I just ordered the front and rear pad set and hardware kits from Courtesy this morning and I'm looking for instructions on how all of the hardware goes together. I bought my max used and over this past weekend I took a look at the front brakes only to discover all of the shims and the retaining springs are missing! I guess this explains the squealing. I just read zagato27's post but I need to know were everything goes. If any of you have a service maunal, can you email me a copy of the page that shows an exploded diagram of the front and rear bake assemblies. I have the Chilton's repair manual but they show a 3rd gen in the pictures. My email is: jasonnewyork@excite.com.

The Haynes manual show good steps and illustrations for brake pad replacement.

The diagrams in Chilton on pages 9-7 and 9-8 are accurate for your 4Gen Maxima. In fact, they are exactly what you will find in the factory service manual. Haynes is better than Chilton in many respects, but Haynes does not have these exploded view diagrams.

I looked at diagrams in the Chilton's manual but they don't show how the retaining pins attach to the front pads. This is my biggest concern. However, I can see were the all of the shims and retaining springs go. Do you know how the front retaining pins attach? Please help.

I don't understand your question. I'm looking at the exploded view diagram in Chilton on page 9-7. There is no part in that diagram with the name Retaining Pin.

I thought that's exactly what his concern was: the fact that the diagram makes no reference to the pins.

You may be right. The Chilton diagram is copied from the Maxima factory service manual. The diagram matches the brakes on my car. If his brakes have a part which is not shown in that diagram I'll be unable to help him.

Daniel,

If you look at the exploded diagram of the front brakes in the Chilton's manual, you will see two horizontal retaining or return pins. They appear to be made from thick wire and span across the inner and outer pads, one on top the other on the bottom. They look like they push the pads away from the rotor by I may be wrong. My question is how to these things attach to the brake assembly? There is a website that shows the contents of the hardware kit that I'm trying to find so I can show yoy what I'm talking about.

i believe you are referring to the "V" shaped wire springs. the inner and outer pads have little holes drilled on the metal backing plate. the springs just fit into these holes. the intended purpose is to help the brake pads "release" from the rotor. in addition to the "V" spring being held in place by the holes, the caliper will keep it from popping out.

another note, i got the stillen metal matrix pads, and the pads didnt have the holes, so i left these "V" springs out. the brakes seem to be working fine (i have about 5k miles on them now).

i didnt change the pads on the back rotors, so i have no comments on the rear setup.

good luck on changing your brake pads.

dfwmax.

Haynes calls the "V" shaped things "anti-rattle" springs.

On Porterfield pads, there are no holes to accomodate these things but leaving them off doesn't seem matter. With CRC brake grease, the pads do not make noise.

Perhaps you are referring to key number 19, Pad Return Spring. If so, DFWmax is correct.

If you are referring to a different part, please identify it by the key number and name as it appears in the diagram. That way we can be sure of talking about the same item.

The V-pins are what I'm talking about. The Nissan service maunal picture in Chilton's refers to them as retaining springs. There are aftermakret pads installed on my Max right now and there are no holes in them. I guess thats why the V springs are missing, amoung other things. Thanks for the info guys. I will let you know how things go as soon as I receive the pads and hardware kit from Courtesy Nissan.

Sorry to bother you guys again but I need to know where to mount the V-shaped return springs. I got the pads and hardware kit from Courtesy today. I looked at all 4 pads, front and back, and I am unable to find the holes were the springs go. Are there really drilled holes or do they snap into the retaining springs that touch the top/bottom of the pads? I'm going to try to get a pic up to show you what I'm talking about.

The tips of the Pad Return Springs (key number 19 in your Chilton exploded diagram) fit into holes drilled in the edges of the steel backing plates of the brake pads. If your pads lack these holes call Courtesy to inquire.

I don't have the holes on the steel backing plates like you state. I will call Courtesy on Monday. Thanks for your help.

Could this explain why ever since I changed the original brake pads, I can't get the brakes to stop squealing?? Just a thought.

Thats a possibility. Thats why I bought Nissan pads and hardware kits. I owned several Hondas before the Maxima and they all had the similiar problem of squealling. I find the best solution is to buy factory parts, especially the hardware kit! Most used cars are missing many if not all pieces of a hardware kit. Most shops, in my experience, throw out the various shims and springs associated with disc brake hardware kits. I think they are either lazy or do not know were all the parts go. Without all of the shims/springs, the brake will squeal. My maxima was purchased used and the car lot where I bought it made a big deal about how great they were by replacing the worn pads amoung other things. Instead they screwed me by using som cheap pad and threw out all of the shims and springs. There is just raw pads right now.

FYI: I called Courtesy Nissan and the parts guy said the brake pad material has been changed and the pad return springs (the v-shaped wire) are no longer needed. That is why there are no holes in the steel backing plate. Thanks for your help, however, I will call Courtesy first next time I have a question. They were courtious and professional.