How to Change brake pads Nissan Xterra?

Answer 1

"Get yourself a repair manual at most auto parts stores. Around $12. There you will find all the information you need to accomplish this task and many more." Thanks for the great advice!! I looked for a real answer to this question and this is what someone else posted on the same topic, referring to an '02 Xterra: Loosen wheel lugs, jack car, remove wheel; always place jack stands under the car for support, and wheel also, to catch the car if it should fall somehow or other. Never work under car supported by jack only & wheels off....NEVER. Remove the two bolts on backside of caliper that holds caliper to caliper mount, these bolts usually have small rubber accordian like boots over part of them. Once these bolts are loosened and removed, take the caliper off the rotor by sliding the caliper up or back off of the rotor, wiggle it, it'll come, tap with rubber hammer or pry, it will come. Do not hang caliper on the brake hose once you have it off the rotor. Set it on a small stand or hang by coathanger or other wire you have on hand. Watch out for ABS wires, don't screw anything up or break the hose or ABS wires. Easy will do it. OK, now, remove old pads after noting how they are installed so you can put the new pads in the same way (a digital camera works great for working photo of how things were to begin with for reference), and what clips, if any, may be holding the pads in the caliper. Clean everything well with brake cleaner. Do that again. Clean the two caliper slide bolts well too. Open brake master cylinder and remove about half the fluid from the reservoir. Now compress the piston in the brake caliper back flush with caliper housing, using C clamp or proper tool to push it back in, either will work fine. Easy with this, retract the piston slowly into the caliper and keep it moving straight as it goes. It may be tight, relax and move it slowly, it will go. Some folks use an old brake pad to push against, any small block of wood or plastic between the clamp/tool and the caliper piston will help with this. Compressing the calliper piston back into its bore will give you necessary space to fit the new, unworn pads into the caliper. Remember the new pads are about 2 or 3 times thicker than what is coming out due to pad wear. Now install new pads same way as the old ones, replace any springs or clips that were there. (leave caliper on other side of car intact for reference, just in case you get confused, and you will get confused, at least for a minute). After new pads are into the caliper or caliper mount, put proper brake lube on slider bolts on friction points to allow for good caliper movement, do not put this on the threads, now put blue loctite on threads. Reinstall caliper over rotor, then put caliper bolts back where they go into the caliper and tighten to spec. Usually about 20 to 30 ft lbs will do, depending on the size of the bolts, they are usually not that big. Something like 10 to 13 mm.......or so. Do not get grease on rotor or friction surface of pads, nope. Also do not forget the shim on the backside of the pads, it needs to be there or put a dab of brake lube on BACKSIDE of pad to prevent squeal. Make sure brake hoses and or ABS wires are properly routed and are snapped into any clamps or brackets that are there to hold them. VOILA, Put wheels on, tighten lugs carefully in star pattern, 80 ft lbs or so. Now, Do other side caliper.......NOTE: take time, be careful, refill brake reservoir when completely thru and close top to same. Don't get brake fluid on any plastic or painted surface that you care about, its like paint remover. Do not strip bolts, use penetrating oil to loosen bolts before starting the job & BEFORE rounding the heads. Keep your hands and work area clean. Reseat pads only when job is finished and the car is back on the ground. Step on brake pedal and slowly pump until pedal stops sinking and you have good solid feel on the pedal. Try em slowly at first at idle speed to assure brakes are working and nothing is leaking. Clean up and put tools away you are through.