F-150 - Rear Brake Pad Replacement 🛠️

I’ll walk you through it step-by-step for your Lariat with EPB. Two quick questions before we start:

• 🔧 Do you have a scan tool that can put the Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) in Service/Maintenance mode (rear calipers must be retracted electronically)?
• 🧰 Will you also replace the rear rotors? Pads and rotors wear together; replacing both avoids noise and vibration.

F-150 - Rear Brake Pad & Rotor Replacement 🛠️

Great—no scan tool, and you’re replacing rotors too. Your Lariat uses an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) integrated in the rear calipers. We’ll use the truck’s built-in EPB service mode (no scan tool needed).

⚠️ Safety First

• 🧯 Park on flat ground, chock front wheels, and set transmission to P. Keep the EPB off.
• 🧤 Wear eye protection and gloves. Brake dust is harmful; avoid compressed air.
• 🧵 Support calipers with wire or a hook. Never let them hang by the hose.

🔧 Tools & Supplies

• 🧰 Floor jack (3-ton) and jack stands (rated for truck), wheel chocks
• 🛞 21 mm socket for lug nuts; torque wrench up to 200 lb-ft
• 🔩 10 mm and 13 mm sockets (caliper guide pins vary), 15 mm or 18 mm socket (caliper bracket bolts), breaker bar
• 🪛 Flat screwdriver/pick for pad spring and caps; small pry bar
• 🧴 Brake cleaner, shop rags, wire brush
• 🧪 High-temp synthetic brake grease (for slides and pad ears)
• 📏 Micrometer/vernier to check rotor thickness (optional but helpful)
• 🧰 Caliper piston tool or large C-clamp (after EPB retracts)
• 🧹 Anti-seize for hub face (very thin smear)
• 🧯 New rear pads and rotors for your F-150 (heavy-duty 13.7" typical on Lariat 4WD), new pad hardware/abuttment clips, new caliper bracket bolts if one-time-use is supplied
• 🧪 DOT 4 brake fluid (Ford spec) for top-off; clear hose and bottle if you do a pedal bleed

📟 Put EPB into Service Mode (no scan tool)

• 🔌 Close doors, key in. Press START without foot on brake to go to RUN (engine off).
• 🅿️ Make sure EPB is released (P brake light off).
• ⏱️ Hold the EPB switch DOWN (release). While holding, press the accelerator pedal to the floor and hold.
• ⚡ Turn the ignition to OFF, then back to RUN (engine off), still holding both. Continue ~5 seconds until the cluster shows a message like “Maintenance Mode” or you hear motors retract.
• ✅ Release both. The rear EPB is now retracted. If the message doesn’t appear, tell me; some trucks need a second cycle.

🛠️ Removal

• 🛞 Break rear lug nuts loose (21 mm), jack the axle at the diff or pinch points, set stands under frame, remove wheels.
• 🔧 Remove the plastic caps on the caliper guide pin bolts. Remove the two guide pin bolts (commonly 13 mm). Note their positions.
• 🪝 Lift caliper off the bracket. Hang it with wire. Do not twist the EPB harness or brake hose.
• 🧲 Slide out old pads and hardware clips. Note outer pad spring orientation.
• 🔩 Remove the caliper bracket bolts (usually 18 mm; they’re tight). Remove the bracket.
• 🛠️ Remove rotor set screw if equipped (often none on F-150). If rotor is stuck, use penetrating oil at the hub and tap the rotor hat between studs to free it.

🧼 Prep

• 🧽 Clean the hub face with a wire brush until shiny and flat. Apply a paper-thin coat of anti-seize to prevent rotor sticking.
• 🧴 Clean new rotors with brake cleaner to remove oil film.
• 🧼 Clean caliper bracket. Replace hardware clips. Ensure slides are snug in their grooves.
• 🧪 Pull the guide pin boots slightly, remove pins, wipe old grease, and apply fresh synthetic brake grease. Pins must slide easily and match their original positions (some are top/bottom specific).

📏 Piston Retract

• 🔧 With EPB in service mode, press the rear caliper piston back slowly using a C-clamp or piston tool against the old inner pad or a plate. It should move smoothly—no twisting required on this Ford EPB style.
• 🧪 If the reservoir nears full, wick out excess fluid with a clean syringe to avoid overflow.

🔩 Install Rotors, Bracket, Pads

• 🛞 Fit the new rotor. Use a lug nut to hold it flush while you work.
• 🔩 Reinstall the caliper bracket. Torque caliper bracket bolts to 122 lb-ft (165 N·m).
• 🧰 Install new hardware clips on the bracket if not already. Apply a very thin film of grease on pad ears and abutment points (not on friction surfaces).
• 🧱 Install inner and outer pads in correct orientation. Ensure the wear sensor (if present) is on the correct side and the pad spring seats fully.
• 🔧 Refit caliper over the pads. Install guide pin bolts and torque to 27 lb-ft (37 N·m). Refit dust caps.

🚗 Return EPB to Normal Mode

• 🔌 Key to RUN (engine off). Press the brake pedal firmly 10–15 times to seat pads.
• 🅿️ Hold the EPB switch UP (apply) and press the accelerator to the floor. Cycle ignition OFF → RUN and hold ~5 seconds until “Maintenance Mode OFF”/motor noise ends. Release.
• ✅ Apply and release the EPB once to confirm normal operation. If it errors, we’ll reinitialize.

🔁 Other Torques & Specs

• 🔧 Wheel lug nuts: 150 lb-ft (203 N·m) in a star pattern
• 🧪 Rear rotor minimum thickness (typical 13.7"): ~28.5 mm; new ~30.5 mm (check rotor box/OEM spec)
• 🛢️ Brake fluid: DOT 4 (Ford spec). Top off to MAX line only.

🧪 Optional Quick Bleed (Pedal)

• 🧰 If the pedal feels soft, perform a simple two-person bleed at each rear caliper.
• 🔩 Right rear then left rear. 10 mm bleeder. Clear hose into a bottle with some fluid.
• 👣 Helper pumps pedal 5x, holds. Crack bleeder 1/4 turn, watch bubbles, close, then release pedal. Repeat until clear, no bubbles. Keep reservoir above MIN.

✅ Final Checks

• 🧪 Verify no leaks, hoses untwisted, wires clipped back.
• 🛞 Refit wheels, torque to 150 lb-ft, remove stands, lower vehicle.
• 🚦 Test in a safe area: gentle stops from 25–35 mph; no hard braking initially.

🧰 Break-In (Bedding) Tips

• 🚗 8–10 medium stops from 30–10 mph with light cooling between. Avoid coming to a full stop with hot brakes.
• 🛑 For the first 200 miles, avoid panic stops unless needed.

Need anything else?

I can double-check part numbers (pads/rotors/hardware) for your truck and show you the exact tools and parts below. HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need!

F-150 - Rear Brake Pad Replacement 🛠️

Got it: you’re not replacing rotors and you don’t have a scan tool. I’ll walk you through pads-only with the built-in EPB service mode.

⚠️ Safety First

• 🧯 Park on flat ground, chock front wheels, transmission in P, EPB off.
• 🧤 Wear eye protection and gloves. Don’t blow brake dust with air.
• 🪝 Hang calipers with wire; never let them hang by the hose or EPB wiring.

🔧 Tools & Supplies

• 🧰 Floor jack (3-ton), jack stands, wheel chocks
• 🛞 21 mm socket + torque wrench (up to 200 lb-ft) for lug nuts
• 🔩 13 mm socket (caliper guide pins), 15–18 mm socket (if bracket needs loosening), ratchet, breaker bar
• 🪛 Flat screwdriver/pick, small pry bar
• 🧴 Brake cleaner, rags, wire brush (for bracket and hardware)
• 🧪 High-temp synthetic brake grease (for slide pins and pad ears)
• 🧰 C-clamp or caliper piston tool
• 🧪 DOT 4 brake fluid (Ford spec) to top off if needed
• 📦 New rear brake pads + new hardware clips (recommended)

📟 Put EPB into Service Mode (No Scan Tool)

This retracts the electronic parking brake so you can push the pistons back.

• 🔌 Sit in the truck, close doors. Key to RUN (dash on, engine off).
• 🅿️ Make sure EPB is released (no parking brake light).
• 👆 Press and hold the EPB switch DOWN (release position).
• 👣 While holding the switch, press the accelerator pedal all the way down and hold.
• ⏱️ While still holding both, turn ignition OFF, then back to RUN. Keep holding ~5 seconds until you hear the rear EPB motors run and see a message like “Maintenance Mode” or similar.
• ✅ Release the switch and pedal. EPB is now in service mode.

If you don’t get a message or motor noise, stop and tell me what you see on the dash.

🛞 Lift Truck & Remove Wheels

• 🛠️ Slightly loosen rear lug nuts (21 mm) while on the ground.
• 🧰 Jack up the rear under the axle or diff, place jack stands under the frame, then lower onto stands.
• 🛞 Remove rear wheels.

🔧 Remove Caliper & Old Pads

• 🧲 Locate the rear caliper. Pop off any plastic caps on the guide pin bolts.
• 🔩 Remove the two guide pin bolts (usually 13 mm).
• 🪝 Wiggle the caliper off the bracket. Hang it with wire so the hose and EPB wiring are relaxed.
• 🧱 Slide out the inner and outer pads. Note how any springs/clips are oriented.
• 🧼 Remove the metal hardware clips from the bracket (where pad ears sit).

🧼 Clean & Prep Bracket

• 🧹 Use a wire brush to clean the pad contact areas on the bracket.
• 📦 Install new hardware clips (if supplied) fully seated.
• 🧪 Pull the rubber boots on the guide pins, slide pins out, wipe old grease, apply fresh synthetic brake grease, and reinstall. Pins must move smoothly.

📏 Retract Caliper Pistons

• 🧪 Check brake fluid level in the master cylinder. If it’s very full, remove a little with a clean syringe so it doesn’t overflow when you push pistons back.
• 🔧 Place an old pad or flat plate on the piston face. Use a C-clamp or piston tool to slowly push the piston straight back into the caliper.
• ⏱️ Go slowly; you’ll feel steady resistance. Stop if it’s rock-hard or jerky and tell me.

🔩 Install New Pads

• 🧴 Spray the rotor and bracket area with brake cleaner and wipe dry.
• 🧪 Apply a very thin film of brake grease on:
  • Pad ears (where they touch the hardware clips)
  • Contact points on the hardware clips
  Do not get grease on pad friction surfaces or rotor.
• 🧱 Install the new inner and outer pads into the bracket, matching the original orientation (any wear sensor or chamfer should match old pads).
• 🔧 Swing the caliper back over the new pads. Make sure the rubber boots on the pins are not twisted.
• 🔩 Install guide pin bolts and torque to 27 lb-ft (37 N·m).

📟 Exit EPB Service Mode

• 👣 With wheels still off the ground, press the brake pedal firmly 10–15 times to seat pads.
• 🔌 Key to RUN if not already.
• 🅿️ To exit maintenance mode, do the same sequence but with the EPB switch in the UP (apply) position:
  • Hold EPB switch UP (apply) + accelerator pedal fully down.
  • Turn ignition OFF → back to RUN while holding ~5 seconds.
  • Release when you hear motors and see maintenance mode off / normal message.
• ✅ Apply and release the EPB once to confirm normal operation.

🛞 Refit Wheels & Final Torque

• 🛞 Reinstall wheels, hand-tighten lug nuts.
• 🧰 Lower truck off stands.
• 🔧 Torque lug nuts in a star pattern to 150 lb-ft (203 N·m).

🚗 Test & Bed-In

• 🚦 In a safe area, do a few gentle stops from 20–30 km/h to check for noise or pulling.
• 🔥 For the first 200 km, avoid very hard stops unless needed.

Need parts or tools?

I can help you pick the correct rear pads and hardware for your F-150 and show matching tools and parts from HowToo below. You can add anything you need to your cart from the tools and parts section. HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need!