According to haynes I am supposed to remove the "clip" that holds the e-brake cable to the caliper, but my clip is welded on there from the factory. Anyone know how to do this as I need to replace my rear calipers?

Thanks
Cris

 

You will need to unfasten some of the brackets that secure the parking brake cable to the underbody/frame. Follow the cable from the caliper and you'll see what I mean.

Once you have the brackets off, you should have enough free play to slide the parking brake cable hook off the caliper. Make sure your parking brake is down (released) when you try this - since you need the cable to be fully retracted.

 

Have you now decided to replace both rear calipers?

 

Yeah, I found some that came w/ new pads for $75 after a core charge. I thought calipers were extremely expensive thats why I was worried. Now I do have one more question...my calipers came with pads already in place, BUT the notch on the inner pad does not line up w/ a slot on the piston. Should I turn the piston to adjust it, or put it on the car and leave it?

 

You should be following the precise instructions set out in the Haynes manual. Turn the piston to retract it - make sure one of the notches in the piston engages with the projection on the pad. Remember to apply anti-squeal compound to the backs of both pads (let the compound "set up" a few minutes before installing the pads). Ensure the caliper pin has been lubricated.

 

Well the calipers I got are already mounted to the mounting bracket w/ the pads in place. So all I really have to do is just unbolt the old and bolt up the new.

I just can't figure out how in the hell to get the damn e-brake cable disconnected. Not sure if I don't have enough slack or what it is.

 

What does your Haynes manual tell you to do?

 

Haynes says to remove the "clip" that holds the cable to the frame part. Well my clip does NOT move and it appears to be welded on there. That is where I got stuck last time I changed my brakes. I tried to unhook it using pliers but NO luck at all. Any suggestions?

 

Did you try what njmodi suggested in post 2 above?

 

Post a picture of the clip you say is stuck. I am trying to visualze what you are saying. I dont remember any cliips, but I do remember that the parking brake cable as a little notch in it to hold it in place on the caliper. You might want to spray all that area (parking brake mount/clip/end) with some brake cleaner so you can see the parts clearly.

Get us a pic and we'll take it from there.

 

I will try his technic in the morning when I do it. All I know is that haynes is wrong in that aspect of removing the clip. I just looked at my FSM, and its not very clear about it either, go figure. I am sure I will figure it out tommorow morning.

Give me a few seconds on the pic.

 

OK, I think that clip I was talking about MIGHT be for the 3rd gen maxima. Mine still does have that clip that holds the cable to the car, but its for sure welded. I think tommorow I will try your idea of just unbolting some of bolts that hold it to the car. How many on each side did you undo?

 

I had to undo 1 or 2 of the brackets... just a couple of 10mm bolts.

 

The clip that you are looking for is a U-shaped clip that attaches the cable to the caliper. You need to use a screwdriver and hammer to push the clip up and that releases the cable so it will move. The easy way to understand is to remove the first 10 mm cable bracket screw along the cable. Then shake the cable and you will notice the U-shaped clip towards the caliper. Good Luck!!

 

Actually, just did this on my brother's max a week ago.

The clip is really a little piece of metal that holds the cable firm in the socket on the rear beam. The top folds over a little. This is where you stick a flat head screwdriver and then use a hammer to whack it up till it pops out.

Then follow the cable up towards the front a little and there's a bolt there you can take off to give yourself more play.

To remove the cable from the socket on the beam, you need to push it forward and lift up.

Now you should have more than enough play to unhook it from the rear caliper.

 

I changed my rear brakes a week ago as well. This was on a 95 GLE and mine had the clip that needed removing. Like PLMMAXSE said it's a u-shaped clip that engages onto the caliper with a spring. What I did since it is very tight was remove the entire caliper like you were going to replace the rotors and then wiggled the clip from the caliper after I removed all the bolts. Hope that helps.