how we change a 2002 pathfinder front brake pads and fluid - with photos!!!

On Saturday, Daniel and I changed the front brake pads on my 2002 Nissan Pathfinder. Here's how:

1. Jack up the front right tire.

2. Remove the hubcap and the six bolts on the tire. Roll the tire aside and leave it vertical since I don’t like to lift the tire when it’s lying flat down.

3. Remove the two bolts on the back of the caliper near the top and bottom.

4. Use bungee cord to hang caliper from suspension.

Here's the brake pad under the caliper.

5. Remove two bent wires holding the brake pads together, set aside and save.

6. Remove two brake pads.

7. Here are the new brake pads and the instructions.

8. Two brake pads on the left are new. Two brake pads on the right are old.

9. There are two metal "shoes" that hold the brake pads on the rotor. Remove the top old metal "shoe" off.

10. Put new metal shoe (came with the new brake pads) in place of old.

11. Remove the bottom old metal "shoe".

12. Put new bottom metal "shoe" in place of old.

13. Place towel or tray under rotor to catch excess brake cleaner. Spray brake cleaner on rotor, brake pad holder,...

rest of rotor, ...

and caliper.

See clean rotor and caliper below.

14. This is the old brake pad.

This is the new brake pad.

15. Lubricate new brake pads under metal plate with lubricant that came with brake pads.

Spread lubricant.

Place metal plates back on each brake pad.

16. We got the brake pads below for $49 plus shipping.

Akebono ACT691 Front Ceramic Pads

17. Place one brake pad on rotor.

18. Place second brake pad on rotor.

19. Next work with the caliper to retract the two steel pistons.

Steel part of pistons needs to be pushed back so that it is flush with the inside face of the cast iron part of the caliper.

20. To push the pistons back, the brake fluid needs to be released. On the caliper, take the rubber cap off of the brake fluid spout.

Slide a plastic tube over the spout with the other end in an empty container. Use a wrench to release the brake fluid by loosening the nut near the brake fluid spout a quarter turn.

21. Open the hood of the car and take off the brake fluid cap. Place a towel over the painted part of your car to avoid damage by brake fluid. Prepare a container for brake fluid.

Use something like this to suck out some brake fluid from the top to avoid overflow of brake fluid when the pistons are compressed.

22. Back down by the caliper, place one of the old brake pads against the two steel pistons. Use a large adjustable wrench or anything that can pry the caliper open to press back the pistons.

The steel pistons need to be pushed back flush with the caliper so that it will fit over the brake pads.

23. Place the two bent metal wires back in the holes on the brake pads pointing toward each other.

24. Slide caliper over brake pads with pistons against the brake pad on the inside.

25. Bolt the caliper back in place by screwing in the two bolts on the inside (top and botom).

New brake pad installed.

26. Refill brake fluid to top. Do not get brake fluid anywhere on paint.

27. With one person near the caliper, one person depresses the brake pedal, brake fluid flows out at the caliper and brake fluid gets sucked down through the system from the tank. With the pedal, tighten the bleed screw. Bleed the brakes until the the fluid coming out is clean. Be sure to leave enough fluid for the other side and do NOT suck in any air.

28. Make sure the bleed screw is tightened all the way.

29. Take the plastic tubing off the brake fluid spout and place the black rubber cap back on the spout.

30. Put tire back on and repeat steps for left front tire.

how to get a china visa in los angeles

Daniel and I are going to our friend's wedding in Shanghai in a month and we had to get visas to go to China. This was the process we used for getting a visa to China in Southern California. There are other options, but here was the one we chose.

1. Go online to the Chinese Consulate's website to download the application form (2 pages). http://losangeles.china-consulate.org/eng/visa/forms/t27609.htm

2. Print out one form for each traveler, fill out form and attach color passport style photo. Print out airline travel and hotel (if applicable) reservations. Each traveler must go to the office in person or designate someone to go in his/her place.

3. Bring application form and passport for each traveler to the visa and passport office M-F between the hours of 9:00am - 3:00pm. The address of the the visa and passport office:

500 Shatto Place, 3rd floor, Los Angeles, California 90020

I live in Orange County so it took me an hour to get to the office. I parked on the north side of 4th Street in front of the Shatto Recreation Center so that I did not have to worry about feeding the meter or a two hour time limit. Walk one block to 500 Shatto Place.

4. Take the elevator to the third floor and walk straight ahead into the office and take a number starting with the letter "A" from the machine to the right of the doors inside the waiting area. They will call out your number. I got there around 11:00am on a Friday and my number was called at 1:00pm.

5. Hand the person behind the counter the passports, application forms, travel and accommodation reservations. We opted for the regular pick up to save money. The 2-3 day rush pick-up is an additional $20 per visa. The same day rush pick-up is an additional $30 per visa. See the latest fees here:

http://losangeles.china-consulate.org/eng/visa/chinavisa/t27605.htm

6. The person behind the counter said that the visas would be ready for pick-up the following Wednesday and handed me a pink receipt.

7. The following Friday, I arrived at the office at 9:00am and went directly to the pick-up window line. No number is needed. I got to the window by 9:45am, gave the attendant the pink receipt, paid $260 ($130 per visa) by credit card and the passports with the visas were returned to me.