New beginner here need advice

[eric76]

Hello guys I am new here and I have a 2004 Nissan pathfinder with a 3.5 v6 engine and its a 4 wheel drive model but the exact such as LE or SE I don't know as I would have to check my vincode on that and try to find out but it does not seem to make two much difference when I go to look up parts if I use the SE edition. I am needing to know some more information on the brake system and hope somebody can steer me in the right direction as I have new brake parts to stick on front and back and need to get this done pronto as my wife's Pathfinder is about done on the front brake pads and one caliper is stuck and shot and was not able to get the piston to go back in.

 

They are original and have near two hundred thousand miles on them anyways so I have some new ones coming in and my Father does the mechanic work 99 percent of the time but he has his own garage he does stuff at. I don't know if I am supposed to post here or what first as it mentions for new members to go here first so please forgive me if I am in the wrong spot starting off. I know quite a bit about cars and trucks but am mostly used to old school stuff such as hotrods and old school muscle carbureted applications vs newer stuff.

 

Thanks guys and looking forward to interact with some fellow owners. Thanks and will appreciate any direction.  I won't post questions yet till I know what else I need to go and what forum as I don't know where to start here or elsewhere on here. Thanks and take care.

[hawairish]

Welcome to the forum @eric76.  Posting here is a fine start.  Feel free to branch into the R50 section to post more specification information/topics, but replying here is fine.

 

If you've got the All-Mode 4WD system (a dial below the radio) you'll likely have the LE.  The Part-Time 4WD (shifter) was normal in SE.  As far as brakes go, the LE had some fancier traction/brake control options, but hardware-wise they're identical.

 

Fire away on questions...

[tommacdon]

Greetings, I just signed up, my reasons are that I’m interested in the SFD kit and also have heard that this is where you get the best quality information.

[eric76]

Hello guys and thanks for the comments. My wife's pathfinder would be the SE edition since it has the shifter and no knob below the radio. I have to have new brake calipers put on the front of the Pathfinder next week and my Father does this stuff but he does his own stuff in his garage and I also have to put new wheel cylinders on the rear with new drums and shoes etc and my thing I am worried about is getting the lines bleed and how about do I go to get that done? My understanding is on some abs systems you have to have it taken to a brake shop to have them use a special scan tool to regulate the abs box to get the air out but from what i am reading you don't on the Pathfinder but I can't get concrete information if I have to or not. I need to get this done as her pads are really thin and the one has a stuck piston sticking out on the caliper.

 

Thanks guys for your input and the great welcome. You guys rock.

[hawairish]

@eric76 Unless there's an actual issue with the control system (ABS, VDC, TCS), there are no special procedures.  Repair/replace the parts as you normally would, then bleed the lines normally.  The bleed order is:

1. Left rear brake
2. Right rear brake
3. Left front brake
4. Right front brake

If you were changing other primary components on the system (master cylinder, ABS pump, etc.) you'd have more stuff to deal with.  But for these secondary components, nothing special.

 

If you were just changing the pads, rotors, shoes, and drums, technically you could just replace those pieces without bleeding, since you'll not have opened up the lines.  However, bleeding is still a good idea since it flushes out old fluid.  Since you will be opening the lines, bleeding is required.  I usually try to cap the lines when I detach them, mainly to minimize the mess, but also to mitigate allowing air into the lines.  But, it's usually moot if you're going to be bleeding anyway.

 

Also, the rear lines (in my experience) are a little misleading when bleeding.  After it looks like the air has cleared from a given segment after a few pumps, I'll still pump on for another good 10-12 times.  In many cases, a 2nd set of bubbles will come through.  It's worth a little extra fluid to ensure that's out.

 

Lastly, the Factory Service Manuals (FSM) are an indispensable resource.  You can download them here: https://www.nicoclub.com/nissan-service-manuals

There's a "Brake System" chapter that'll have all spec and procedures you might need.

[eric76]

Yeah all I am doing is changing out the brake calipers on the front and also the wheel cylinders on the back and putting on new drums and just brake pads on the front and shoes in the rear and that is it and nothing else. Not messing with Master Cylinder or the ABS box. Thanks for those tips and I do have  a haynes manual on the Pathfinder as well and already wrote this down. I am assuming on the  left rear that is the left rear on the driver side as the term from what I was taught is the passenger side is the right and the and driver side is the left as your sitting in the seat looking forward. I will download the factory manual and thanks for the link and your help. Much appreciated.

[hawairish]

53 minutes ago, eric76 said:

Yeah all I am doing is changing out the brake calipers on the front and also the wheel cylinders on the back and putting on new drums and just brake pads on the front and shoes in the rear and that is it and nothing else. Not messing with Master Cylinder or the ABS box. Thanks for those tips and I do have  a haynes manual on the Pathfinder as well and already wrote this down. I am assuming on the  left rear that is the left rear on the driver side as the term from what I was taught is the passenger side is the right and the and driver side is the left as your sitting in the seat looking forward. I will download the factory manual and thanks for the link and your help. Much appreciated.

 

The FSM is the official Nissan publication.  Ditch the Haynes.

And yes, LH = driver side, RH = passenger side.