🔧 Ranger - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

On your Ranger, the rear pads wear down over time and need replacement to keep braking safe and quiet. Because your Ranger uses an electronic parking brake (EPB), you must put the EPB into service mode before you try to compress the rear caliper pistons.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.5-3.0 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Support the truck with jack stands; never rely on a jack.
• ⚠️ Put the EPB in service mode before compressing pistons, or you can damage the EPB system.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while a caliper is off the rotor.
• ⚠️ Work on one side at a time so you can use the other side as a reference.
• ⚠️ Brake dust is harmful—use brake cleaner, not compressed air.

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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
• 19mm socket
• 13mm socket
• 18mm socket
• 3/8" ratchet
• 1/2" breaker bar
• Torque wrench (10-250 Nm range)
• Flat trim/pry tool
• Brake caliper piston compressor tool (specialty)
• Brake hanger hook
• Wire brush
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses
• Scan tool with Ford EPB service mode (specialty)

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Rear brake pad hardware kit (clips/shims) - Qty: 1
• Brake lubricant (silicone) - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, shift to P, and chock the front wheels.
• Release the parking brake (EPB) using the dash switch.
• Connect your scan tool and run the Ford function to place the EPB in service/maintenance mode. (This retracts the EPB so the piston can be pushed back.)
• Tip: Keep the key nearby so it won’t time out.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen lug nuts and raise the rear

• Use a 19mm socket and 1/2" breaker bar to loosen the rear wheel lug nuts about 1 turn.
• Use a floor jack to lift the rear, then set the truck securely on jack stands.
• Remove the wheels with the 19mm socket and 3/8" ratchet.

Step 2: Put the EPB in service mode

• Use your scan tool with Ford EPB service mode (specialty) to command the EPB into service/maintenance mode.
• Tip: Don’t skip this—protects the EPB.

Step 3: Remove the rear caliper

• Use a flat trim/pry tool to gently pop off the caliper bolt caps (if equipped).
• Use a 13mm socket and 3/8" ratchet to remove the two caliper slide pin bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket, then support it using a brake hanger hook (do not let it hang by the hose).

Step 4: Remove old pads and hardware

• Pull the old pads out by hand.
• Remove the pad hardware/clips using the flat trim/pry tool.
• Spray and clean the bracket contact areas with brake cleaner, then scrub with a wire brush.

Step 5: Compress the rear caliper piston

• Use a brake caliper piston compressor tool (specialty) to slowly push the piston fully back into the caliper.
• If the piston will not compress smoothly, stop and re-check that EPB service mode is active using the scan tool.

Step 6: Install new hardware and pads

• Install the new clips from the hardware kit by hand (use the flat trim/pry tool only if needed).
• Apply a thin film of brake lubricant (silicone) where the pad ears slide on the clips.
• Install the new pads into the bracket by hand.
• Tip: Keep grease off pad friction material.

Step 7: Reinstall the caliper and torque fasteners

• Place the caliper back over the pads by hand.
• Install the slide pin bolts using a 13mm socket and 3/8" ratchet.
• Use a torque wrench: Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs).

Step 8: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall the wheels and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Lower the truck using the floor jack, remove jack stands, and fully lower.
• Use a torque wrench with a 19mm socket: Torque to 203 Nm (150 ft-lbs) in a star pattern.

Step 9: Take the EPB out of service mode

• Use the scan tool to command the EPB to exit service/maintenance mode and perform any “close/calibrate” function it prompts.

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✅ After Repair

• With the truck still in P, pump the brake pedal 10–15 times until it feels firm.
• Apply and release the EPB switch a few times to confirm normal operation.
• Test drive at low speed and confirm normal braking with no warning lights.
• Perform a gentle pad bed-in: 6–10 moderate stops from 30–40 mph with cool-down between stops.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $350-$650 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $80-$220 (parts only)

You Save: $270-$430 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?

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