How to Change the Rear Brake Pads on a Ford F-Series

Brake pads are the replaceable friction pads that pinch the brake disc or drum when the brakes are applied. They are an important part of your Ford F-Series' braking system. You should replace the brake pads before they wear beyond a 1/4 inch, or risk damaging your F-Series' brake discs.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• C-clamp
• Piece of wood or old inner brake pad
• New brake pads
• Brake fluid
• Allen head, star head, or 6-point socket wrench
• Lug nut wrench

Remove the Old Brake Pads

1. Park your car on a level surface. If you have a stick shift car, make sure the car is in gear. Place blocks in front of the front tires so the car does not move while you are working on it.

2. Open the hood of your car. Locate the master cylinder and brake fluid container. If necessary, remove brake fluid until the level in the container is less than half full. A turkey baster is a good tool for this. Put the brake fluid in the plastic container and dispose of it the way you dispose of motor oil.

3. Raise the rear end of your F-Series with your car jack. Remove the rear tire or wheel assembly.

4. Use the socket wrench to remove the caliper bolts from the back of the caliper. Slide the caliper off of the disc brake and suspend it near the disc brake with a small bungee cord or coat hanger. Suspend the caliper housing so that you do not damage the brake hose.

5. Remove the inner and outer brake pads from the caliper.

Install the New Brake Pads

6. Place a large C-clamp over the body of the brake caliper. Place the clamp ends against the rear of the caliper body and an old inboard pad or a wood block placed against the caliper piston. Tighten the clamp until the piston is completely compressed into the caliper bore. Remove the clamp and the old pad or wood block.

7. Insert the new brake pads in the brake caliper. Attach the caliper to the disc rotor. Use the socket wrench to tighten the caliper bolts.

8. Replace the tire wheel assembly. Lower the car to the ground. Pump the brake pedal a few times to seat the brake pads.

9. Add fluid to the master cylinder container to replace any you removed before you removed the old brake pads.

10. Season the brake pads by making only gentle stops when you are driving for the first week after you install the new brake pads. Try not to do any hard stopping when you are seasoning the brakes.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have an F-250 or F-350 with a single rear wheel caliper, tighten the bolts to 26 foot pounds. (35 Nm.). If you have an F-350 with a dual rear wheel caliper, tighten the caliper bolts to 56 foot pounds (76 Nm.).
• Be careful using brake fluid. It is an eye irritant and is hazardous if swallowed. Always wash your hands thoroughly after you have been handling brake fluid. If brake fluid does get in your eyes, immediately use clear, running water to flush your eyes for 15 minutes. If your eyes are still irritated after you rinse them or if you swallow any brake fluid, get medical assistance immediately.
• Be careful when you are handling used brake parts. The dust and dirt on the brake parts may contain asbestos fibers that can be hazardous to your health if they are inhaled. When you clean brake parts, always use a damp cloth, not compressed air, wire brushes, scouring pads or anything else that could move the dust and dirt particles around. Throw away any cleaning cloths that you use and swept up dirt and dust in a sealed, impermeable container. For more information, visit the library or go on-line to view the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines and procedures for handling or throwing away anything that might contain asbestos fibers.