DIY: Infiniti QX4 (01-03) Caliper Slide Pins & Bolts

How to change the caliper sliding pins, bolts, and dust boots on an Infiniti QX4 (01-03). This DIY may apply to the R50 Nissan Pathfinder.

Tools Needed:

• 14mm Socket TEKTON 3/8-Inch Drive Torque Wrench, 10-80 Feet Pound
  
• Torque Wrench (up to 32ft-lbs)
• Screwdriver
• Penetrating oil (if caliper bolts are seized)  Blaster 16-PB Penetrating Catalyst - 11 oz. 
• Jack. I prefer 3 Ton Ultra Low Profile Steel Floor Jack with Rapid Pump Quick Lift 
• Jack Stands.  Torin 3 Ton Jack Stands (Sold in Pairs) 

Parts Needed: 

• Dust boots. Carlson Pin Boot Kit 
• 2x Caliper slide pins and bolts. ACDelco Durastop Front Disc Brake Caliper Bolt 
• Brake Grease. CRC Silaramic Brake System Grease - 5 oz. 

Removal Steps:

• Loosen six 21mm lug nuts and place wheel chocks behind rear tires with Camco Wheel Chock - Pack of 2 or something to prevent vehicle from moving backwards
• Jack QX4 and place jack stands underneath car. Look at the owner's manual for jack points. Relieve jack pressure so the car is resting on the stands.
• Remove wheel and locate top and bottom caliper bolts circled below.

• Use 14mm socket and ratchet to remove old caliper bolts. Use penetrating oil on the bolts if seized.
• Remove brake piston and support with bungee cord or place something underneath. Supporting the piston is important because the brake lines will be damaged if left hanging. I rested the brake pistons on a plastic container.   

• Pull caliper slide pins out. Moderate force may be necessary to remove pins. Gently tap with hammer and chisel if you cannot pull them out by hand. Old and rusted pins pictured below. 

• Remove old dust boots from caliper carrier.

Installation Steps: 

•  Grease new slide pins with CRC Silaramic Brake System Grease - 5 oz. 

• Place new dust boots over slide pins and install them in the caliper carrier.
• Reinstall brake piston and align holes over slide pins. You may need a C-Clamp to close the piston if brake pads were changed or if there is difficulty getting the piston over the brake pads.
• Install caliper bolts The ACDelco Professional Front Brake Caliper Bolts and OEM are 14mm. I believe the torque values are 32 ft-lbs.The picture below is from a Nissan service manual. 

 

• Reinstall wheel and safely remove jack stands, jack, and other equipment. 

Notes: 
Removal and installation is straightforward and simple, however this job can be very difficult if caliper bolt and pin are seized. There are Youtube tutorials available if the bolt and pin are seized.

Remember to use silicone grease on the slide pins.

Take all the necessary safety precautions and if you feel unsafe bring your car to the dealership or independent mechanic.

How to Change Engine Oil on a 2015 Subaru Forester

Replacing engine oil and filter on a 2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i and 2.0 turbo. Applies to most Subaru Foresters with similar engines.

Tools:

• 17 mm socket and ratchet.
• Extensions and a breaker bar may be useful.
• Oil Drain Pan. I use Lisle Black Pan for its large capacity. 

Parts:

• Oil filter. I use Mobil 1 Performance Oil Filter. Alternatively, buy OEM for less here: Subaru 6 Pack Oil filters for 2011 and up. Legacy, Outback, Forester. Part number 15208AA15A

• Subaru oil drain plug washer/gasket. Subaru 803916010 Oil Drain Plug Washer Part number 803916010

• Synthetic motor oil 0W-20 for 2.5i and 5W-30 for 2.0i turbo.
• 0W-20 OEM here: Genuine Subaru SOA427V1315 Motor Oil 
• Castrol EDGE 0W-20 Extended Performance Synthetic Motor Oil - 1 Quart Bottle, (Pack of 6) 
• 5W-30 OEM here: Subaru SOA868V9285 Synthetic Motor Oil - 1 Gallon 
• Castrol EDGE Extended Performance 5W-30 Synthetic Motor Oil - 5 Quart 

• Subaru's owner manual says use 0W-20 for the 2.5i, however I used 5W-30 and haven't had any issues. 

• Drain Plug if necessary. 
• Fumoto F-108N Engine Oil Drain Valve for more convenient draining.

Recommended:

• Ramps, Funnel, Rags, Jack and Jack Stands.

Steps:  

• Warm up car to normal operating temperatures. 

• Optional: Jack Forester and place jack stands or drive up on ramps. RhinoRamps Vehicle Ramps (Pair, 12,000lb. GVW Capacity) 

• Open hood and remove the oil filler cap (Yellow cap below).

• Remove the oil filter (Black cylinder below) with TEKTON 12-Inch Oil Filter Pliers.

• Clean the filter housing cup so there is a clean mating surface for the new filter.

• Apply clean oil to rubber gasket on new oil filter. 

• Install new filter by hand. The owner's manual says one full rotation past hand tight. 

• Locate oil drain plug underneath car. The picture below shows the general location, plug is located in the opening below.

• Place drain pan underneath and loosen drain plug with a 17 mm socket. Careful, the oil will be hot. Let the oil drain for 15-30 minutes.

• Reinstall drain plug with new crush washer. Torque drain plug to 32 ft/lbs. 

• Pour in new engine oil. It is perfectly fine if you overfill a little bit.
• 4.8 liters/5.1 US Quarts for non turbo 2.5i engine.
• 5.1 liters/5.4 US Quarts for turbo 2.0i engine.

• Install oil filler cap, check for leaks in drain plug area.

• Drive Subaru around for a few minutes. Recheck drain plug for leaks. The oil filter housing cup may leak a little which is fine. 

Notes:
I have heard great things about Pennzoil Ultra Platinum 5W-30 Full Synthetic Motor Oil - 1 Quart, (Case of 6) so I will use that for the next oil change. So far, the Castrol EDGE 5W-30 has been doing very well.

I highly suggest WIX 57055 Oil Filter for its high bypass PSI, especially for turbo Subarus. The WIX filter is competitively priced and many enthusiasts prefer it over OEM filters.

The drain plug is at an angle and not pointed straight down. I recommend placing the pan directly where the plug is pointing.

I enjoy changing oil on the Forester because I don't have to remove any plastic panels to get to the drain plug or filter. The process is quick and straightforward.

Owners manual can be found here: 2015 Subaru Forester Manual




DIY applies to SJ Fourth Generation of Subaru Forester. 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018.

How to Change Engine Oil on a 2015 Subaru Forester

Replacing engine oil and filter on a 2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i and 2.0 turbo. Applies to most Subaru models with similar engines.

Tools:

• 17 mm socket and ratchet.
• Extensions and a breaker bar may be useful.
• Oil Drain Pan. I use Lisle Black Pan for its large capacity. 

Parts:

• Oil filter. I use Mobil 1 Performance Oil Filter. Alternatively, buy OEM for less here: Subaru 6 Pack Oil filters for 2011 and up. Legacy, Outback, Forester. Part number 15208AA15A

• Subaru oil drain plug washer/gasket. Subaru 803916010 Oil Drain Plug Washer Part number 803916010

• Synthetic motor oil 0W-20 for 2.5i and 5W-30 for 2.0i turbo.
• 0W-20 OEM here: Genuine Subaru SOA427V1315 Motor Oil 
• Castrol EDGE 0W-20 Extended Performance Synthetic Motor Oil - 1 Quart Bottle, (Pack of 6) 
• 5W-30 OEM here: Subaru SOA868V9285 Synthetic Motor Oil - 1 Gallon 
• Castrol EDGE Extended Performance 5W-30 Synthetic Motor Oil - 5 Quart 

• Subaru's owner manual says use 0W-20 for the 2.5i, however I used 5W-30 and haven't had any issues. 

• Drain Plug if necessary. 
• Fumoto F-108N Engine Oil Drain Valve for more convenient draining.

Recommended:

• Ramps, Funnel, Rags, Jack and Jack Stands.

Steps:  

• Warm up car to normal operating temperatures. 

• Optional: Jack Forester and place jack stands or drive up on ramps. RhinoRamps Vehicle Ramps (Pair, 12,000lb. GVW Capacity) 

• Open hood and remove the oil filler cap (Yellow cap below).

• Remove the oil filter (Black cylinder below) with TEKTON 12-Inch Oil Filter Pliers.

• Clean the filter housing cup so there is a clean mating surface for the new filter.

• Apply clean oil to rubber gasket on new oil filter. 

• Install new filter by hand. The owner's manual says one full rotation past hand tight. 

• Locate oil drain plug underneath car. The picture below shows the general location, plug is located in the opening below.

• Place drain pan underneath and loosen drain plug with a 17 mm socket. Careful, the oil will be hot. Let the oil drain for 15-30 minutes.

• Reinstall drain plug with new crush washer. Torque drain plug to 32 ft/lbs. 

• Pour in new engine oil. It is perfectly fine if you overfill a little bit.
• 4.8 liters/5.1 US Quarts for non turbo 2.5i engine.
• 5.1 liters/5.4 US Quarts for turbo 2.0i engine.

• Install oil filler cap, check for leaks in drain plug area.

• Drive Subaru around for a few minutes. Recheck drain plug for leaks. The oil filter housing cup may leak a little which is fine. 

Notes:
I have heard great things about Pennzoil Ultra Platinum 5W-30 Full Synthetic Motor Oil - 1 Quart, (Case of 6) so I will use that for the next oil change. So far, the Castrol EDGE 5W-30 has been doing very well.

I highly suggest WIX 57055 Oil Filter for its high bypass PSI, especially for turbo Subarus. The WIX filter is competitively priced and many enthusiasts prefer it over OEM filters.

The drain plug is at an angle and not pointed straight down. I recommend placing the pan directly where the plug is pointing.

I enjoy changing oil on the Forester because I don't have to remove any plastic panels to get to the drain plug or filter. The process is quick and straightforward.

Owners manual can be found here: 2015 Subaru Forester Manual



DIY applies to SJ Fourth Generation of Subaru Forester. 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018.