• Verify the parking brake applies and releases normally using the EPB switch.

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✅ After Repair

• With the car still in Park, press the brake pedal slowly 10–15 times until it feels firm (this seats the pistons).
• Check brake fluid level and top off with DOT 3 brake fluid if needed.
• Do a cautious test drive: verify normal braking, no grinding, no pulling.
• Brake pad bed-in: do 6–10 moderate stops from 40 mph to 10 mph, with cool-down time between stops.
• If you get EPB/brake warnings, re-check EPB service mode was exited and scan for codes.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $550-$950 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $180-$380 (parts only)

You Save: $370-$570 by doing it yourself!

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

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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