How to – G35 Sedan brake job

Replacing G35 brake pads

I’ll do a walk through for anyone considering doing a brake job: Took about 2 hours to swap all pads and rotors.  The G35 is a piece of cake to work on… I LOVE THIS CAR!

Before and after:

First off, let’s inspect our new G35 brake rotors and G35 brake pads:

1> Loosen all the lug nuts (21mm socket).
2> Put the car on jacks and jackstands… if you don’t have enough jackstands, just do one wheel at a time. Never just use jacks – its not safe.
3> Remove the wheels and set them out of the way. Put some cardboard or newspaper under the rotors. Spray down everything with brake parts cleaner.

4> Remove the 14mm bolts on the back of the caliper that that hold it to the mounting plate.The rear calipers bottom bolt will not clear the trailing link until you remove the caliper mounting plate.

5> Suspend the caliper with wire coat hangers from the coil springs. Never let the caliper hang by the brake line.
6> Remove the bolts that hold the mounting plate for the calipers to the spindle.The front bolts are 22 mm the rear are 19 mm.

7> Remove the old rotors, you may have to pound on them because they will rust to the hub. A couple hits from the dead blow hammer and they slid right off.
8> Install the new rotors
9> Install the new caliper mounting plates. Remember to leave the bottom bolt out on the rears so you can get the bottom bolt for the caliper started.

10> Install your new brake pads. I wipe a little white lithium grease on the back of the pads. This is optional and possibly controversial but I don’t like squealy brakes. Be very very careful to not get any grease on the rotors or your pads. Grease can ruin the pads before you even get a chance to use them.

11> Use a D clamp to compress the calipers so they will fit over the new pads.

12> Install the calipers, Once all the calipers are installed pump the brake pedal a few times to build up the pressure.

13> Install the wheels and snug the lug nuts with the car on the jackstands.
14> Take the car off the jacks and jack stands.
15> Check your brake fluid level.
16> Torque your lug nuts.
17> Break in (“bed”) the brakes… the way I do it:
3-4 trips from 20 mph – 5 mph
3-4 trips from 40 mph – 20 mph
3-4 trips from 60 mph – 20 mph

Use steady light pressure to start, use moderate pressure in the end.

Drive carefully for the next 100-200 miles using light to moderate brake pressure for every stop. Try to avoid holding the pedal down at lights.

If you found this article helpful, there’s a lot more information on DIY jobs for your G35 here in the G35 Forums!