It's happened again. The bracket and pins that hold the left rear brake caliper in place have corroded and frozen up. Ordinarily these pins slide freely from side to side within the bracket holes so that the caliper can center itself over the rotor. However, moisture that gets trapped under the rubber bellows that shrouds the pins has caused the pins to rust to the bracket.

This has happened before, and in the past I managed to force out the pins. Once out, I cleaned all of the corrosion off of the outside of the pins and the inside of the bracket holes, re-greased them, and re-assembled. However, I was not able to get both pins free this time. I spent two hours yesterday trying to turn them (the collar is about 17mm across the flats, I used a wrench) and bang them out with a hammer and screwdriver, all the while soaking them in penetrating oil. I got one out, the other is really stuck in there.

I didn't pull the caliper off of the right side, but I'm fairly certain it has the same condition. Both rear rotors are wearing inconsistantly (not shiny all the way across the pad contact area) because the calipers are not distributing pad pressure evenly. I bought brand new rotors to install once I solve the bracket problem.

I've seen the pins on a parts diagram as being #44139, and I was told by a rep at Scottsdale Infiniti (EverythingNissan.com) that they are #441392Y000 and 49140N9500. Unfortunetly, both EverythingNissan and Courtesy Parts told me that the bracket only comes with buying an entirely new caliper assembly, which is $226.84 each. My calipers work fine and don't need to be replaced (one is original, the other is a replacement about 15 months old). I really don't want to spend $500 just to get two cast-iron brackets.

My question is then (sorry if this is long) (a) does anyone have any other ideas/methods for freeing the caliper pins? and (b) does anyone have any used brackets and pins they can sell me (maybe someone who upgraded to a big brake kit or 300ZX kit)?

Thanks for your help,
-Tony

EDIT: Here are some pictures of the parts involved:


Notice how the rotor is not wearing evenly and that there is significant runout. This is what first caught my attention. The bracket in question is straddling the rotor to the rear of the car.


This is the caliper bracket (torque member?) after I managed to remove one of the pins. That's penetrating oil all over the hole on the left.


The pin and bellows removed from the left hand (lower) hole on the caliper bracket.

 

Some pics would help - I'm not sure if you are talking about the torque member or the caliper itself... it sounds like the pins are stuck in the torque member... I can't believe that wouldn't be a stand-alone part...

 

Only the fronts are on a sliding pin set up. Right? Its been a minute since I have done them. I had the same problem on a front caliper braket. I think cleaning and reusing the old parts is your problem. Once they get rusty it will be hard to prevent future rust. Go to the junk yard and pick up some. Shouldnt be more than $30 for the bracket.

 

No, the rears work the same way (in addition to having the parking brake mechanism).

 

Gotcha. And no you can not buy them seperate fromt the caliper at Nissan. I tried to do so myself. Junk yard is the best place short of the f/s forums.

 

Crap. Anybody have any sugestions for a good junkyard in the Philadelphia area? in any part of New Jersey? I've never even seen a 4th gen Max in any of the junkyards I've been to.

I dont' know if it's called the torque member. It's a completely seperate casting from the caliper itself (the caliper contains the hydraulic piston and contacts the backside of the pads). I will try to get pictures posted tonight, you can see exactly what I'm talking about.

It just really annooys me because I bought a remanufactured caliper before without the bracket, so it would stand to reason that I would be able to get the bracket without the caliper. I didn't get the caliper from a dealer though, so it probably wasn't an official OEM rebuild (the caliper casting is a Nissan casting).

So yeah if anyone has ideas for good junkyards, please let me know ASAP. I've only got maybe 50% braking power in the rear.

 

Its called both the torque member and caliper bracket. If you go to the junkyard and call the the torque member they will not know what you are talking about. Just call it a caliper bracket. I bought a reman'd caliper from autozone and it didnt come with the bracket either. Look for someone parting out a 4th gen in the f/s forums.

 

Bump! Check out the pics I've added to the original post.

I stopped by a junkyard today on the way home from work in Swedeland (King of Prussia). I asked him if he had any '95-'99 Maximas or I30s. He said the same thing I always hear..."I don't think I have anything that new. I have maybe a '96 Altima, but no newer model Maximas."

Any suggestions? I think I'm going to try to head down to the places on Passyunk and Essington after work on wednesday. I've seen some junkyard off of I-95 in the Northeast section of Philly, but never been to any of them.

I'm going back home to North Jersey over Thanksgiving, so if any North Jersey guys know of a good place up there, let me know.

Thanks,
Tony

 

Yup - thats the torque member/caliper bracket. Did you check the 4th Gen Classifieds? There are quite a few 4th Gens being parted out... I would suggest you get new caliper pins and boots when you reinstall everything. You'll obviosuly need to either replace the rotors or have them turned if they are not too thin, and replace the pads with either OEM or Raybestos Quietstops.

 

Already bought new rotors. I'm pretty sure that these are too far worn to be re-turned. I'll pick up some pads today or tomorrow. Either way, I still need the brackets before I install the new pins, bellows, rotors and pads.

 

Heat is your friend.

Put a tourch on the bracket and get the part where the pin is stuck red hot. It will come out like butter once it's hot.

 

Heat will most likely get the pin out, but he is sure to run into the same problem by reusing the original components.

 

dude, check with autozone, I just got a set of brackets from them without the calipers- these were fronts but at the same time, i asked for a quote on the rear calipers only without the bracket and they said they could get them for me. Which tells me that they should be able to get the brackets separately. They had to order them (fronts) which took about 3 days but it might be an option. About $31 each for the front brackets.

 

Second to getting a new bracket, this is defintely the next best thing if you have the resources...

 

Cydrive,

Thanks for letting me know, I'll follow up with a call or visit to Autozone sometime today.

As for reusing the old bracket: The last time I reconditioned the bracket it was for one of the fronts, and knock on wood it seems to be doing fine. What I did after removing the pin was to thoroughly grind the rust out of the hole with a dremel tool and a wire brush attachment. Then I cleaned it thoroughly with alcohol and cotton swabs. I also brushed the rust off of the pins. Both were heavily greased in caliper grease (the very thick green stuff) before being reinstalled. The grease should protect from corrosion.

The rear brackets (in question) I haven't reconditioned yet.

Cydrive, do you know if Autozone could get the pins and boots (bellows), too?

Thanks.

 

They should be able to get both. The rubber boots might only come as part of a larger caliper rebuild kit that includes the piston seals... but it shouldn't cost a whole lot either way. The pins run about 30 bucks for the set I believe.

 

Boots are part of the rebuild kit.

 

Yeah, I'm pretty sure the boots only come in the rebuild kit. Courtesy Nissan quoted me $48.72 for the rebuild kit the other day...and that's for one side. I'm going to be pissed if it comes to $100 just to get the boots for both sides.

 

I bought a rebuild kit for the fronts and it covered both sides. Try talking to Dave Burnet @ South Point Nissan in Austin Texas. Just mention that you are a .org member when you talk to him.

 

Looks like Dubbya answered the question- yes, the brackets do come with the pins and rubber boots. All you have to do is take them out of the box and put them on..

 

Alright, I got confused. Anyway I just called a local guy in my town and he said he coudl get just the brackets, pins and boots for me for about $30 per side. Done deal, I hope to pick them up tomorrow and get them installed by Friday.

I just hope they're the right thing, haha.

 

There is a place in my area called Weber's that stocks a bunch, and another in Chambersburg PA that had some. I found both thru searches on Car-Part.com, which I recommend. Although you'll probably want to have it shipped, I can vouch for the speed and quality of both sources.

Dave

 

Sounds about the right price, you should be alright!