Nissan Almera Classic (also known as Samsung SM3 in some countries) is one of the most popular B-class sedans on the secondary market. Despite its simple design, the rear brake system of this car requires regular attention, especially after 100-150 thousand km. Depending on the year of manufacture and configuration, rear brakes can be drum or disc, which affects the approach to their maintenance.

In this article we will analyze rear brake device, typical malfunctions (from creaking to complete failure), criteria for selecting spare parts and step-by-step instructions for replacing pads, drums, brake cylinders and calipers. We will pay special attention unique problem Almera Classic — premature wear of the rear caliper guides due to a design defect in the anthers, which often goes unnoticed until it breaks.

Rear brake device Nissan Almera Classic: drum vs disk

Rear brakes Almera Classic (2006–2013) are presented in two versions:

  • 🔧 Drum brakes — installed on basic configurations with engines 1.4 (K4M) And 1.6 (K4M) until 2010. A simple and reliable system, but requiring regular adjustment of the gap between the pads and the drum.
  • 💿 Disc brakes — appeared in top versions after 2010 (including with ABS). More efficient, but wear-sensitive caliper guides and boots.

Key elements of the drum system:

  • 🛠️ Brake drum — cast iron, with a diameter of 200–220 mm (depending on the year). Minimum permissible diameter after grooving - 201.5 mm.
  • 🔩 Pads — a set of 4 pieces (2 per wheel), with a friction layer 5–6 mm thick. Critical wear - less 1.5 mm.
  • 💧 Working cylinder - single-piston, prone to souring with rare brake fluid changes.
  • 🔄 Automatic gap adjustment mechanism - often fails due to corrosion.

Disc brakes include:

  • 📀 Brake disc - ventilated, new thickness - 10–12 mm, minimum - 8.4 mm.
  • 🔧 Caliper — floating, with one guide. This is where the main problem lies: the guide boots break after 50–60 thousand km, leading to corrosion and jamming.
  • 🛑 Pads — with a wear sensor (in some trim levels). Average resource - 40–60 thousand km.
📊 What kind of rear brakes does your Almera Classic have?
  • Drums
  • Disk
  • I don't know
  • Another option

Signs of Trouble: When to Check Your Rear Brakes

Rear brakes Almera Classic rarely fail suddenly - they are usually preceded by characteristic symptoms, which are easy to miss in the early stages. Here are the key signals:

  • 🚨 Creaking or squealing when braking - indicates pad wear (for disc brakes) or sand getting between the drum and the pad. Please note: If the creaking appears only when moving backwards, the problem is in the drum mechanism.
  • 🔥 Overheating of the rear wheels — after a long ride the wheel is hot to the touch. Reason: jammed caliper (for discs) or working cylinder (for drums).
  • 🛑 Pulling the car to the side when braking - often associated with uneven wear of the pads or deformation of the brake drum/disc.
  • 💧 Brake fluid leaks on the inside of the wheel - a sign of damage to the working cylinder cuff or brake hose.
  • 🔊 Knocking or clicking noises on the side of the rear wheels - may indicate wear on the caliper guides or weakening of the drum pad springs.
⚠️ Attention: If after replacing the brake pads or drums the brake pedal becomes “soft” and falls out, Immediately check the brake system for leaks. B Almera Classic Air leaks through a cracked rear circuit hose are often encountered.

To diagnose drum brakes, simply remove the wheel and look through the inspection window in the shield (if there is one). For disc ones, you will need to remove the wheel and visually assess the condition of the pads and disc. Disc thickness can be measured with a caliper at 3-4 points around the circumference - the difference is more 0.015 mm speaks of deformation.

Selection of spare parts: original vs analogues

When replacing rear brake components Nissan Almera Classic owners are faced with a choice: to buy original spare parts or high-quality analogues. Let's look at the pros and cons of each option, and also list trusted manufacturers.

Component Original art. Analogs (recommended) Average price, ₽
Drum pads 40500-4M000 TRW GDB1446, ATE 03.0137-3720.2, Ferodo FSB625 1 200–2 500
Brake drum 40520-4M000 Brembo 09.6466.10, Bosch 0 986 494 627 3 500–5 000
Disc pads 40500-4M200 Textar 2363501, Jurid 571073J, Akebono ACT907A 1 800–3 200
Brake disc 40520-4M200 Zimmermann 120.3064.20, ATE 24.0120-0159.1 4 000–6 500
Working cylinder 40510-4M000 TRW PCB104, Febi 06850 1 500–2 800

When choosing analogues, pay attention to:

  • 🔍 Certification - look for markings ECE R90 (for pads) or ISO 9001 (for discs/drums).
  • 📦 Complete set — the set of pads must contain all the necessary springs, clamps and lubricant (for example, for drum pads Almera Classic Often there is no tension spring, which has to be purchased separately).
  • 🛡️ Guarantee — reliable manufacturers (TRW, Brembo, ATE) provide a warranty of 1 year or 20 thousand km.
⚠️ Attention: When purchasing brake discs for Almera Classic with ABS, check availability magnetic ring (if it was on old disks). Its absence will lead to an ABS error!
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Before purchasing pads, measure the thickness of the old ones with a caliper. If the remaining friction layer is less than 2 mm, and the mileage since the last replacement was less than 30 thousand km, there is a problem with the quality of the previous pads or driving style. In this case, you should choose a “softer” composition (for example, Ferodo Premier).

Replacing rear drum pads: step-by-step instructions

Replacing pads in drum brakes Nissan Almera Classic takes about 1–1.5 hours for both wheels. The main difficulty is to correctly adjust the gap after installing new pads. Tools needed:

  • 🔧 Set of sockets and keys (10, 12, 14).
  • 🔨 Hammer and wooden block (for removing the drum).
  • 🔩 Pliers and a flat blade screwdriver.
  • 🧴 Lubricant for brake mechanisms (for example, Molykote G-3407).

Step by step process:

  1. Removing the Wheel and Drum:

    Jack up the car and remove the wheel. Unscrew the drum guide pins (if equipped) and carefully hammer the drum through the wooden spacer. If the drum does not come off — loosen the adjusting bolt through the hole in the shield.

  2. Removing old pads:

    Remove the return springs with pliers, then the lower and upper return springs. Disconnect the handbrake cable from the shoe lever. Remove the pads and inspect the slave cylinder for leaks.

  3. Installing new pads:

    Apply a thin layer of lubricant to the contact points between the pads and the support shield. Install the pads, connect them with springs and connect the handbrake cable. Don't forget to move the adjustment lever from old pads!

  4. Gap adjustment:

    Install the drum and tighten the studs. Through the adjustment hole in the shield, rotate the sprocket of the adjustment mechanism until the drum stops turning by hand. Then screw it back 5-7 clicks.

Check the integrity of the working cylinder boot|Lubricate the axes of the pads and the contact points with the shield|Make sure that the handbrake cable is not twisted|Adjust the gap after installing the drum-->

After replacing the pads be sure to bleed the brakes, even if the hydraulic circuit has not been opened. To do this:

  1. Start the engine and press the brake pedal all the way 3-4 times.
  2. Keep the pedal depressed and open the bleeder valve on the slave cylinder.
  3. Close the fitting and release the pedal. Repeat 3-4 times until the air disappears.

Rear disc brake repair: caliper, pads, disc

Disc brakes Almera Classic more efficient, but also more capricious in maintenance. Main problems:

  • 🔧 Caliper jamming due to corrosion of guides (especially important for cars older than 2010).
  • 💥 Uneven disc wear - often associated with deformation or overheating.
  • 🔊 Pads creaking - may be caused by the absence of anti-squeak plates or poor quality lubrication.

Replacing pads and caliper maintenance:

  1. Removing the caliper:

    Unscrew the two bolts securing the caliper (head 14), hang it on a wire so as not to damage the hose. Do not disconnect the hose unless absolutely necessary - this will lead to air entering the system.

  2. Replacing pads:

    Remove the old pads and clean the guides of old grease. Install new pads with anti-squeak plates (if they are included). Lubricate the caliper guides special lubricant (for example, Slipkote 220-R DBC).

  3. Checking the caliper:

    Make sure the caliper piston moves freely. If it turns sour, use it. WD-40 and a wooden block for careful pressing. If corrosion is severe, the caliper must be replaced.

Replacing the brake disc:

If the disc has deep grooves (more than 0.5 mm) or its thickness is less 8.4 mm, replacement is required. Procedure:

  1. Remove the caliper and hang it (do not disconnect the hose!).
  2. Unscrew the two bolts securing the caliper bracket (head 17).
  3. Remove the disc. If it is “stuck” to the hub, use a puller or carefully knock it with a hammer through a wooden spacer.
  4. Install the new disk, tighten the bracket bolts to torque 80–100 Nm.
⚠️ Attention: After replacing discs and pads Avoid sudden braking for the first 200 km — the new pads should get used to it. Also, do not forget to check the brake fluid level in the reservoir - it may rise after the caliper piston is pressed in.
What to do if after replacing the pads the car brakes jerkily?

If, after replacing pads or discs, vibrations appear when braking, the reason may be:

1. Uneven tightening of caliper bracket bolts — check the torque (should be the same for all bolts).

2. Deformed disk - even a new disk may have a manufacturing defect. Check the runout with an indicator (tolerance - no more than 0.05 mm).

3. Disc surface contamination — before installation, wipe the disc with alcohol or a special cleaner.

4. Improper pad grinding — perform several smooth braking from a speed of 60–80 km/h to 20 km/h, avoiding a complete stop.

Adjusting the hand brake

Unadjusted handbrake Nissan Almera Classic may cause uneven wear on rear pads or, conversely, their insufficient fit. Check the adjustment every 20 thousand km or after replacing brake components.

Signs of malfunction:

  • 🚗 The car rolls on a slope with the handbrake lever raised (norm: holding on a slope of 25% with 3-4 clicks of the lever).
  • 🔧 The handbrake lever rises too easily or, on the contrary, requires a lot of effort.
  • 🔥 The rear wheels get warm after a trip with the handbrake on.

Adjustment (for drum brakes):

  1. Raise the handbrake lever 1–2 clicks.
  2. Loosen the locknut on the adjuster (located under the car, next to the handbrake lever).
  3. Tighten the adjusting nut until the rear wheels lock.
  4. Release the handbrake lever and check whether the wheels rotate freely. If necessary, loosen the nut 1/4 turn.
  5. Tighten the locknut and check the operation of the handbrake on a slope.

For disc brakes, no adjustment is required - the gap is set automatically. If the handbrake does not hold, the reason may be:

  • 🔧 Pad wear (less than 2 mm).
  • 💧 Oiling discs or pads.
  • 🔩 Stretched parking brake cable (needs replacement).
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After adjusting the handbrake, be sure to check the free play of the brake pedal. If the pedal becomes tight, loosen the cable tension, as this can lead to the wheels braking while driving.

Typical mistakes when repairing rear brakes

Even experienced car owners make mistakes when servicing rear brakes. Nissan Almera Classic. Here are the most common ones and how to avoid them:

  • 🔧 Ignoring the state of the working cylinder:

    When replacing pads, many people do not check the slave cylinder for leaks. Consequences: brake fluid gets on the pads, reducing their effectiveness, and the cylinder may jam in the next 5-10 thousand km.

  • 🛠️ Incorrect lubrication of caliper guides:

    The use of conventional lithol or graphite leads to swelling of the anthers and corrosion. Solution: Use only specialized lubricants (for example, Slipkote 220-R).

  • 🔩 Retightening the caliper bolts:

    Excessive tightening torque (more than 30 Nm) deforms the bracket, which leads to uneven wear of the pads. Use a torque wrench!

  • 🚗 Forgetting to bleed the brakes after replacing the cylinder:

    Even if the hydraulic circuit was not opened, air could enter through worn cuffs. Always bleed your brakes after working on the rear axle.

  • 🔧 Installing pads without anti-squeak plates:

    This leads to squealing and accelerated wear. Sets of cheap pads often do not have plates - buy them separately.

Another common problem is incompatibility of spare parts. For example, when replacing drums with Almera Classic 2008, some owners install drums from Renault Logan (they are similar in appearance, but have a different hole diameter for the hub). Always check the article numbers!

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about rear brakes Nissan Almera Classic

Is it possible to install disc brakes instead of drum brakes?

Technically possible, but it will require replacing the entire rear hub assembly with caliper, as well as modifying the brake lines and installing ABS (if it didn’t exist). The cost of rework often exceeds 50–70 thousand rubles, which is impractical for a budget car. It's best to keep your drum brakes in good condition.

How often should you change brake fluid? Almera Classic?

The manufacturer recommends replacement every 40 thousand km or 2 years, but for Russian conditions (humid climate, salt on the roads) it is better to reduce the interval to 30 thousand km. Brake fluid is hygroscopic - it absorbs moisture, which lowers the boiling point and leads to corrosion of the cylinders.

Why does my car brake worse after replacing the pads?

Possible reasons:

  1. The pads are not worn in (you need to drive 200–300 km).
  2. Contact of grease or dirt on the working surface of the pads/disc.
  3. Incorrect adjustment of the handbrake (brakes the wheels).
  4. Worn brake hoses (they “swell” when you press the pedal).

Check out each of these areas.

What kind of brake fluid to pour into Almera Classic?

Manufacturer recommends DOT-4. Suitable options:

  • Original Nissan Brake Fluid DOT-4 (art. KE900-99932).
  • Analogues: ATE SL.6, Castrol React DOT4, Liqui Moly Bremsenflussigkeit DOT4.
Do not mix liquids from different manufacturers - this can lead to foaming and brake failure.

How long do rear brake pads last? Almera Classic?

Service life depends on driving style and operating conditions:

  • Drum pads: 60–100 thousand km (wear out slower than disc ones).
  • Disc pads: 30–50 thousand km (in the city wear is faster due to frequent braking).
Signs of wear: creaking, increased pedal travel, vibration when braking.