I haven't driven my 96 in months due to it requiring a brake overhaul. I ended up getting another used car for my DD and decided to give the max to my sister who has kids of the driving age and could use a car. So I've done a ton of engine work or really emissions. Car runs real nice now. Pulls strong too.

Anyhow I want to change brakes before the kids drive it. It was in much worse shape than I thought. One caliper slide pin in each of the front torque members were frozen. The two with rubber end caps were good. Calipers seem to be good. For the rears, caliper slide pins moved but they seemed a bit sloppy. A little too lose. The rear caliper pistons didn't go in with the c clamp so maybe frozen?

So for you maxima pros...
- Do the rear caliper pistons turn to get them to retract or is this frozen? If not frozen how do I get these to turn?
- should the slide pins have some slop to them? I've never seen this with the Subarus I've worked on.
- if a slide pin is frozen in the torque member, and PB blaster does not get it out, it is basically toast? Napa sells them for $16 so it might be worth new ones.

Brake fluid looks pretty bad too so that will get flushed. Any other recommendations for a Max with 280k on it? Lines?

Thanks!

 

The rear piston turns. You can buy a tool for like $6 at Autozone that attaches to a ratchet and makes the task of turning it quit easy.

The tool looks like this:



There shouldn't be any slop in the pins. I'd buy a rebuild kit as you suggested.

 

I have to say...I've never even seen a tool like that! Thanks man!

With a rebuild kit, do they come with new sleeves that go into the torque member?

 

damn 280k miles, tons of miles

 

If the caliper pistons are sliding easy then at www.autozone.com search for these parts after inserting your vehicle to the website

>brake caliper bolt/ guide pin
>brake disc hardware kit - front
>brake disc hardware kit - rear

The HW kits contain new pad clips and guide pin boots. You'll also need to purchase brake grease.

This How To's 4th Generation Maxima sticky thread will list this Brake Reconditioning website.

 

Yea the car is a workhorse. It was my fathers since originally purchased. I have over 100 maintenance records in an excel spreadsheet for it. It's got some rust underneath but it's in great shape. Interior is like brand new.

Now that the kids are going to have it I want to make sure it's good to go.


Thanks for the info at autozone. I'll look into that tomorrow.

 

So after new rotors, pads, front caliper brackets, rear caliper, all new pins, boots, hardware, bleeder screws, and fluid - it stops.
It's really night and day...much better pedal feel. It used to hit the floor board and would barely stop.

Now I need to see what's happening with engine light. P1400 and P1105. I just put in a new EGR solenoid valve, IACV, MAF, knock, cleaned throttle body, etc. ??? It never ends does it...

 

That's how I feel with my DD '97 SE 5spd. Just replaced the exhaust, battery, starter, etc. Going to clean all grounds and hope it's not my alternator.

 

I'm assuming my car needs its grounds cleaned up as well. 270k miles as a DD on Long Island then Northern NJ. What exactly this entails I have no idea. Is this fairly straight forward?