Brake Pad Installation

Originally By: HokieZ
This article was originaly written by a member of 350z-tech in the US and is reproduced here for 350z-uk.com with their kind permission.
Someone mentioned they wanted a step by step guide with a few more pictures than that on the ZChickz website so as long as I was changing mine, I snapped a few and figured I'd write it up for the beginners out there. This will allow you to change the front brake pads. I haven't done the rears yet, but will in the not too distant future.

Make sure the car is on a level surface before beginning. Put on the emergency brake. Wrap the socket in electrical tape to keep from scratching the inside of the lug nut wells. (shown is what comes with the car since I couldn't find my extender until I'd already removed the first wheel). Break the lug nuts loose while the car is still on the ground. Look under the car and identify the proper jack point. It will have 2 small indentations in a rail running underneath the car about 1' to 1.5' behind the front wheel on each side (holy mother of god, could I wash up there please!): Jack up the car in the above location. The jack that comes with the car is suitable for this. Now completely remove the lug nuts (be careful the tire doesn't fall off). Remove the tire (if it hasn't fallen off).

You should now be staring at the brake rotor and caliper assembly (note mad Photoshop skills). On the back side of the caliper there will be 2 bolts as highlighted in the above photo. The picture below is of one of the two bolts, the other is identical but on the other end of the caliper. Remove the 2 bolts holding the caliper to the mount (they'll be tight so be careful when they break loose) using the 14mm socket or wrench:

• Note on the back brakes you can't remove the two bolts holding just the caliper because of the bar behind it. You have to remove the two bigger bolts holding the entire caliper assembly and then remove the two smaller bolts.

Don't let the caliper dangle by the brake line. I simply rested it on the top of the rotor. (If you want to remove the rotor, there are 2 more bolts holding the caliper mount on. Remove those, and the rotor should fall off). Remove the 2 old pads. I found the easiest method was to grab the wear tab and pull gently. They came right out with no real effort.

Optional step here. Transfer the small metal plates on the old pads to the new ones. As best as I can determine, these are for pads that don't have the wear tabs built into them. I'd recommend installing them since the Hawk HPS pads don't have the tabs on one of the pads on each side.

I installed the pad that came without the wear indicator on the rear side of the rotor since it was easier and the one with the indicator on the outside. Installing them the other way could be more useful since you will be able to visually see the pad without the indicator through the wheel without having to remove it for inspection. I get under my car alot, so....

Since the calipers auto-adjust to the wear of the pads, it will be necessary to compress the piston to fit over the new, wider pads. I use one of the old pads and a large C-clamp to do this. If the pads are especially worn, you may have to open the brake fluid reservoir under the hood and suck out some of the fluid as it backs up into the reservoir. Refill with appropriate fluid if necessary. Since my pads only had a couple thousand miles on them, this step wasn't necessary. Reinstall the caliper and install the 2 bolts which were holding it on. Tighten with wrench very firmly. You may have to slide the portion on the other side of the caliper (the part with the rubber boot) back a little to get the caliper back on.

You're now done installing the caliper on one side of the car. Put the tire back on and hand snug the lug nuts (I hold the tire with one hand and tighten with the other once snug). Lower the car to the ground and tighten the lugs in a star pattern to 80 ft-lbs. Basically, once one is torqued, don't torque the one right next to it on either side. Note the word of caution in previous steps. If not heeded, you too may need the Mandaid. The crappy adhesive in the stock band-aid didn't work so I supercharged the little bastard with some electrical tape.

Hope this helps any of you out there considering it. It took about 45 minutes from start to finish. I'd HIGHLY recommend cleaning your wheels inside and out while you have them off the car. I live in a new development and had about 8 lbs. of asphalt cinders stuck to the inside of the wheels.