I'm going to have to replace the rear brake pads on my '14 Max soon. Question for those who have already done this themselves: are the caliper pistons the type that can be compressed with a C-clamp, or are they the type that requires a special tool to twist them back into the caliper?

 

It's a twist back style. Better go rent a brake maintenance kit from autozone, it's free rental.

 

I probably will rent the tool. Thanks.

 

This is fake news. It's the traditional push in type. The last model of Nissan that used the screw type was the 2006 Sentra. If you've got the drum style ebrake, it's push type. If you've got the "pad" style ebrake where it just compresses the brake pads to ebrake, then it's the twist in type.

There are several ways that you can do this. You can either use a c-clamp to compress the piston or what I do is use one the suspension links in the rear plus a small prybar. Place the two "fingers" of the front of the caliper over one of the links in the rear, then put your prybar through the little hole in the top of the caliper. Use the leverage to compress the piston.

Or if you still have the caliper on the vehicle, wedge a screw driver in between the rotor and the pad, then pry.

Or you can use your hands if you have strong enough forearms

10 years as a line tech and I now use my bare hands to compress a lot of brake pistons. All thumbs!!!

 

I can also confirm that it's a traditional piston where you can push it back with a C-clamp. I've already replaced my rear brakes.

 

Thanks. One less thing I have to worry about.


Now I just have to decide whether to not touch the rotors (no problems with them thus far), replace them or have them resurfaced.

 

Regardless as to what you may have been told in the past, it is highly recommended to either machine or replace the rotors. Can you get away without it? Yes. However, this is half assed brake job that will net half assed results. There are minor imperfections in the rotor that will cause uneven wear on the brake pads, which will in turn lower your braking efficiency over time.

You want a nice flat surface for your nice flat brake pads. If you're taking the time to do the brakes, you might as well take a little extra time to do it properly.

Just my .02 cents

 

I replaced my rear pads and had my rotors resurfaced at O'Reilly's. Turning the rotors was $15 each so $30... I think I should have just bought new rotors for $50 more (I'm saving money by doing it myself).

And I concur, the rear caliper is a push type. But the brake tool can be handy if you don't have a C-clamp or large channel-locks.