Ford 04-08 F150 4WD - How to Replace Rotors/Pads

07FX4Chick

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I saw a write up for the rears, but I cannot find one for the fronts. I replaced mine, yes "I" did, a while back and did a write up. I hope it can help someone :)

Long story short - replaced the stock rotors and pads due to stock rotors being warped after 5000 miles (Ford said they would replace them with same rotors, I said "Forget it, I will replace them myself")..and the stock pads are crap (I was cleaning brown dust off my wheels weekly!) so they were replaced with ceramic pads that don't have so much brake dust flying everywhere!

-----> 2007 F150 FX4 <-----
Replaced with Brake Performance rotors and Ceramic pads

Tools Needed:
1. 10mm (rear), 13mm (front), and 18mm (front) sockets
2. 1/2" drive (for 18mm socket) and Breaker bar
3. 3 Pound rubber mallet
4. 18" pry bar
5. Steel and brass wire brushes
6. CRC Disc Brake quiet
7. CRC Synthetic Brake & Caliper grease
8. 8" C-Clamp
9. Patience



1. The best way to do a complete and safe job is put the entire truck on jack stands:
job1.jpg



2. Tires removed and old equipment still on.
job2.jpg



3. Find the two 18mm outer bolts (attached to the caliper/bracket) and break loose with 1/2" socket and breaker bar. Once the bolts are removed, use pry bar and flat head screw driver to gently pry off the caliper from the brake pad carrier. (This is much easier than trying to remove the entire assembly together).
job3.jpg



4. Hang the caliper by a wire (do not let it hang by the brake line itself). Once removed, remove the two 13mm bolts (they have rubber boots on them) from the brake pad carrier. Once these are removed, slowly "walk" the carrier off the rotor. Be very carful not to let the two locater clips (springs) pop off while doing this.
job4.jpg




5. Once caliper and pad carrier are off, rotor should come right off. Clean up hub in preparation for new rotor.
job5.jpg



6. Ford stock rotors and new rotors
job6.jpg



7. Ford pads (left) and new ceramic pads (right)
job7.jpg



8. Place a thin layer of CRC Synthetic Brake & Caliper grease on the hub before installing new rotor. This only need to be done to the front rotors.
job8.jpg



9. Gently install new rotor and tighten it down with 3 lug nuts in preparation for the reinstall of caliper housing.
job9.jpg



10. Clean caliper housing with brass brush to remove all brake dust (paint at this time, if you want to). Slowly and evenly (using old brake pad) compress the caliper pistons in. There is no need to remove the master cylinder cap because there is a built in vent.
job10.jpg



11. Once compressed back, they should be even and flush with the housing.
job11.jpg



12. At this time, clean the face of them and apply a thin coat of CRC Disc Brake Quiet. Once the new pads are installed in the brake pad carrier, gently slide it in to place, within the caliper.
job12.jpg



13. Reinstall the caliper (with the brake pad carrier) on the new rotor tightening the 18mm bolts first (to the brackets), then tighten the 13mm brake pad carrier bolts.
After2.jpg



14. This is the rear brake housing. There are two 10mm bolts the hold the rear caliper in place. Remove those bolts and hang the caliper or set on something so it is not hanging by the brake line. Remove rotor - this CAN BE a real "job". The E-Brake pads were holding the rotor on and I had to use a 3 pound rubber mallet and a couple of good swings to remove the old rotor. Once removed, clean up all the parts with the wire brushes.
job14.jpg



15. You can see the E-Brake shoes here. See how they are not totally retracted? There is a star wheel at the bottom of the housing for the E-Brakes. Adjust it so the shoes are all the way in, in preparation for the installation of new rotor.
job15.jpg



16. Replacement of the rear brake pads are pretty simple. Again, slowly compress the single piston back in so it is smooth with the housing, and install the new pads. One of them "snaps" in to the actual middle of the piston (rear brakes are one piston) and the other pad "snaps in to place on the housing.
job16.jpg



17. Stock Ford Rotor and new rotor. Once you have installed the new pads in to the caliper unit, slide the new rotor in to place. If it does not slide on, check to make sure the E-brake is completely retracted by adjusting the star wheel on the bottom of the housing. Using the 10mm bolts, reinstall the calipers.
job17.jpg



18. Finished brake job. Before you go ANYWHERE, start truck and pump brakes or you will have NO brakes to start with. Push and release E-Brake a few times so it will "self adjust" itself.
After1.jpg



I also put this write-up on my website, for people who want to print it out:
www.07FX4.com/urls/brakes
 

07FX4Chick

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Awesome writeup!

The rear brakes on my Blazer are setup the same way... A mini-drum setup for the e-brake :thumbs:

Thanks! Those e-brakes are a pain in the ass, but after I beat the crap out of the old rotors, they finally came off. My neighbors thought I had lost my mind, after hearing all the cuss words coming out of my mouth and all the noise I was making :D
 

drperry

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Awesome writeup!

The rear brakes on my Blazer are setup the same way... A mini-drum setup for the e-brake :thumbs:

Thanks! Those e-brakes are a pain in the ass, but after I beat the crap out of the old rotors, they finally came off. My neighbors thought I had lost my mind, after hearing all the cuss words coming out of my mouth and all the noise I was making :D


The neighbours always make it interesting :lol:

I should check to see what my parking brake pads will cost me... Mine only grab on one wheel :uhoh:
 

07FX4Chick

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The neighbours always make it interesting :lol:

Well, the "interesting" part was that I think they were surprised to see a woman working on her own truck. I swear they thought it was a "show" for them. I am surprised they just didn't pull up a few chairs and crack open a few beers! :rolleyes: Then came the vulgar language out of my mouth when I got to the rear rotors...and discovered they were not coming off easily.... oops! :eek: (Hubby tried to help, but I told him that I would do it and ask him for help, if I needed it. I ended up needing his help on the driver's rear rotor. He had to beat the crap out of it to get it off....damn e-brakes!)
 

drperry

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The neighbours always make it interesting :lol:

Well, the "interesting" part was that I think they were surprised to see a woman working on her own truck. I swear they thought it was a "show" for them. I am surprised they just didn't pull up a few chairs and crack open a few beers! :rolleyes: Then came the vulgar language out of my mouth when I got to the rear rotors...and discovered they were not coming off easily.... oops! :eek: (Hubby tried to help, but I told him that I would do it and ask him for help, if I needed it. I ended up needing his help on the driver's rear rotor. He had to beat the crap out of it to get it off....damn e-brakes!)


:thumbs:

Lots of funny looks from neighbours when things like that happen... Kinda like when I had to go into my car through the trunk... :lol:
 

daddy

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Great write-up! :thumbs:

Thanks for taking the time!
 

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