Front Brake Pads & Disks on Primera P10/P11 Almera N16

Before we start, just a few things. Safety First! Make sure your vehicle is secure with axle stands and wheel chocks before working with the car. Failure to do so may lead to serious injury, and/or serious damage to your vehicle.

Tools/Materials you need:-

Tools:

•12mm Socket
•19mm Socket
•21mm Socket
•Large Flat Screwdriver
•Torque Wrench
•Ratchet
•Rubber Mallet


Materials:

• Brake Disks
• Brake Pads
• Shim Kit (Recommended)
• Copper Grease
• Rags / Blue Roll
• Brake Cleaner
• WD40 (Penatrating Oil)

Doing brake pads is relativly easy, however If you are not confident using tools or attempting doing this, then please get a professional to do this for you. The NeoVVL Owners Club accepts no responsibility if the unlikely event something goes wrong or any injury occurs. 

Brake Disks and Pads can be done in around an hour or less for both sides. The important thing is take your time when doing them. So make sure you have a few hours free when doing them. Also make sure that you have the correct parts to do the job.

Lets Begin.

First off, Make sure your car is in nuetral, handbrake is applies, and the rear wheel chocked. While vehicle is still on the ground. Loosen all the wheel nuts, DO NOT REMOVE THE WHEEL NUTS FULLY!. Jack the front of the car up using the jack points. Once its been fully jack use axle stands to secure your vehicle. Once the car is jacked up, fully removed the wheel nuts and remove the wheels

.

Now its recommended if the brakes have not been done in a while, is praying the 2 Caliper Carrier Bolts and Caliper Bracket Bolts. Now, if you are using the same brake disks, make sure when you do the following, the end of the screwdriver presses on the old brake pads so it doesnt damage the brake disk. Now insert the screw driver in the vented part of the disk between the caliper. Move it backwords and forward a little so a gap forms between the pad and disk. Then insert the Screw driver between the disk and pad on the rear part of the disk. Pull the screw driver towards you so the tip pushes on the olds pads. Do the same at the front of the disk and pad gap and push the screw driver forward. Now we have pushed the caliper piston back. If you are replacing the disks it doesn't matter if the tip of the screw driver damages the disks.

Now loosen and removed the 2x 12mm bolts on the caliper. As I said before, its recommended you spray penatrating oil on the bolts before removing.

Once removed the caliper should easily lift off. It's recommended that you secure the caliper to your suspension spring using a Zip Tie. Don't tighten too much as it will be snipped off later. You will then see the 2x old brake pads. These should just lift off, but a little persuasion may be needed. You should also remove the 2x sliders if these are stiff but do come out, its recommended using some wet and dry to smooth them down. Do not refit yet. We will do this later.

If these do not just pull out, then this is where it gets tricky. I recommend using a hammer and old screw driver to try and hit them out. There is other ways to remove them so what ever is easiest. In my experience if these need forced out, then these might need replaced. You could try and use Monkey Grips to grip them and turn them and try and pry them out. if you can get them out undamaged then again use perhaps a wire brush and wet and dry paper to clean them off.

If you are just changing the pads, please ignore the following, but go to cleaning stage. then go to refit caliper to the carrier.

Now as I said, it is recommended spraying these 2x 19mm bolts before removing. So if you have done this, then remove these 2x bolts.

After which the disks should just pull off. If they are stiff, then hit the rear of the disks with a rubber mallet untill they come loose. Remove the disks.

Now this is a good time to clean stuff before refitting. this is when brake cleaner comes in handy.
Spray and clean the threads of removed bolts. If you recieved new bolts with your brake pads, its highly recommended not to use them, In my experience they are the wrong thread size and are a different socket size than what the OEM ones are. If you are in doubt, you could replace these bolts with Genuine Nissan parts. Spray the sliders also with brake cleaner, spray the holes where they go in also to clean any excess debris that may be in there. Brake cleaner is good as it removes grease also.

Now its times to re-assemble the components of the brake system.

Fit the new Brake Disk into the hub.
Grease both 19mm bolts with Copper Grease,

Refit the caliper carrier to the hub. Tighten the 19mm bolts to 97Nm using your torque wrech.

If you are replacing the brake caliper carrier shims, do so now. Put a light coating of grease on the brake pad, and fit the new Pad Shims. Grease the both sides of the pad metal parts and the rear of the pad on the shim. (No not grease the pad material)

Now insert the pad into the Caliper Carrier, both pads should slide in without too much trouble. The Grease should help here as it allows ease of movement. Once the pads are in, its time to grease the slider bolts. Make sure they are clean and grease them all up.

Insert the Sliders into the carrier, these should just push in. Push them in till you hear a pop, when you hear the pop it means the little rubber boots attach themselves to the Carrier. this boot helps keep the grease in and prevent dirt getting in. If these are perished these should be replaced.

Now its times to refit the caliper. Snip the cable tie that is securing your caliper.
Fit the caliper over the Pads. On the sliders edge, there is flat bits, these are designed to fit cozy with the caliper, You will see a straight bit on the caliper. These should match. (if that makes sense, you will see what I mean). Also make sure the Flexi Hose doesnt look twisted. Grease both 12mm bolts, fit them through the caliper and into the slider threads. Tighten them to 31Nm using your torque wrench.

The the re-assemble complete, Next thing is pump the brake pedal a few times untill the pedal goes hard. Spray the brake disk with Brake Cleaner to clean off any grease and dirt on the disk. Do not spray the pads with the fresh grease. Fit your Wheel and hand tighten all of the 4 wheel nuts. Jack your car up, remove the axle stand, drop the car. tighten all your wheel nuts in a star formation to 118 Nm using your torque wrench.

(Love my Drawing?)

Its recommended you drive easy for the next 200 miles to bed the brake disks and pads in, especially if its just pads you have replaced. Braking won't feel the best at first but they will come to you. Give them time. Its normal to see some smoke coming from new brakes for the first 10 miles, as its just the protective coating burning off the disks.

Another full how to is available in the Nissan Technical Manual, which is in the Information and How To Section.

The above may also help you do disks and pads on other Nissan motors, although Bolt Sizes may differ.