How to Change the Rotors on a 2002 Ford F-150
The rotors on the 2002 F-150 are part of the disk brakes. The brake and rotor assembly should be inspected and repaired according to the maintenance schedule or when the brakes are behaving irregularly. Worn brake pads, uneven wear and extreme temperature changes can lead to rotors that need to be replaced or resurfaced. To change the rotors, the first thing you have to do is remove the brake caliper and move it out of the way. You should always clean any protective oils off new rotors prior to installation.
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Things You'll Need
- Rotors
- Wire coat hanger
- Rubber mallet
- Hammer
- Brake parts cleaner
- C-clamp
Instructions
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1
Brace the F-150 with wheel chocks and engage the parking brake. Loosen the lug nuts from the wheels you will remove. Jack the truck up and support it on jack stands for security. Remove the lug nuts and the wheels. Move the wheels and nuts away from the vehicle to allow access to the rotor and caliper.
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2
Remove the upper and lower retaining bolts from the back of the caliper. Remove the bolts and swing the caliper away from the rotor. Secure the caliper to the springs or solid metal point with a wire coat hanger. Do not allow the caliper to hang from the brake line, as damage to the line can occur.
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3
Inspect the lug posts for a metal retaining clip. If found, remove and discard the clip. The clip is installed during manufacturing to keep the rotor in position prior to attachment of the wheel. The clip isn't necessary.
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4
Pull the rotor directly away from the hub. If there is any corrosion, the rotor may be stuck to the hub. If this is the case, spray penetrating lubricant, such as WD-40, in the spaces between the hub and rotor at the lug posts and hub. Wait five minutes to several hours to allow the lubricant to loosen the corrosion. You may also strike the rotor with a rubber mallet to dislodge it. If do not intend to keep the rotors for resurfacing, you can loosen them with a heavy hammer or sledge.
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5
Spray the entire brake assembly, hub and new rotor with brake parts cleaner until debris and oils are removed. Install the new rotor over the hub and lug posts.
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6
Position the caliper over the rotor. If necessary to allow clearance, press the brake pads toward the caliper body to expand the brake gap. Because the brake line is hydraulic, the brake gap will only increase very slowly if using hand pressure. Using a large C-clamp will speed the process.
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7
Slide the caliper over the rotor and replace the upper and lower caliper bolts.
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8
Inspect and clean the inside of the wheel well to ensure flush attachment to the rotor and hub. Slide the wheel onto the lug posts and hand-tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern.
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9
Lower the vehicle. Tighten all the lug nuts in a star or alternating pattern to ensure a flush connection of the wheel to the hub.
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Tips & Warnings
Be sure the inside wheel well is cleaned completely. Incorrect seating of the wheel well will result in uneven wear of the brakes, which can cause throbbing.
Rotors can be resurfaced as long as there is sufficient metal. Take the rotor to a machine shop or automotive store equipped with a metal lathe. Request the rotor be measured and resurfaced. The fee required to resurface a rotor is usually a fraction the cost of a new rotor.
Dirty brake fluid compressed into the anti-lock brake system can damage the anti-lock function. Before removing the calipers, you may wish to bleed the brake line. As the calipers are squeezed to allow room for the new rotor, the dirty brake fluid near the end of the line will not be pushed into the anti-lock brake system.
References
- Photo Credit disque de frein image by Christophe Fouquin from Fotolia.com
