How to Change the Break Pads on a 2000 Nissan Maxima

Regular maintenance, inspection and replacement of a car's brake pads are essential to safe and worry-free driving. The 2000 Nissan Maxima's brake pads are simple to remove and install.

Instructions

1

Park the car on a level surface that gives you ample room to work in. If the car has been recently driven, allow it to cool. The wheels, brakes and rotors may be hot from friction.

2

Place a wood block (wheel chock) behind each of the rear wheels to prevent the car from rolling. Ensure that the car is in park, but do not apply the emergency parking brake.

3

Use the tire iron to loosen the lug nuts on each of the front wheels. Do not remove the lugs, only loosen them one to two full revolutions.

4

Slide the floor jack under a solid section of the front-end suspension. Carefully jack up the car until you have ample room to slide jack stands under each side of the front axle.

5

Position the jack stands under each side of the front axle. Slowly release pressure in the jack to lower the car onto the stands.

6

Slide the jack out from under the car.

7

Remove the lug nuts from the wheels. Use the tire iron if necessary. Pull off both of the front wheels.

8

Unbolt the top half of the brake caliper from the bottom half of the caliper. (The caliper is the large metal piece that is slightly curved.)

9

Tie the top half of the caliper to the undercarriage of the car using the bungee cord or the rope. Do not dangle the caliper from the brake line (the cable coming out of the caliper); this can damage your brake line.

10

Pull the brake pads out of the caliper. Use the flat head screwdriver if the pads are stuck in the caliper.

11

Insert the new brake pads into the slots on each caliper. Ensure that the brake pad material is facing toward the rotor. (This should be the same way that the old ones were removed.)

12

Untie the top halves of the calipers and rebolt them to the bottom half.

13

Replace both front tires, then replace and tighten all lug nuts on both tires.

14

Repeat these steps for both of the rear tires.