How to Change Brake Pads on a 2005 Nissan Frontier

Whether the 2005 Nissan Frontier features rear drum brakes or rear disc brakes, replacing the front pads will require changing more frequently. This is because front brakes on all vehicles account for 70-to-75 percent braking power for the compact truck, while the rear only accounts for 25-to-30 percent. The rear brake pads are smaller, but to replace them only requires one slight deviation from the front during the procedure.

Instructions

1

Remove at least half of the brake fluid from the master cylinder reservoir in the engine compartment with a brake fluid suction baster, after parking the Frontier on a paved and flat surface. Discard the old fluid.

2

Loosen the tire nuts 1/4 turn with the tire iron wrench prior to lifting the truck. If you're replacing the front pads, apply the parking brake, but if you're replacing the rear pads, place a cinder block in front of one of the front tires and do not apply the parking brake.

3

Use the truck jack to lift the Frontier and then rest the axle or frame rail onto a jack stand. If desired, repeat for the opposite side of the axle or you can just lift one at a time.

4

Finish removing the tire nuts and then remove the tire.

5

Remove the bottom caliper brake pin if you're replacing the front pads using a metric box-end wrench or remove the upper caliper brake pin if you're replacing the rear brake pads (still using a metric box-end wrench).

6

Swing the caliper upward for front pad replacement or downward for rear pad replacement. Use a metal wire to wrap around the front caliper and support it to the chassis so it doesn't swing down on you.

7

Remove the old pads from the caliper bridge and use the brake grease lubricant to apply to the brake pad tab mounting surfaces of the rattle clips.

8

Install the replacement pads into the caliper bridge.

9

Open the six-inch C-clamp enough to insert the threaded drive arbor into the hollow-caliper piston and the top of the clamp on the back of the caliper housing. Tighten the clamp to compress the caliper piston until it's fully seated.

10

Swing the caliper up or down (respectively) into position and then realign the caliper pin through the caliper and into the wheel knuckle. Tighten the pin to 22-foot pounds with the torque wrench and suitable socket.

11

Replace the tire and tire nuts and tighten the nuts as much as you can with the tire(s) elevated. Reuse the truck jack to lift the Frontier enough to remove the jack stand(s) and then slowly lower the Frontier. If you're only raising one side at a time, repeat the pad replacement on the other side.

12

Torque the front tires nuts to 80-foot pounds with the torque wrench and suitable socket (after the truck is back on the ground).

13

Make sure the master cylinder cover is tight on the reservoir and then pump the brake pedal several times to seat the new pads against the rotors.

14

Check the brake fluid level in the master cylinder and add brake fluid until it reaches the full mark on the reservoir.

15

Remove the cylinder block or release the parking brake and test drive the Frontier for proper braking response.