🔧 Rear Brake Pads - Pad Replacement

Replacing the rear pads on your F-150 means removing the rear caliper, swapping the pads, and compressing the caliper piston before reassembly. If the rotors are badly grooved, thin, or warped, replace them at the same time for best braking feel.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.5-2.5 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Work on level ground and chock the front wheels.
• Use jack stands; never rely on a jack alone.
• Let the brakes cool before starting if the truck was recently driven.
• Keep the brake hose from twisting or stretching when the caliper is hanging.
• Do not press the brake pedal with the caliper removed.
• No battery disconnect is 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
• Wheel chocks
• 21mm socket
• 13mm socket
• Ratchet
• Breaker bar
• Torque wrench
• C-clamp
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Bungee cord or caliper hanger
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Brake hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake lubricant - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on a flat surface and set the parking brake.
• Loosen the rear wheel lug nuts slightly before lifting.
• Chock the front wheels securely.
• If both rear wheels are being serviced, do one side at a time so you can use the other side as a reference.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and remove the wheel

• Use the floor jack to raise the rear of the truck, then support it with jack stands.
• Remove the lug nuts with a 21mm socket and take off the wheel.
• Keep the lug nuts together in a safe spot.

Step 2: Remove the caliper

• Use a 13mm socket and ratchet to remove the caliper slide bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket.
• Hang it with a bungee cord or caliper hanger so the brake hose is not strained.

Step 3: Remove the old pads and hardware

• Pull the old brake pads out of the bracket.
• Remove the pad clips and clean the bracket with a wire brush and brake cleaner.
• Install the new hardware from the brake hardware kit.

Step 4: Compress the caliper piston

• Use a C-clamp to slowly push the caliper piston back into the bore.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir under the hood as the piston goes in.
• Compress slowly to avoid seal damage.

Step 5: Install the new pads

• Apply a thin coat of brake lubricant to the pad ears and contact points only.
• Install the new rear brake pads into the bracket.
• Make sure the pads sit fully in the hardware and move freely.

Step 6: Reinstall the caliper

• Slide the caliper back over the new pads.
• Install the slide bolts by hand first, then tighten with the 13mm socket and torque wrench.
• Torque to 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs).

Step 7: Reinstall the wheel

• Put the wheel back on and start all lug nuts by hand.
• Tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern with the 21mm socket.
• Torque to 150 Nm (111 ft-lbs).

Step 8: Repeat on the other side

• Do the same steps on the opposite rear wheel.
• Replace pads in pairs for even braking.

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✅ After Repair

• Press the brake pedal several times before moving the truck. This seats the pads against the rotors.
• Check brake fluid level and top off only if needed.
• Test the brakes at low speed first.
• Listen for rubbing or grinding, which can mean a pad is not seated correctly.
• Break in the new pads with several moderate stops, not hard panic stops.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $260-$450 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $70-$160 (parts only)

You Save: $190-$290 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5-2.0 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.