🔧 Focus - Rear Brake Pads & Rotors Replacement

On your Focus, the rear brakes may be either rear disc brakes (pads + rotors) or rear drum brakes (shoes + drums). The steps and parts are different, so first confirm what you have by looking through the rear wheel: a flat shiny “disc” rotor = disc brakes; a closed “drum” housing = drum brakes.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on a flat, level surface; use jack stands—never rely on a jack alone.
• ⚠️ Chock the front wheels so the car cannot roll.
• ⚠️ Release the parking brake fully before starting (rear brakes are tied to it).
• ⚠️ Brake dust is irritating—wear a dust mask and avoid blowing dust with compressed air.
• ⚠️ Do not let a brake caliper hang by the hose; support it with a hook or strap.
• ⚠️ If brake fluid is near “MAX,” compressing pistons can overflow—protect paint and clean spills immediately.

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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
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Dust mask
• Lug nut socket 19mm
• Breaker bar 1/2"
• Torque wrench 1/2"
• Ratchet 3/8"
• Socket set metric 8mm-21mm
• Open-end wrench set metric 10mm-19mm
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Brake caliper piston compressor tool (specialty)
• Bungee cord or caliper hook
• Wire brush
• Rubber mallet
• Brake cleaner spray
• High-temp brake grease
• Micrometer or vernier caliper

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear brake pad set - Qty: 1 (if equipped with rear disc brakes)
• Rear brake rotors - Qty: 2 (replace in pairs, if equipped with rear disc brakes)
• Rear brake shoe set - Qty: 1 (if equipped with rear drum brakes)
• Rear brake drums - Qty: 2 (replace in pairs, if equipped with rear drum brakes)
• Rear hardware kit - Qty: 1 (recommended, if equipped with rear drum brakes)
• Brake lubricant packet - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, shift to P (automatic) or 1st gear (manual), and chock the front wheels.
• Release the parking brake completely (rear brakes must be “free”).
• Loosen rear lug nuts 1/2 turn using a 19mm socket and breaker bar before lifting.
• Lift the rear and support with jack stands at safe lift points; keep the jack as a backup support.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

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

• Remove the rear wheel using a 19mm socket and ratchet.
• If you see a caliper squeezing a flat rotor: follow Rear Disc steps below.
• If you see a closed drum housing: skip to Rear Drum steps below.

Step 2: Rear Disc — Remove the caliper

• Turn the steering wheel straight and locate the rear caliper on the rotor.
• Remove the caliper slide bolts using the correct metric socket or metric wrench (size varies by build).
• Lift the caliper off and support it with a bungee cord or caliper hook.
• Tip: Don’t twist or stretch the hose.

Step 3: Rear Disc — Remove pads and caliper bracket

• Remove the inner and outer pads by hand.
• Remove the caliper bracket bolts using a breaker bar and metric socket.
• Set the bracket aside.

Step 4: Rear Disc — Remove the rotor

• If equipped with a rotor retaining screw, remove it using a socket or screwdriver that fits tightly.
• Pull the rotor off. If it’s stuck, tap the rotor hat with a rubber mallet evenly until it breaks loose.
• Clean the hub face with a wire brush and spray with brake cleaner.

Step 5: Rear Disc — Install the new rotor

• Clean both sides of the new rotor with brake cleaner spray to remove shipping oil.
• Install the rotor onto the hub. Reinstall the retaining screw if equipped.

Step 6: Rear Disc — Service slide pins and install bracket

• Pull the caliper slide pins out, wipe clean, and apply a thin coat of high-temp brake grease.
• Reinstall the caliper bracket using a metric socket and torque wrench.
• Torque to 70 Nm (52 ft-lbs) for rear caliper bracket bolts.

Step 7: Rear Disc — Install pads and compress the caliper piston

• Install the new pads into the bracket.
• Compress the rear caliper piston using a brake caliper piston compressor tool (specialty). (This tool slowly pushes the piston back so the thicker new pads will fit.)
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir while compressing; wipe any spills immediately.

Step 8: Rear Disc — Reinstall caliper

• Place the caliper over the new pads and rotor.
• Install the slide bolts using the correct metric socket or metric wrench.
• Torque to 25 Nm (18 ft-lbs) for rear caliper slide bolts.

Step 9: Rear Drum — Remove the drum

• With the parking brake released, remove the wheel using a 19mm socket.
• Pull the drum straight off. If stuck, tap around the drum face with a rubber mallet.
• If it won’t come off, the shoes may be catching a ridge—spray around the hub with brake cleaner and keep tapping evenly.

Step 10: Rear Drum — Replace shoes (if equipped with drums)

• Take a clear photo of the spring layout before disassembly using your phone (reference for reassembly).
• Clean the assembly with brake cleaner spray.
• Replace shoes and springs using your flat-blade screwdriver and metric sockets as needed (hardware layout varies by build).
• Apply a tiny amount of high-temp brake grease

Step 11: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall the wheels and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Lower the car to the ground.
• Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern using a torque wrench: Torque to 135 Nm (100 ft-lbs).

Step 12: Restore brake pedal before driving

• Press the brake pedal slowly 10–15 times until it feels firm.
• Re-apply and release the parking brake a few times to confirm normal feel/hold.

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✅ After Repair

• With the engine running, hold the brake pedal for 15 seconds; it should not sink.
• Do a slow test drive and confirm no grinding, pulling, or warning lights.
• For new pads/rotors: do 6–10 smooth stops from ~50 km/h to 20 km/h, with cool-down driving between stops.
• Recheck lug nut torque after 50–100 km using a torque wrench.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: ₹12,000-₹30,000 (parts + labor, depending on disc vs drum and brand)

DIY Cost: ₹6,000-₹18,000 (parts only)

You Save: ₹6,000-₹12,000 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run ₹2,000-₹5,000/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 2-3 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.

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Quick check (answer 1 of these so I tailor it perfectly): Are your rear brakes disc or drum when you look through the wheel?