Brake Pad and Rotor Replacement [Archive] - Nissan Titan Forum: Club Titan Forums

: Brake Pad and Rotor Replacement


TheSquid
05-30-2006, 07:29 AM
Swapped out the OEM pads and rotors with Carbotech pads and Powerslot rotors this weekend.

This really is a very easy job to do if you have some very basic tools.


Tools
Jack and Jack Stands.
4 way for removing lug nuts or the 21MM socket.
21MM socket (Lug nuts and Torque Member Bolts.)
14MM socket (Sliding Pin Bolts.)
1/2" drive ratchet and extensions.
Broad Blade Straight Slot screwdriver
4" C-Clamp
Bungee Cord(for holding Caliper once removed)
Torque wrench able to Torque to 155 FT-Lbs. (places like Autozone will lend these to you.)
Cheater bar (for getting the 155 FT-Lbs Torque Member bolts loose). Or Rubber Mallet (self Explanatory).
Extras
Brake Fluid
Disk Brake Quiet
Service manual
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y298/Squidsup/hbrakes019.jpg

The last thing you need is a way to siphon some of the brake fluid out. I have a Mighty Vac (http://www.thezstore.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=60-9981&Category_Code=TE)that is designed for doing this but there are other ways to remove it like the old Lady's turkey baster or the bulb your wife used on the infants for cleaning out their noses and ears when they were tiny. (Just don't put them back when you're done.)

Here we go,
1:) Remove 3/4 of the brake fluid from the reservoir and then drape a clean rag over and around it. (when you compress the pistons back into the caliper fluid will be forced into the reservoir.)

2.) Loosen the lugs on the left wheel then jack the truck up until the wheel is off the ground and put a jack stand under the truck for safety. Now take the lug nuts off and remove the wheel.

3.) Now we're going to remove the two sliding pin bolts using a 14 MM socket. The photo below shows these two bolts already backed out at both the top and the bottom and the caliper removed.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y298/Squidsup/Abrakes008.jpg
With these two bolts removed you can now use the screwdriver to pry the caliper back from the rotor and then move it out of the way and hang it with the bungee cord to keep from damaging the brake line.
(For brake pad replacement that's all the disassembly required.)

4.) Now we just slide both both brake pads out. Take the new pads and apply Brake quiet to the back sides of the pad per the directions.
Note: Remember that the pad with the metal depth gage on it (Starts grating when your pads need replacement) goes on the inside with the metal flange toward the bottom.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y298/Squidsup/dbrakes013.jpg

5.) Now take one of the old brake pads and place it against the two pistons sticking out of the Caliper and position a 4" C-Clamp to facilitate the compression of the pistons back into the caliper.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y298/Squidsup/ebrakes014.jpg

Reassembly is just reversed with the torque spec for the 2 sliding pin bolts being 32 Ft-Lbs and the lug nuts being 98 Ft-Lbs per the owners manual.

Now the fun part .

6.) In order to remove the rotors we have to remove both the upper and lower torque member bolts so we can remove the torque member. ( The torque member is what the Pads are in).
The picture below shows the location of the bolts with a wrench and a ratchet and the brake pads removed.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y298/Squidsup/Bbrakes011.jpg
Note: On the left side I used a 21 MM wrench and kept smacking it with a rubber mallet to get the bolt out. On the right side I used a ratchet with a piece of pipe slide over the handle for leverage. In the future I'll use my air impact wrench but I wanted to prove to myself that no special tools were needed for this upgrade.

After you get the torque member removed the rotors just slide off and on the studs for the lug nuts. (Make sure you get the correct rotor on the correct side of the truck. For the Powerslot rotors the rotor labeled L goes on the drivers side of the truck, with the R rotor going on the passenger side.)

7.) Now you just reinstall every thing in reverse.
Note: The manual says to not reuse the torque member bolts.

New rotor and OEM Torque member reinstalled with the 2 bolts being torqued to 155 Ft-Lbs
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y298/Squidsup/cbrakes012.jpg


After you get the other side done and both wheels back on make sure to top off the brake fluid and put the lid back on the Reservoir and go bed these puppies in.

Last but not least my brake pads after 63,000 miles compared to a new set.

JetTech
05-30-2006, 08:12 AM
Hey squid, good write up. I do hope you know that the pad is installed backwards in your last picture.....

TheSquid
05-30-2006, 09:15 AM
Hey squid, good write up. I do hope you know that the pad is installed backwards in your last picture.....

HAHAHA, good eye. I wondered how how long it would take for someone to catch that.

QShip
05-30-2006, 09:11 PM
Thanks for the info squid! Would it be possible to post this as a sticky?

scr38
05-31-2006, 12:06 AM
Good post. Squid. I think it needs to be in the Do It Yourself section, so I will move it there.

robexploring
06-30-2006, 11:49 PM
So, hows the braking now? Is the bite improved? What was your total price for the parts?

TheSquid
07-01-2006, 12:04 AM
I got them for $250 delivered from Mosey. I've already driven over 3000 miles and I'm extremely satisfied with them. They stop fast and for you clean freaks there is no brake dust. I towed my Tractor last week in stop and go traffic with the outside temp at 98 F. and never experienced any fade. It's nice to be able to drive and not worry about stopping or if the Judder is going to raise it's nasty head.

I did a lot of research on these before buying them and there are a lot of racers and motor home owners that use them and I can see why, great bang for the bucks. Unfortunately they don't make the rear rotor so I'm going to have to find a different one for the back but I'll defiantly be using the Carbotech Pads.

Happy braking.:scheibe-big:

got_titan
07-01-2006, 12:24 AM
they do make the rear rotor..i have a set...172 shipped from brian@ yournissanparts.com

robexploring
07-01-2006, 12:28 AM
do they make the rear pads?

Thanks.

GT, you have the stillens on the front and the powerslots on the rear? I assume your front pads are part of the stillen kit. What pads on the rear?

TheSquid
07-01-2006, 12:35 AM
Yeah, they make the rear Carbotech pads.

Thanks GT, that great news.
One set of Powerslot Rear Rotors from yournissanparts.com coming up.

got_titan
07-01-2006, 12:36 AM
well i dont like the carbos myself but thats jmo...i like hawk pads and that is what is in the stillen kit and on the back....no offense to squid i just had really bad luck with the carbos breaking my piston calipers...i had three sets of calipers put on cause the pistons were cracking...after taking the carbos off it stopped...the carbos did stop good but i suspect the compound is to hard..the hawk pads is thier truck and suv compound.

TheSquid
07-01-2006, 12:38 AM
well i dont like the carbos myself but thats jmo...i like hawk pads and that is what is in the stillen kit and on the back....no offense to squid i just had really bad luck with the carbos breaking my piston calipers...i had three sets of calipers put on cause the pistons were cracking...after taking the carbos off it stopped...the carbos did stop good but i suspect the compound is to hard..the hawk pads is thier truck and suv compound.

Sorry to hear that but after 3000 miles I'm not having any problems. Were you putting the pads on with the stock rotor?

got_titan
07-01-2006, 12:40 AM
yes, pads on stock rotor...

robexploring
07-01-2006, 06:57 PM
how are the hawks with dust? what are they-metallic, semi, kevlar, etc?

got_titan
07-01-2006, 07:10 PM
mixture.....very low dust......

grpape
10-28-2006, 02:57 AM
No need to bleed the brakes. This is the part I hate the most.

blacksmith37
11-11-2006, 08:30 PM
Before getting the dealer replacement, I repaced the pads myself . I found all 4 caliper attachment bolts badly galled into the calipers. The 2 on the right were bad; The 2 on the left wheel were super bad. I had never seen steel gall that badly - and that is what I did for a living-metallurgical failure analysis. I had to power brush all the steel shaving out of the bolt threads. Hasn't anyone else had this problem ?
You expect galling in aluminum, austinetic stainless and titanium , but not steel.

Blue_Water_Rush
11-16-2006, 02:22 PM
I have been hunting for replacement performance rotors, and I want corrosion proof, drilled and/or slotted. I came up with a few results:

These dba 2306x & 07x (http://www.car-stuff.com/performance/quote.php?make=19&year=2005&model=306&brand=2195&part_name=78&category=) look real nice but so far are the most expensive of what I've found at $161 ea. (front) & $150 ea. (rear)

These ebc gd7361 & 62 (http://www.car-stuff.com/performance/quote.php?make=19&year=2005&model=306&brand=2482&part_name=78&category=) are also pretty, but the fronts are gold zinc plated and the rears black zinc plated... so they don't exactly match, but better pricing at $245 pair (fronts) & $213 pair (rears).

Then the Powerstops JBR993L & R and JBR994l & R (http://www.car-stuff.com/performance/quote.php?make=19&year=2005&model=306&brand=2348&part_name=78&category=) which are all priced equally (front & rear) at $107 ea.

Then for pads these Akebono ACT1015 (http://www.car-stuff.com/performance/quote.php?make=19&year=2005&model=306&brand=2305&part_name=12&category=) are superior performance ceramic for $86 a set.

Here is the ebc pads (http://www.car-stuff.com/performance/quote.php?make=19&year=2005&model=306&brand=2482&part_name=12&category=) in 3 grades: green stuff sport compound 40% less dust $66 set (front), $57 set (rear) / red stuff heavy duty ceramic 50% less dust $95 set (front or rear) / and the oem replacement 30% less dust $47 set (front or rear).

I got them for $250 delivered from Mosey. I've already driven over 3000 miles and I'm extremely satisfied with them. They stop fast and for you clean freaks there is no brake dust. I towed my Tractor last week in stop and go traffic with the outside temp at 98 F. and never experienced any fade. It's nice to be able to drive and not worry about stopping or if the Judder is going to raise it's nasty head.

I did a lot of research on these before buying them and there are a lot of racers and motor home owners that use them and I can see why, great bang for the bucks. Unfortunately they don't make the rear rotor so I'm going to have to find a different one for the back but I'll defiantly be using the Carbotech Pads.

Happy braking.:scheibe-big:
You mean you didn't clean up and paint those calipers while you had them apart. Shame, shame Squidley Didley! LOL

Bingo, I just found the powerstop Kinetics (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160051954970&fromMakeTrack=true) rotors on eboy for $200 (set of 4). This is the best deal I've seen yet. less than half the price of the cheapest on-line source.