Replace the Rear Disc Brakes on a 1991 Nissan 240SX

How to Replace the Rear Disc Brakes on a 1991 Nissan 240SX? The 1991 Nissan 240SX is equipped with front and rear disc brakes. Disc brakes use two pads pressing on a flat rotor, often called the disc, to create friction. The friction stops the car, but it also causes the pads to wear, and, eventually, you will need to replace them. How long the pads last depends on how you drive the car. When the pads get thin, a piece of metal will contact the rotor when you depress the brake pedal, and you will hear a high-pitch squeal.

1. Loosen the lug nuts on both rear wheels. Ensure the parking brake is released.
2. Raise the vehicle, using the automotive jack, and support both sides with a jack stand. Remove the lug nuts, and take off both wheels.
3. Place a drip pan under the brake assembly, and saturate all brake components with brake cleaner. This will remove the harmful brake dust that accumulates on the brake assembly. Allow the parts to dry.
4. Use a wrench or socket to remove the parking brake cable stay fixing bolt. The bolt is on the bottom, back side of the brake cylinder body.
5. Use a wrench or socket to remove the lower cylinder body pin bolt. This bolt is directly below the cable stay fixing bolt you removed in Step 4.
6. Rotate the cylinder housing up and off the rotor.
7. Remove the pad retainers that hold the inner and outer pads in the housing, and remove both pads and shims. The retainers are flat, metal clips on each end of the pads.
8. Use a pair of needle-nose pliers to turn the piston clockwise, screwing it back into the housing. This is to provide room for the new pads, since they will be thicker than the old ones.
9. Apply a coat of high-temperature grease to the rear of both pads. Place the new shims on the back of the pads, and apply a coat of grease to the shims. The new pads should come with a small tube of this grease.
10. Insert the pads back into the housing, and secure them in place with the pad retainers.
11. Rotate the housing back down onto the rotor.
12. Replace the lower pin bolt, and tighten it to between 16 and 23 ft-lbs. of torque, using a torque wrench.
13. Reattach the parking brake cable stay, and tighten the fixing bolt to between 20 and 27 ft-lbs. of torque.
14. Ensure there is no grease or oil on the brake rotor. If there is, clean the rotor with brake cleaner. Repeat the procedure to replace the pads on the opposite side of the car.
15. Replace both wheels and lug nuts. Lower the car, and tighten the lug nuts