🔧 Focus - Front Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

You’ll remove the front wheels, unbolt the brake caliper and bracket, replace the rotor, then install new pads and reassemble. New rotors are recommended with new pads to prevent noise, vibration, and uneven braking.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2-4 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Support your Focus on jack stands before working under it.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal with a caliper removed.
• ⚠️ Brake dust is unhealthy—use brake cleaner, not compressed air.
• ⚠️ Hang the caliper with a bungee cord; don’t let it dangle by the hose.
• ⚠️ Brake parts can be hot; let them cool before starting.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Lug wrench
• Torque wrench (20–200 Nm range)
• Socket set (8mm–21mm)
• Ratchet
• Breaker bar
• Open-end wrench set
• Flat trim tool
• C-clamp or brake piston compressor (specialty)
• Wire brush
• Rubber mallet
• Brake cleaner
• Drain pan
• Bungee cord
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Front brake rotors - Qty: 2
• Brake caliper hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake lubricant (silicone/ceramic) - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1
• Medium-strength threadlocker - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, put the transmission in 1st gear, and set the parking brake.
• Chock the rear wheels with wheel chocks.
• Open the hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir. Do not remove fluid yet; just be ready to monitor the level.
• “Caliper” is the clamp that squeezes pads onto the rotor.
• A “torque wrench” tightens bolts to the correct force.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen the wheel lug nuts

• Use a lug wrench to loosen the front wheel lug nuts 1/2 turn while the car is on the ground.

Step 2: Lift and support the front of the car

• Use a floor jack to lift the front at the proper jacking point.
• Set the car down onto jack stands and lightly shake the car to confirm it’s stable.
• Remove both front wheels using a lug wrench.

Step 3: Remove the caliper

• Turn the steering wheel to give yourself more room at the side you’re working on.
• Locate the two caliper slide pin bolts on the back of the caliper.
• Use the correct-size socket with a ratchet to remove the caliper slide pin bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and hang it with a bungee cord.

Step 4: Remove the brake pads and hardware

• Pull the old pads out by hand. If stuck, use a flat trim tool to gently pry.
• Remove the stainless pad clips from the bracket (these are the “hardware”).

Step 5: Remove the caliper bracket

• Use a breaker bar and the correct-size socket to remove the two caliper bracket bolts (these are usually tight).
• Set the bracket aside.
• When reinstalling later: apply medium-strength threadlocker and Torque to 115 Nm (85 ft-lbs).

Step 6: Remove the rotor

• If your rotor is held by a small retaining screw, remove it using the correct socket (or bit from your set).
• Pull the rotor off. If it’s stuck from rust, tap the rotor “hat” area with a rubber mallet until it frees up.

Step 7: Clean the hub and install the new rotor

• Use a wire brush to clean rust off the hub face (where the rotor sits).
• Spray the new rotor with brake cleaner to remove protective oil, then wipe clean.
• Install the new rotor onto the hub. Reinstall the rotor retaining screw (if equipped) using a ratchet and Torque to 10 Nm (89 in-lbs).
• Clean hub = less brake vibration.

Step 8: Service the slide pins and reinstall the bracket

• Pull the slide pins from the bracket, wipe them clean, and apply a thin coat of brake lubricant.
• Reinstall slide pins and boots.
• Reinstall the caliper bracket using a socket and ratchet.
• Apply medium-strength threadlocker to bracket bolt threads and Torque to 115 Nm (85 ft-lbs).

Step 9: Install new pad hardware and pads

• Install the new pad clips (hardware) onto the bracket by hand.
• Apply a light film of brake lubricant where the pad ears contact the clips (metal-to-metal contact points only).
• Install the new pads into the bracket.

Step 10: Compress the caliper piston

• Place the old inner pad against the piston face.
• Use a C-clamp or brake piston compressor (specialty) to slowly push the piston back in.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir while compressing—if it gets near “MAX,” remove a small amount into a drain pan.
• Go slow to avoid spilling fluid.

Step 11: Reinstall the caliper

• Slide the caliper over the new pads and onto the bracket.
• Install the caliper slide pin bolts using a socket and ratchet.
• Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs).

Step 12: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall both front wheels by hand-threading lug nuts.
• Lower the car off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Use a torque wrench to tighten lug nuts in a star pattern: Torque to 135 Nm (100 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• With the engine off, slowly press the brake pedal 10–15 times until it feels firm (this seats the pistons).
• Check brake fluid level and top off only if needed.
• Test drive in a safe area at low speed first to confirm normal braking and no pulling/noises.
• Pad bedding (recommended): make 8–10 moderate stops from ~35 mph down to ~5 mph, allowing short cool-down between stops. Avoid hard stops for the first 200 miles.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $450-$850 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $160-$380 (parts only)

You Save: $290-$470 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5-2.5 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.