How to Install Front Brake Pads in a 1999 Nissan Quest

In 1993, Nissan released the Quest alongside its fraternal twin, the Mercury Villager van. 1999 began the second generation for the Quest van and brought about a slight redesign. The 1999 Quest came standard with front disc brakes and rear drum brakes. When replacing the front brake pads on the 1999 Quest, it is important to inspect and replace the front rotors, as needed. Failure to do so can cause the new brake pads to wear out prematurely.

Instructions

1

Remove about half of the brake fluid from the master cylinder, if it is full, with a clean turkey baster. Transfer this fluid to a small container.

2

Loosen, but don't remove, the front lug nuts, using a ratchet and socket. Raise the front of the Quest with a floor jack, and position jack stands under the van's subframe. Lower the Quest onto the jack stands. Remove the front lug nuts and pull the front wheels off the Nissan.

3

Remove the two caliper-to-steering knuckle bolts using a ratchet and a T-40 Torx-bit socket. Pull the caliper from the steering knuckle. Hang the caliper from a nearby suspension component using a bungee strap. Don't let it hang by the brake hose.

4

Insert the blade of the flat-head screwdriver between the rear of the outer pad and the caliper body. Pry the brake pad inward while pulling the one side of the brake pad from the caliper. Repeat this step to free the other side of the pad from the caliper.

5

Position an 8-inch C-clamp on the caliper so the fixed part touches the inner portion of the caliper and the screw part touches the inner brake pad. Tighten the C-clamp to compress the caliper piston. Remove the C-clamp once the caliper piston stops moving and is fully retracted.

6

Pry upward on the inner brake pad using a flat-head screwdriver. Once a gap appears between the pad and the caliper, grab the pad and pull it from the caliper. Notice the inner pad has metal fingers that insert into the caliper piston to hold it in place.

7

Pull the rotor off the Quest's hub. If the rotor does not pull off easily, lightly hit the rear of the rotor with a rubber mallet to free it.

8

Inspect the rotor for any defects, such as: hot spotting, deep grooves or excessive wear. If any defects exist, replace the rotor with a new one.

9

Set the rotor on the Quest's hub.

10

Set the inner brake pad in the caliper, lining up the metal fingers on the pad with the cavity in the caliper piston. Press the inner brake pad into the caliper until it seats in the caliper.

11

Set the outer pad on the caliper and press it into the caliper until the tabs lock into place in the holes in the caliper. Prying the metal spring on the rear of the pad with a flat-head screwdriver helps the spring fit over the caliper body.

12

Set the caliper back on the Quest's hub so the rotor sets between the inner and outer brake pads. Hand-tighten the two caliper-to-steering knuckle bolts to hold the caliper in place. Torque the caliper-to-steering knuckle bolts to 18 to 25 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and T-40 Torx-bit socket.

13

Repeat Steps 3 through 13 for the brake pads on the other side of the Quest.

14

Reinstall the front wheels and hand-tighten the lug nuts. Raise the front of the van with a floor jack and remove the jack stands from under the Quest. Lower the van to the ground. Tighten the lug nuts, in a crisscross pattern, to 72 to 87 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket.

15

Press and release the brake pedal until it feels firm.

16

Add new DOT 3 brake fluid to the master cylinder until the level reaches the "Max" line on the master cylinder.

17

Take the old brake fluid to an automotive fluid recycling center for disposal. Most auto parts stores dispose of this fluid free of charge.