2015-2022 Nissan Murano Brake Caliper Problems and Replacement

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

Most caliper trouble on a 2015-2022 Nissan Murano is not a broken caliper at all - it is a seized slide pin or a sticking piston that makes one corner drag, run hot and eat its pads. If one wheel smells hot, the SUV pulls under braking, or one pad is worn far thinner than its partner, the caliper on that corner needs attention, and the fix is either a slide-pin service or a replacement caliper plus new pads.

How the Murano's Brake System Is Laid Out

The third-generation Murano uses disc brakes at all four corners. Nissan's owner's manual for this generation states that the front and rear disc-type brakes self-adjust every time the brake pedal is applied, so there is no manual adjustment to perform after a pad job. Each caliper floats on slide pins mounted in a bracket; when you press the pedal, hydraulic pressure pushes the piston out, and the caliper body slides on its pins to clamp the pad on the other side of the rotor.

The parking brake is applied with a foot pedal, not an electronic switch. The manual's release procedure is to firmly apply the foot brake, shift into Park, and firmly depress the parking brake pedal again to release it. That matters at the rear: there is no electronic parking brake motor on the rear caliper, so you do not need a scan tool to put the rear brakes into a service mode before a caliper or pad job.

For fluid, Nissan's recommended fluids table calls for Genuine NISSAN Super Heavy Duty Brake Fluid or an equivalent DOT 3. Moisture in old fluid is one of the main reasons caliper pistons corrode and stick, so fluid condition and caliper health are directly linked on this vehicle.

Symptoms of a Sticking or Failing Caliper

A caliper that will not release, or will not apply evenly, leaves a clear trail. Look for these signs:

• Pull under braking. One side grabs harder or releases slower than the other, so the Murano tugs left or right when you stop.
• Hot wheel or burning smell. After a normal drive, one wheel is far hotter than the others, sometimes with an acrid smell or light smoke.
• Uneven pad wear. The inner pad is much thinner than the outer (a stuck piston or pins), or one corner is worn out while the other side is fine.
• Sluggish coasting and lower fuel economy. A dragging brake acts like a light constant stop, so the SUV feels like it is fighting you.
• Fluid on the inside of the wheel. A wet caliper, dampness around the piston boot or bleeder, or a dropping reservoir level points to a leaking seal.
• Soft or low pedal. Combined with a falling fluid level, this means stop driving until the leak is found.

Do not confuse caliper noise with wear-indicator noise. Nissan fits audible wear indicators to the Murano's pads: when a pad needs replacing you hear a high-pitched scraping or screeching sound while driving, whether or not the pedal is pressed. That is a pad-life warning, not a caliper failure, although a dragging caliper will get you there much sooner.

What Causes Murano Calipers to Stick

Haynes notes that a vehicle left sitting for months commonly seizes its brakes, and that on single-piston floating calipers the slide pins themselves often seize. Road salt accelerates both problems, which is why Muranos in the Snow Belt tend to need caliper work sooner.

How to Diagnose Which Corner Is the Problem

1. Heat check. After a short drive with light braking, carefully hold your hand near each wheel (do not touch the rotor). The one radiating much more heat is the suspect.
2. Spin test. With the vehicle safely on stands, spin each raised wheel by hand. A healthy corner turns with light pad contact; a stuck one barely moves.
3. Pad comparison. Pull the wheel and compare inner and outer pad thickness. A big difference points to pins or piston.
4. Pin check. Remove the caliper bolts and see whether the caliper slides freely by hand. Pull the pins: rust, dried grease or a torn boot confirms the cause.
5. Piston check. With the caliper off, see whether the piston retracts smoothly with a caliper tool. If it will not move, or the boot is torn and the piston is pitted, replace the caliper.

One separate warning for 2015-2018 models: NHTSA campaign 19V-807 (which followed 18V-601) covers the ABS actuator, not the calipers. The actuator pump can allow brake fluid to leak onto an internal circuit board, creating a fire risk. If the ABS warning light stays on for more than 10 seconds after start-up, the recall notice advises parking outdoors away from structures and not driving the vehicle. The remedy is a free ABS actuator replacement at a Nissan dealer, so check the VIN at nhtsa.gov before chasing a brake fault that belongs to the recall.

The Fix: Service or Replace the Caliper

If the pins were the problem and the piston moves freely with an intact boot, a thorough pin service is enough: clean the pins and bracket bores, replace the boots, lubricate with a high-temperature brake grease meant for rubber parts, and fit new pad hardware. If the piston is seized, the bore is corroded, or the seal is leaking, replace the caliper. Haynes ranks a new caliper as the most reliable long-term repair, a rebuild as the budget option, and simply freeing a stuck piston as a temporary measure that often seizes again.

Replacement calipers come loaded (with pads and hardware) or unloaded (caliper only), and with or without a bracket. Replace calipers in pairs on the same axle when the other side is also old or corroded, so both sides apply and release at the same rate. Browse replacement brake calipers and, for the remanufactured option, the Cardone caliper line.

What to Replace at the Same Time

• Pads on both sides of the axle. A dragging caliper usually cooks its pads; always replace pads as an axle set. Rear-axle owners can start with our Bosch rear ceramic pads for the 2015-2022 Murano, or browse all ceramic brake pads.
• Rotors if they are overheated or below minimum. Blue spots, heavy scoring, or thickness under the minimum stamped on the rotor means new brake rotors.
• Pad hardware and pin boots. A fresh brake hardware kit keeps new pads sliding freely.
• The flexible brake hose if it is cracked, swollen, or the caliper stays applied after the pedal is released. See brake hoses.
• Brake fluid. Opening the system is the right time to flush. Nissan's maintenance schedule for the Murano calls for replacing brake fluid every 20,000 miles or 24 months under normal conditions, and the owner's manual lists every 10,000 miles or 12 months under severe conditions such as towing or salted roads.

How Hard Is the Job?

A caliper swap on a Murano is a moderate DIY job for someone who has done pads before. The mechanical part is straightforward: disconnect the brake hose, unbolt the caliper, fit the pads and the new caliper, and reconnect the hose with new sealing washers where used. The critical part is bleeding. Any time the hydraulic system is opened, the air must be bled out until the pedal is firm and high, following the bleeding sequence in the factory service manual. Torque the caliper bolts, bracket bolts and hose fitting to the values in the factory service manual - do not guess.

After the job, bed in the new pads with a series of moderate stops, then recheck that the fluid level sits between the MAX and MIN lines and confirm the brake warning light is off. If the pedal is soft or the vehicle still pulls, there is air in the system or another corner is sticking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Murano smell hot from one wheel?

A caliper that is not releasing keeps the pad pressed on the rotor, which builds heat on that one corner. Seized slide pins or a stuck piston are the usual causes. Inspect it before the pad and rotor are ruined.

Should I replace both calipers on an axle?

It is not mandatory, but on an older, corroded Murano it is smart. Two calipers of similar condition apply and release evenly, which prevents pull and uneven pad wear.

Do I need a scan tool to do the rear calipers?

No. The 2015-2022 Murano uses a foot-pedal parking brake rather than an electronic parking brake, so there is no rear caliper motor to retract. Release the parking brake before working on the rear.

What brake fluid does the Murano use?

Nissan specifies Genuine NISSAN Super Heavy Duty Brake Fluid or an equivalent DOT 3. Use fresh fluid from a sealed container when you bleed a new caliper.

Is my ABS light related to the calipers?

Usually not. On 2015-2018 models, check NHTSA recall 19V-807 first; it covers ABS actuators that can leak brake fluid internally. If the ABS light stays on more than 10 seconds after start-up, follow the recall advice and do not drive it.

Sources

1. Nissan USA - 2017 Murano Owner's Manual - self-adjusting front and rear disc brakes, foot-pedal parking brake procedure, audible pad wear indicators, DOT 3 fluid spec, severe-service intervals
2. Nissan USA - Murano brake fluid maintenance schedule - brake fluid replacement intervals
3. NHTSA - Recall 19V-807 acknowledgment - 2015-2018 Murano ABS actuator brake fluid leak, 10-second ABS light warning, remedy
4. Haynes - How to diagnose and fix a seized brake caliper - seized caliper symptoms, causes and repair options