So my mechanic says that I need new brake calipers and roters for my right rear wheel. He says that the caliper is hanging up and that's the sound that i'm hearing. Looking online, I see that the roters go for around $30 and the caliper is around $70 depending on where i get them. He wants $600 to do the work. OUCH! How hard is this to do myself? (i know. . .read the stickies!. . .but i'm looking for a difficulty level here. . .) I've replaced my radiator, and alternator. That's about the extent of my mechanical experience. I can change a tire though, and i suspect that taking the tire off is part of the battle in this situation?

To me. . .if i can get this done sunday afternoon and save myself $400 or more. . .it's the best way. . .

-James

 

Go to an autoparts store and buy some loaded calipers, already have pads. Mine cost $115 plus the $70 core charge that you get back when you return them.
Pretty simple install.
Now read the stickies

 

read the stickies now. . .and. . .OH NO. . .the link to the walkthrough of changing your rear brakes is no longer valid!

Anyone have a tutorial?

 

your mechanic wants $600...is that parts and labor....well, regardless, its a screw job...thats an hour job at most. I think rear calipers going bad is pretty common on the maxima...it happened to me, and I read it a lot here....though I question your mechanics integrity just because of his outrageous price.

a haynes manual will prove usefull, and is only $15. You don't need any really special tools...though an extra person to help you bleed the brakes if you don't own a vaccum bleeder....a reman caliper will be $80 at any Advance Auto or Auto-Zone. A set of rear pads, perhaps $30. A rotor, if its warped another $30 (a generic brand like wear-ever from advance auto will be just fine on the rear of a daily driver).

good luck,
JB

 

Thanks.

I think the $600 was for both rear brakes, calipers, roters, and pads. Not disgusting, but still a little high. I told him that I would have to do them myself and that was a little steep.

When I went to pay him, he told me not to worry about the $55 lift fee. I don't think he was trying to screw me, and if I had gone ahead with it (and if this was like any other job that he's done for me) it would brobably end up costing a lot less then his estimate.

I have the Haynes manual, so I guess I'll start there.

-James

 

Listen to the others: Get the Haynes/Chilton - this is a pretty easy task 'cept for bleeding the brakelines appropriately.

$600 is robbery... should be able to get remanuf rotors all the way around for that kind of dough...

Completed my front caliper swap in about 2.5 hrs and needed no extra tools, etc. Of course, YMMV.

Tofor

 

BRAKE CALIPER LOADED PAIR - REAR for a
1999 NISSAN/DATSUN MAXIMA
MORSE P2000 LLT $138.00 $130.99 Store Special Order On Store

What does loaded pair mean? Is that for BOTH rear brakes? or just one? Does loaded mean that it comes with pads?

 

tofor: I've never heard of remanufactured rotors...maybe you meant calipers.

mingus2112: Loaded calipers are calipers that have pads in them. I don't like them because you have no choice in pads; if this doesn't matter to you (not too important on rear brakes), you're all set. As for the whether 'pair' means both calipers: that's a question for the store.

Brakes are one of the easy jobs that bring in a lot of money for mechanics, as it's a job most laymen are afraid to touch out of paranoia. I also recommend that you get a Haynes/Chilton's manual (~$15); it will walk you through the process quite thoroughly.

 

I've not replaced calipers, but I have done rotors and pads on disc brakes and they really are a definite DIY job. I've not done a radiator or alternator, but if you can do those you can do this. It's really not difficult, and $600 for that is too expensive. I would guess his $600 quote is reasonable if he's using all OEM parts, which personally I'm too cheap to bother with. Go with some autozone bits and you can slash that price in half for sure.

 

[QUOTE=sryth]tofor: I've never heard of remanufactured rotors...maybe you meant calipers.

Duh, of course - typing whilst trying to talk on the phone = unitelligible post. Meant calipers not rotors...

tofor

 

if you can do alternator on a maxima you can diffenately do brakes & replacing the caliper. in my opinion the alternator would be more difficult because of the location of it and acutaly taking the stuff out to get to it.

 

Funny you should say that!! The radiator and the alternator were on my 93 sentra. (forgot to mention that) I changed the brakes today (new calipers, roters and pads. . .$270 for the whole deal. . .thanks for all the help guys!!) and was looking at my alternator. That's next in this car. . .seeing where it is, though, scared the crap outta me! How do you get to that thing? Even removing all the hoses, i couldn't see any possible way to lift it out!!

Anyhow. . .thanks for all the help on the brakes. . .everything works great now!

-James

 

For the alternator, you remove it from the bottom. You'll need to remove the bolts holding your AC compressor so you can move it out of the way (but DO NOT remove the hoses to it). The alternator can then be taken out around the compressor.

Dave

 

yeah getting to your alternator on a maxima can be alittle tough especialy if you dont have a lift to put your car on. but i would agree that you do need to take the alternator out from the bottom you dont need to take off the radiator hoses. you might want to take off the wheel and the splash guard though.