I got a very good deal locally on some blank brembo rotors and some ceramic pads for my 01 Qx4. I figured its time to do a brake overhaul, but after reading a DIY, which was kinda vague on the bearing and disassembly process. I am thinking the bearing itself may need to come off??
Ive done front brakes before, but none that involved bearings needing to be moved.
How exactly involved in the front brake job?? I have CV grease but should I get something else??
I want to feel confident about doing this myself and not blowing up a bearing etc
Thanks alot guys appreciate it!!
Wheel bearing needs to be removed to do front brakes??
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Chuck Tribolet
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Re: Wheel bearing needs to be removed to do front brakes??
1. FSM
2. Do you really need to replace the rotors? I've got 198,000 miles on my front rotors and they are just fine, and they
haven't had an easy life. About 1/3 of those miles has been towing a 2000 pound boat trailer and about 700 pounds of
dive gear and passengers.
3. Do you really need ceramic pads? They are for truly rough service (racing) where things get REALLY hot.
2. Do you really need to replace the rotors? I've got 198,000 miles on my front rotors and they are just fine, and they
haven't had an easy life. About 1/3 of those miles has been towing a 2000 pound boat trailer and about 700 pounds of
dive gear and passengers.
3. Do you really need ceramic pads? They are for truly rough service (racing) where things get REALLY hot.
Re: Wheel bearing needs to be removed to do front brakes??
Check your rotor with a bright light, calipers off, a needle gauge helps to realize the ridges and depths and valleys. Putting ceramic brakes on will aid braking and clean that rotor, but if it's out of square it will always be that way unless you true it up, but new rotors are a good thing also.
Since you are going to put rotors on, you might as well check the bearing set: clean and re grease. If you have no bearing thump, grind, whine they may be OK, if you clean them of all grease DO NOT SPIN THEM, gently feel for rough spots, look at them closely if OK repack but do not overload them with grease.
You do not have to touch the bearings if you do not want to, but follow the book on rebuilding the calipers, replacing the rotor and breaking in new brakes.
Since you are going to put rotors on, you might as well check the bearing set: clean and re grease. If you have no bearing thump, grind, whine they may be OK, if you clean them of all grease DO NOT SPIN THEM, gently feel for rough spots, look at them closely if OK repack but do not overload them with grease.
You do not have to touch the bearings if you do not want to, but follow the book on rebuilding the calipers, replacing the rotor and breaking in new brakes.
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miamiheat3332
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Re: Wheel bearing needs to be removed to do front brakes??
Good rotors and ceramic pads are a great upgrade.
1 is having the increased saftey of a shorter braking distance, ive had to watch out many times on the freeway when you get the 70mph to 20mph traffic braking instances and crap like around here because even though im in a 4000Lbs suv, this thing brakes QUICK.
also 2 is i bought EBC dimpled and slotted rotors and ceramic pads about ~4 years ago, i do drive the pathfinder hard at times, and brake hard from highway speeds, plus i have heavier wheels on it for the past year or so and my pads are still at about ~65-70% which im amazed at, theres also no brake fade at all, rotors are like they are brand new, no warping, steering wheel shake etc.
Well worth the extra 100-150 for better brakes and pads.
1 is having the increased saftey of a shorter braking distance, ive had to watch out many times on the freeway when you get the 70mph to 20mph traffic braking instances and crap like around here because even though im in a 4000Lbs suv, this thing brakes QUICK.
also 2 is i bought EBC dimpled and slotted rotors and ceramic pads about ~4 years ago, i do drive the pathfinder hard at times, and brake hard from highway speeds, plus i have heavier wheels on it for the past year or so and my pads are still at about ~65-70% which im amazed at, theres also no brake fade at all, rotors are like they are brand new, no warping, steering wheel shake etc.
Well worth the extra 100-150 for better brakes and pads.
Re: Wheel bearing needs to be removed to do front brakes??
Ya Im just concerrned with the bearings really during the installation of the new rotors. You HAVE to take the old outer bearing out right? How does it come out? Thats what Im unclear on.
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coledog188
- Posts: 95
- Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2008 1:47 pm
- Car: 2015 Nissan Altima SL
- Location: Virginia
Re: Wheel bearing needs to be removed to do front brakes??
It's a bit of a pain...
Take the wheel off.
Remove the two bolts holding the caliper on and pull it off. To put on the new pads you'll have to compress it off course.
Remove the black "dust?" cap from the CV so you can see the shaft.
Unbolt the 5 or 6 nuts that hold the small cover you'll be looking at on.
Use a spreader of sorts to remove the C clip around the axle.
Remove the two small phillips screws in the center behind all the grease.
Use two flat blade screw drivers to remove the little circular metal plate.
Use a screwdriver in one of the holes to unscrew the next metal plate from around the shaft.
At this point you should be able to remove, by using a lot of force, the rotor and wheel bearing and hub assembly.
Be careful of the outter wheel bearing if you aren't planning on replacing it.
There are 5 or 6 bolts holding the rotor to the hub, remove those.
Use a large flat blade screwdriver and a hammer to get the rotor unstuck from the hub assembly, we propped it up between a vice and a piece of wood.
Once it pops out put the new rotor on in the same position and bolt it back on.
Use LOTS of new grease on the outter wheel bearing when reassembling, there is no such thing as too much grease.
To reassemble just reverse instructions and make sure that metal plate that screws down to hold the outter bearing in the hub is good and tight. Turn it with a screwdriver and a hammer, also it'll be a bit of a pain to line up the screw holes for the second tiny plate so just keep working the screwed plate tighter or looser to find the holes.
Hope this helps...My buddy and I just replaced both wheel bearings and rotors in my 03 QX4 last night. Drives INCREDIBLY well now...
I wish I had taken a video of the process, it would have been rather helpful.
Take the wheel off.
Remove the two bolts holding the caliper on and pull it off. To put on the new pads you'll have to compress it off course.
Remove the black "dust?" cap from the CV so you can see the shaft.
Unbolt the 5 or 6 nuts that hold the small cover you'll be looking at on.
Use a spreader of sorts to remove the C clip around the axle.
Remove the two small phillips screws in the center behind all the grease.
Use two flat blade screw drivers to remove the little circular metal plate.
Use a screwdriver in one of the holes to unscrew the next metal plate from around the shaft.
At this point you should be able to remove, by using a lot of force, the rotor and wheel bearing and hub assembly.
Be careful of the outter wheel bearing if you aren't planning on replacing it.
There are 5 or 6 bolts holding the rotor to the hub, remove those.
Use a large flat blade screwdriver and a hammer to get the rotor unstuck from the hub assembly, we propped it up between a vice and a piece of wood.
Once it pops out put the new rotor on in the same position and bolt it back on.
Use LOTS of new grease on the outter wheel bearing when reassembling, there is no such thing as too much grease.
To reassemble just reverse instructions and make sure that metal plate that screws down to hold the outter bearing in the hub is good and tight. Turn it with a screwdriver and a hammer, also it'll be a bit of a pain to line up the screw holes for the second tiny plate so just keep working the screwed plate tighter or looser to find the holes.
Hope this helps...My buddy and I just replaced both wheel bearings and rotors in my 03 QX4 last night. Drives INCREDIBLY well now...
I wish I had taken a video of the process, it would have been rather helpful.