How to Replace Front Brake Pads on a 1998 Ford Ranger 4 Wheel Drive
The 1998 Ford Ranger's four-wheel drive front brake pads take the most abuse out of any brake component system on this small pickup. When you hit the brakes, the front calipers compress the pads against the brake rotors, forcing the truck to stop. A side effect of this process is a loss of friction material from the face of the brake pads. Eventually, the pads wear so thin they can damage the brake rotors if you don't replace them. Anyone with a modicum of auto repair experience can replace the front brake pads on a Ford Ranger four-wheel drive in about two hours.
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Things You'll Need
- Lug wrench
- Wheel chocks
- Floor jack
- Jack stands (2)
- Drip pan
- Brake cleaner
- Socket set
- White lithium grease
- Caliper piston tool
- Torque wrench
Instructions
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1
Loosen the Ranger's front lug nuts with a lug wrench. Chock the right rear wheel to prevent the truck from rolling.
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2
Lift the Ranger's front end with a floor jack and support it on two jack stands. Remove the Ranger's front lug nuts and wheels by hand to access the front disc brakes.
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3
Push a drip pan under the Ranger's right front brake assembly. Wash away the brake dust from the rotor and caliper with brake cleaner.
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4
Detach the Ranger's right front caliper bolts with a socket set. Lift the caliper out of the caliper bracket by hand.
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5
Remove and discard the old brake pads. Clean the caliper's interior with brake cleaner.
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6
Lube the Ranger's right front caliper slides with white lithium grease. Force the pistons to retract with the caliper tool. Insert the new brake pads by hand.
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7
Set the caliper back into the bracket manually. Bolt it in place with the socket set.
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8
Move to the Ranger's left front and repeat Steps 3 through 7. Remount the Ranger's front wheels and lug nuts by hand.
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9
Lower the Ranger off the jack stands with the floor jack. Tighten the lug nuts to 100 foot-pounds with a torque wrench. Move the wheel chocks away from the Ranger's back tire before driving.
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