🔧 Altima - Front Brake Pads and Rotor Replacement

This is a very manageable brake job if you work one side at a time and use a torque wrench. You’ll remove the front caliper and bracket, replace both rotors and the complete front pad set, then bed the new brakes.

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

Assumption: These instructions cover the stock front single-piston brake assembly.

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on level, solid ground and support your Altima with jack stands.
• ⚠️ Never work under a vehicle supported only by a floor jack.
• ⚠️ Chock both rear wheels and leave the parking brake applied.
• ⚠️ Don’t press the brake pedal while either front caliper is removed.
• ⚠️ Hang the caliper securely. Never let it dangle from the rubber brake hose.
• ⚠️ Brake dust is harmful. Don’t blow it away with compressed air.
• ⚠️ Brake cleaner and fluid damage paint. Rinse spills immediately with water.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnection isn’t required for this front brake job.
• ⚠️ The electronic parking-brake service mode isn’t required because the rear brakes aren’t being opened.

---

🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• 21mm six-point socket
• 14mm six-point socket
• 19mm six-point socket
• 3/8-inch drive ratchet
• 1/2-inch drive breaker bar
• 1/2-inch drive torque wrench rated to 150 ft-lbs
• 3/8-inch drive torque wrench rated to 30 ft-lbs
• 17mm combination wrench
• 8-inch C-clamp or disc brake piston compressor
• Floor jack rated 2-ton minimum
• Jack stands rated 2-ton minimum
• Two wheel chocks
• Brake caliper hanger or 16-gauge mechanic’s wire
• Soft-face dead-blow hammer
• Small flat-blade screwdriver
• Small nylon detailing brush
• Brake-fluid suction syringe
• Wheel-hub cleaning brush
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front ceramic brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Front brake rotors - Qty: 2, replace in pairs
• Front brake hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Silicone-based brake lubricant - Qty: 1
• Non-chlorinated brake cleaner - Qty: 2 cans
• DOT 3 brake fluid - Qty: 1 sealed bottle, only if adjustment is needed
• Disposable shop towels - Qty: 1 pack

For Sonīpat’s heat and dust, I’d use coated rotors and quality ceramic pads. Plain bargain rotors can turn orange while you’re still admiring the receipt.

---

📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level pavement, select Park, apply the parking brake, and switch the ignition off.
• Open the hood and inspect the brake-fluid reservoir. Remove a little fluid with the brake-fluid suction syringe if it’s near MAX.
• Loosen each front lug nut approximately one-quarter turn with the 21mm socket and breaker bar.
• Raise the front at the approved center lifting point, then place jack stands beneath the reinforced front side support points.
• Give your Altima a gentle push before removing the wheels. It shouldn’t shift on the stands.
• Keep the old pad and one old rotor available until the new parts have been compared.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Remove the Front Wheels

• Use the 21mm socket and ratchet to remove the lug nuts.
• Remove both front wheels and slide one wheel beneath the rocker-panel area as a backup.

Step 2: Inspect the Brake Assembly

• Use the safety glasses and inspect the brake hose, caliper piston boot, guide-pin boots, and wheel hub.
• Check for wet brake fluid, torn rubber, severe uneven pad wear, or blue heat spots.
• If one pad is much thinner than its partner, stop and inspect the caliper and guide pins for sticking.

Step 3: Remove the Caliper

• Turn the steering wheel to point the caliper outward for easier access.
• Use the 14mm socket and ratchet to remove both caliper guide-pin bolts.
• If a guide pin turns, hold its flats with the 17mm combination wrench.
• Lift the caliper off and suspend it with the brake caliper hanger.
• Don’t disconnect the brake hose or open the bleeder screw.

Step 4: Remove the Old Pads and Hardware

• Use the small flat-blade screwdriver to lift the pads from the bracket.
• Remove the stainless pad-retainer clips from the bracket.
• Note the original position of the inner pad’s wear-indicator tab.

Step 5: Remove the Caliper Bracket

• Use the 19mm socket and breaker bar to loosen the two bracket-to-knuckle bolts.
• Support the bracket while removing the final bolt.
• Remove the bracket and keep its bolts clean.

Step 6: Remove the Old Rotor

• Pull the rotor straight off the wheel studs.
• If it’s rusted in place, use the dead-blow hammer to strike the rotor hat between the studs.
• Don’t strike the wheel studs, dust shield, or rotor braking surface.
• Rotate the rotor between light hammer strikes.

Step 7: Clean the Hub

• Use the wheel-hub cleaning brush to remove rust and scale from the hub face.
• Wipe the hub clean with brake cleaner and shop towels.
• The new rotor must sit completely flat. Rust trapped behind it can cause pedal vibration.

Step 8: Prepare and Install the New Rotor

• Use brake cleaner and shop towels to clean both friction surfaces of the new rotor unless its instructions specifically say otherwise.
• Install the rotor over the wheel studs.
• Thread one lug nut on backward by hand to hold the rotor against the hub.

Step 9: Service the Caliper Bracket

• Use the nylon brush to clean the hardware mounting ledges on the bracket.
• Remove each guide pin by hand, one at a time, so their positions don’t get mixed up.
• Wipe the pin clean and inspect it for rust, pitting, or bending.
• Apply a thin coat of silicone-based brake lubricant and reinstall the pin into its original position.
• Confirm both pins move smoothly and their rubber boots are fully seated.
• Install the new pad-retainer clips by hand.
• Apply only a very thin film of brake lubricant beneath the clips where they touch the bracket.
• Keep lubricant away from the rotor and pad friction material.

Step 10: Reinstall the Caliper Bracket

• Position the bracket over the rotor and start both bolts by hand.
• Use the 19mm socket and torque wrench to tighten the bracket bolts to 145 Nm (107 ft-lbs).

Step 11: Compress the Caliper Piston

• Place an old brake pad against the piston face.
• Use the 8-inch C-clamp or disc brake piston compressor to push the piston inward slowly and evenly.
• Watch the brake-fluid reservoir while compressing it. Remove excess fluid with the suction syringe before it overflows.
• Stop if the piston binds, tilts, or requires excessive force.

Step 12: Install the New Brake Pads

• Install the inner and outer pads into the bracket by hand.
• Position the wear indicator the same way as the original pad.
• Confirm each pad sits flat and slides freely in the new hardware.
• Don’t force a tight pad into place. Correct the dirty or distorted hardware first.

Step 13: Reinstall the Caliper

• Lower the caliper over the new pads without twisting the brake hose.
• Start both guide-pin bolts by hand to prevent cross-threading.
• Hold the guide-pin flats with the 17mm combination wrench if necessary.
• Use the 14mm socket and torque wrench to tighten the guide-pin bolts to 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs).
• Make sure the brake hose isn’t twisted and every rubber boot remains seated.

Step 14: Repeat on the Opposite Side

• Use the same tools and procedure on the other front brake assembly.
• Replace pads and rotors on both sides. Never replace only one front pad or rotor.

Step 15: Reinstall the Wheels

• Remove the temporary lug nut holding each rotor.
• Install each wheel and start all lug nuts by hand.
• Use the 21mm socket and ratchet to snug the nuts in a star pattern.
• Remove the jack stands and lower your Altima until the tires touch the ground.
• Use the 21mm socket and torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern to 113 Nm (83 ft-lbs).

---

✅ After Repair

• ✅ Before starting the engine, press the brake pedal repeatedly until it becomes firm.
• ✅ Never move the car if the pedal remains soft or sinks toward the floor.
• ✅ Check the brake-fluid reservoir and adjust it between MIN and MAX with fresh DOT 3 fluid if needed.
• ✅ Start the engine and press the pedal again. Verify normal pedal feel and no warning lights.
• ✅ Check around both calipers for fluid leaks and confirm the hoses aren’t twisted.
• ✅ Perform a slow test in a safe area before entering traffic.
• ✅ Follow the pad manufacturer’s bedding procedure. A common street-pad routine is several moderate slowdowns with cooling time between them.
• ✅ Avoid panic stops and holding the hot brakes at a complete stop during the first bedding cycle.
• ✅ Recheck lug-nut torque after approximately 50-100 miles.

Nissan confirms the Altima uses self-adjusting front disc brakes and warns against contaminating painted surfaces with brake fluid. nissanusa.com)

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $120-$250 (parts only)

You Save: $300-$500 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.

---

🎯 Ready to get started?

We've got 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.