🔧 Focus - Rear Brake Pads & Rotors Replacement

Rear brakes wear down over time, and worn pads can damage the rotors (the flat metal discs the pads squeeze). This job replaces the rear friction parts so your A4—sorry, your Focus—stops smoothly and safely again.

Assumption: Your Focus may have rear disc brakes (pads + rotors) or drum brakes (shoes + drums). Below are both procedures, and Step 1 shows how to identify what you have.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on level ground; chock the front wheels before lifting the rear.
• ⚠️ Release the parking brake before rear brake work (rear parking brake hardware can be damaged if set).
• ⚠️ Support the car with jack stands—never rely on a floor jack alone.
• ⚠️ Brake dust is harmful; avoid blowing it with compressed air. Use brake cleaner and rags.
• ⚠️ Do not let the brake caliper hang by the brake hose; support it with a hook.
• ⚠️ Brake fluid can damage paint; wipe spills immediately.
• 🔋 Battery disconnect is not required for this repair.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Lug wrench or 19mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• Torque wrench (20-200 Nm range)
• Socket set (8mm-21mm)
• Wrench set (8mm-21mm)
• Torx bit set (T30-T50)
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• C-clamp brake piston tool
• Rear disc brake piston wind-back tool kit (specialty)
• Caliper hanger hook
• Wire brush
• Rubber mallet
• Brake cleaner
• High-temp brake grease
• Gloves
• Safety glasses

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Rear brake rotors - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Rear caliper hardware kit (clips/pad abutments) - Qty: 1
• Brake rotor retaining screw set - Qty: 1
• Brake fluid (DOT 4) - Qty: 1 quart
• Rear drum brake shoe set - If equipped - Qty: 1
• Rear brake drums - If equipped, replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Rear drum hardware kit (springs/adjuster parts) - If equipped - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on a flat surface, put the transmission in 1st gear, and turn the engine off.
• Chock both front wheels firmly using wheel chocks.
• Make sure the parking brake is fully released.
• Loosen rear lug nuts 1/2 turn using a lug wrench or 19mm socket before lifting.
• Open the hood and check brake fluid level; as pistons retract, fluid can rise. Do not overfill.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Identify rear brake type (disc vs drum)

• Lift the rear and remove one rear wheel using a floor jack, jack stands, and a lug wrench or 19mm socket.
• If you see a caliper (clamp-shaped part) squeezing a flat disc, you have rear discs (pads + rotors).
• If you see a mostly closed round housing like a “bowl,” you have rear drums (shoes + drums).

Step 2: Lift and secure the rear

• Raise the rear using a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Place jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) under the rear lift points and lower onto stands.
• Remove both rear wheels using a lug wrench or 19mm socket.

Step 3 (DISC): Remove the caliper and pads

• Turn the steering wheel is not needed for rear; just position yourself for access.
• Remove the caliper slide pin bolts using the correct socket from your socket set (8mm-21mm).
• Lift the caliper off and hang it with a caliper hanger hook.
• Remove the old pads and hardware clips using a flat-blade screwdriver.

Step 4 (DISC): Remove the caliper bracket

• Remove the caliper bracket bolts using a breaker bar and the correct socket.
• Set the bracket aside; clean rust from bracket pad lands using a wire brush.
• On reassembly: Torque caliper bracket bolts to 115 Nm (85 ft-lbs).

Step 5 (DISC): Remove the rotor

• If equipped with a rotor retaining screw, remove it with a Torx bit from your Torx bit set (T30-T50).
• If the rotor is stuck, tap the rotor hat evenly with a rubber mallet to break rust loose.
• Clean the hub face with a wire brush so the new rotor sits flat.

Step 6 (DISC): Install the new rotor

• Spray the new rotor braking surfaces with brake cleaner and wipe with a clean rag (removes shipping oil).
• Install the rotor onto the hub.
• If equipped, install the retaining screw using a Torx bit and Torque to 10 Nm (89 in-lbs).

Step 7 (DISC): Compress/wind back the rear caliper piston

• The rear piston often must be pushed and rotated back in because the parking brake mechanism is built into the caliper.
• Use a rear disc brake piston wind-back tool kit (specialty) (it turns the piston while pushing it inward) to retract the piston fully.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir while retracting; remove some fluid if it gets too high.

Step 8 (DISC): Install new pads and reassemble caliper

• Install new hardware clips (if provided) onto the bracket.
• Apply a thin film of high-temp brake grease where pads slide on the clips. Keep grease off rotor/pad faces.
• Reinstall the caliper bracket and Torque caliper bracket bolts to 115 Nm (85 ft-lbs).
• Install the new pads into the bracket.
• Reinstall the caliper over the pads and tighten slide pin bolts using a ratchet and correct socket.
• Torque caliper slide pin bolts to 28 Nm (21 ft-lbs).

Step 9 (DRUM): Remove the drum

• If you have drum brakes, remove the drum by pulling it straight off.
• If stuck, tap around the drum edge with a rubber mallet.
• If it won’t come off, back off the shoe adjuster through the access slot using a flat-blade screwdriver (adjuster = small gear that spreads shoes as they wear).

Step 10 (DRUM): Replace shoes and hardware

• Spray the assembly with brake cleaner and let dust drip down; wipe with rags.
• Replace springs/hold-downs using the new rear drum hardware kit.
• Install the new shoes exactly like the old ones (take a photo first).
• Lightly grease the backing plate shoe contact pads using high-temp brake grease.

Step 11 (DRUM): Install drum and set initial adjustment

• Install the drum over the new shoes.
• Adjust the star wheel so the drum just barely drags when you spin it by hand using a flat-blade screwdriver.

Step 12: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall both rear wheels using a lug wrench or 19mm socket.
• Lower the car off jack stands using a floor jack.
• Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern using a torque wrench: Torque to 135 Nm (100 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• With the engine off, pump the brake pedal 10-15 times until it feels firm. This seats pads/shoes.
• Check brake fluid level and top off with DOT 4 if needed.
• Test at low speed first; confirm normal stopping and no grinding noises.
• Pad/rotor break-in: Make 6-10 moderate stops from 30-40 mph, letting brakes cool a minute between stops.
• If the brake pedal is spongy, you may need a brake bleed (air in the system).

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $120-$320 (parts only)

You Save: $330-$530 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 2-3 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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