How to Replace Emergency Brakes in a Nissan Altima

The original purpose of emergency brakes was to stop your vehicle in an emergency. Fortunately, the brakes on a Nissan Altima rarely fail, and the emergency brakes are most commonly used to keep the vehicle from moving while parked. The most likely type of failure for emergency brakes is when the brake cable rusts and seizes after being unused for a long period.

Instructions

1

Determine which type of emergency brakes your Nissan Altima will need. Emergency brakes typically function by activating the regular braking system on the driving wheels. The emergency brakes for the Nissan Altima use the disc brakes on the rear wheels.

2

Remove the rear wheels and the bracket bolt for the parking brake cable with a socket wrench. Unfasten the pin bolts with a socket wrench and remove them from the caliper body. Remove the lock spring.

3

Disconnect the brake fluid hose from the brake caliper with a flare nut wrench. Remove the caliper with a socket wrench and detach the brake pad springs, brake pads and shims.

4

Coat the contact area on the new brake pads with a silicone-based grease. Install the new brake pads and turn the brake piston clockwise into the caliper body.

5

Complete the installation of the brake pads and calipers by reversing the removal procedure. Position the brake caliper body into position on the mounting support and tighten the pin bolts to between 16 and 23 foot pounds with a torque wrench. Use new copper washers for the brake hose and torque the flare nut to between 12 and 14 foot pounds.