2011-2017 Nissan Juke Front vs Rear Brakes: What Wears First and What to Replace

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

On a 2011-2017 Nissan Juke the front brakes almost always wear out first. The Juke is a front-engine crossover, and every stop pushes weight forward onto the front axle, so the vented front rotors and their pads do most of the work. The rear pads last longer, but the rear rotors are thin solid discs on most trims, so they deserve a close look every time the fronts are replaced.

How the Juke brake system is laid out

Every US Juke from this generation uses disc brakes at all four wheels, with a hand-lever parking brake between the seats (pull up to apply, press the button to release, per the owner's manual). What changes is the size and type of the rotors, and that depends on trim. Nissan's own specification sheets list the following:

Two takeaways matter when you order parts. First, the NISMO RS uses a larger front rotor and a vented rear rotor, so standard Juke rotors and pads do not fit it. Second, the S, SV, SL and regular NISMO share the same basic layout: a thick vented rotor up front and a thin solid rotor in the rear. All trims carry four-wheel, four-channel ABS with Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist. EBD is the system that meters how much pressure goes to the rear wheels, and it is a big part of why the rear pads outlast the fronts.

The hydraulic system is split diagonally. Nissan's safety recall report describes it as a split circuit diagonal system: one circuit feeds one front wheel and the opposite rear wheel, and the other circuit feeds the remaining pair. If one circuit fails, the other still stops the car, but with a longer stopping distance and the brake warning light on.

What wears first, and why

Front pads and rotors wear faster for three reasons:

• Weight transfer. The engine and transaxle sit over the front wheels, and braking shifts even more load forward. The front brakes handle the larger share of every stop.
• Bigger hardware for a bigger job. The front rotors are vented and roughly three times as thick as the standard rear rotors because they must absorb and shed more heat.
• EBD limits rear pressure. The system deliberately holds back rear braking to keep the rear wheels from locking, which slows rear pad wear.

That does not mean the rears can be ignored. A standard Juke rear rotor is only about a third of an inch thick when new, so there is little material to lose before it reaches the minimum thickness stamped on the rotor. Rear rotors on crossovers also tend to rust on the braking surface when the car sits, because the rear pads do not scrub them as hard as the fronts. Surface rust, a lip on the outer edge and grooves are common reasons the rear rotors end up replaced alongside the rear pads.

Symptoms and how to tell front from rear

• High-pitched scraping while driving. Nissan fits the disc pads with audible wear warnings. The owner's manual says the scraping first happens only when you press the brake pedal, then with more wear it is heard all the time. Find which corner it is coming from before you order parts.
• Steering wheel shake when braking. This usually points to the front rotors, because the front wheels are connected to the steering.
• Pedal pulsation with a steady steering wheel. This can be the rear rotors. Note that a light pulsation and clicking during a slow, firm push can also be normal Brake Assist operation, which the owner's manual describes.
• Grinding or metal-on-metal. The pad backing plate is touching the rotor. Stop driving on it; the rotor is being damaged with every stop.
• Brake warning light on with the parking brake released. The owner's manual says this light also warns of low brake fluid. Check the reservoir level before anything else.

The quickest check is visual. With the wheels off, look at pad thickness through the caliper window at all four corners, measure rotor thickness with a micrometer and compare it to the minimum stamped on the rotor, and look for a raised lip at the rotor's outer edge.

The fix: which parts to buy

For most Juke owners the job looks like this:

1. Front pads and rotors together. New rotors give the new pads a flat, clean surface to bed into, and they restore the full thickness the front brakes need to handle heat. Shop replacement brake rotors and ceramic brake pads, which are quiet and low dust for daily driving.
2. Rear pads, and rear rotors if they are near minimum or rusted. Because the standard rear rotor starts thin, many owners replace them at the second front brake job or sooner.
3. Both axles at once if the car is due all around. Our 2011-2017 Nissan Juke front and rear brake kit covers rotors and pads for both ends in one order. Confirm your trim first: NISMO RS parts are different.

Always replace pads in axle sets (both front wheels, or both rear wheels) so the car brakes evenly side to side.

What to replace or check at the same time

• Pad hardware. Abutment clips and anti-rattle springs lose tension and cause noise. A brake hardware kit is inexpensive insurance.
• Caliper slide pins. Clean and lubricate them with the correct brake grease. A sticking pin wears one pad much faster than the other.
• Brake fluid. The owner's manual calls for Genuine NISSAN Super Heavy Duty Brake Fluid or an equivalent DOT 3 fluid, filled between the MIN and MAX lines. If you have to top it up often, find the leak.
• Calipers and hoses. Look for leaking piston seals and cracked or swollen hoses. Replacement brake calipers are the fix for a seized or leaking unit.
• Parking brake. After rear brake work, confirm the hand lever holds the car and releases fully, and adjust it as the factory service manual describes.

A recall NISMO RS owners should know about

Nissan filed safety recall 18V-086 for 2015-2017 Juke NISMO RS models built between July 6, 2015 and January 30, 2017. The recall report says the cup seal inside the brake master cylinder can twist and fail to seat, letting brake fluid leak into the brake booster. The brake warning light comes on and stopping distance increases. The remedy was a free master cylinder replacement at a Nissan dealer. If you own an RS, check your VIN on the NHTSA recall site before paying for any master cylinder work.

How hard is the job?

A pad and rotor swap on a Juke is a reasonable driveway job for someone with a floor jack, jack stands, a torque wrench and basic hand tools. Front brakes are the more straightforward end. Rear brakes take a little more care because the rear caliper piston must be retracted correctly and the parking brake must work properly afterward. Torque the caliper bolts and lug nuts to the values in the factory service manual, pump the pedal until it is firm before moving the car, and bed in the new pads with a series of moderate stops. If the pedal feels soft or sinks after the job, air got into the system and it needs bleeding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the 2011-2017 Nissan Juke have rear disc brakes or drums?

Rear disc brakes. Nissan's spec sheets list a solid rear disc on the S, SV, SL and NISMO, and a vented rear disc on the NISMO RS.

Do the rear brakes wear faster than the fronts on a Juke?

Normally no. The front brakes do most of the stopping and wear first. If your rear pads are wearing faster than the fronts, suspect a sticking rear caliper, a dragging parking brake or seized slide pins.

Will standard Juke rotors fit a NISMO RS?

No. The NISMO RS uses a 12.6-inch front rotor and a vented rear rotor, while the other trims use an 11.7-inch front rotor and a solid rear. Order parts for your exact trim.

What brake fluid does the Juke use?

The owner's manual specifies Genuine NISSAN Super Heavy Duty Brake Fluid or an equivalent DOT 3 fluid.

Should I replace front and rear brakes at the same time?

Only if both ends need it. Measure pads and rotors at all four corners. Many owners find the fronts are due first and the rears come due at a later front job, which is when a front and rear kit makes sense.

Sources

1. Nissan USA Newsroom - 2015 Nissan JUKE Press Kit - S/SV/SL front vented 11.7 x 1.02 in. and rear solid 11.5 x 0.35 in. rotors, ABS/EBD/Brake Assist
2. Nissan USA Newsroom - 2017 JUKE NISMO and NISMO RS Press Kit - NISMO and NISMO RS rotor sizes and types
3. Nissan USA - 2015 JUKE Owner's Manual - audible pad wear warning, DOT 3 fluid, brake warning light, hand-lever parking brake, Brake Assist behavior
4. NHTSA - Part 573 Safety Recall Report 18V-086 - NISMO RS master cylinder recall, build dates, diagonal split brake circuit