🔧 F-150 - Rear Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

You’ll remove the rear wheels, take off the rear calipers and brackets, replace the pads and rotors, then set the parking brake shoe adjustment (your F-150 uses a small “drum-in-hat” parking brake inside the rear rotor).

Doing this correctly restores braking power, prevents vibration, and avoids uneven pad wear.

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

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Support the truck with jack stands; never rely on a floor jack alone.
• 🧱 Chock the front wheels before lifting the rear.
• 🔥 Brakes can be extremely hot; let everything cool before touching.
• 🧴 Avoid breathing brake dust; use brake cleaner and wear a dust mask.
• 🧷 Do not let the caliper hang by the brake hose; support it with a bungee cord.
• 🔧 Keep grease off pad/rotor friction surfaces; clean with brake cleaner if contaminated.

---

🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum, pair)
• Wheel chocks
• 21mm socket
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• 1/2" drive torque wrench (50-250 ft-lbs range)
• 13mm socket
• 18mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 3/8" drive torque wrench (10-60 ft-lbs range)
• Flathead screwdriver
• Brake caliper piston compressor tool (specialty)
• Bungee cord
• Wire brush
• Rubber mallet
• Pick tool
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Dust mask

---

🔩 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
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 2 cans
• High-temperature brake lubricant - Qty: 1
• DOT 3 brake fluid - Qty: 1 quart
• Rear parking brake hardware kit - Optional (recommended if springs are rusty) - Qty: 1

---

📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, shift to P, and release the parking brake fully.
• Chock both front wheels using wheel chocks.
• Break the rear lug nuts loose 1/2 turn using a 21mm socket and breaker bar (before lifting).
• Open the hood and remove the brake master cylinder cap (leave it resting on top) so fluid can rise when compressing pistons.
• Tip: Put rags under the reservoir in case of spill.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and secure the rear

• Lift the rear using a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) under the rear axle center.
• Place jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum, pair) under the axle tubes and lower the truck onto them.
• Remove the rear wheels using a 21mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet.

Step 2: Remove the rear caliper

• Turn the steering wheel is not needed (rear), just get good access and lighting.
• Remove the caliper slide pin bolts using a 13mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and support it from the leaf spring/axle using a bungee cord.
• Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs) when reinstalling caliper slide pin bolts.
• Tip: If it’s tight, wiggle—don’t pry the hose.

Step 3: Remove the pads and caliper bracket

• Pull the brake pads out of the bracket by hand; use a flathead screwdriver gently if needed.
• Remove the caliper bracket (anchor) bolts using an 18mm socket and 1/2" drive breaker bar.
• Torque to 203 Nm (150 ft-lbs) when reinstalling caliper bracket bolts.

Step 4: Remove the rear rotor (and back off the parking brake if stuck)

• If the rotor pulls off, remove it by hand. If it’s stuck, tap around the rotor hat using a rubber mallet.
• If the rotor will not come off, the parking brake shoes are likely holding it.
• Remove the access plug on the backing plate using a pick tool.
• Insert a flathead screwdriver to turn the star-wheel adjuster and back the shoes off until the rotor frees up.
• Remove the rotor and set it aside.

Step 5: Inspect and service the parking brake shoes (inside the rotor)

• Inspect the parking brake shoes and hardware for broken springs, missing lining, or heavy rust.
• Clean loose rust with a wire brush (don’t blow dust into the air).
• If hardware is heavily corroded, replace it using a rear parking brake hardware kit.

Step 6: Prep the hub and install the new rotor

• Clean the hub face with a wire brush so the new rotor sits flat.
• Spray the new rotor braking surfaces with brake cleaner to remove shipping oil.
• Install the new rotor onto the hub.

Step 7: Adjust the parking brake shoes to the new rotor

• Through the backing plate access hole, turn the star-wheel with a flathead screwdriver until you feel a light, even drag when rotating the rotor by hand.
• Back the adjuster off slightly until the rotor spins freely with just a faint rub.
• Reinstall the access plug using your fingers (or a pick tool gently).
• Tip: Too tight causes overheating and poor MPG.

Step 8: Install the bracket and new pads

• Reinstall the caliper bracket using an 18mm socket and 1/2" drive torque wrench (50-250 ft-lbs range).
• Torque to 203 Nm (150 ft-lbs).
• Clean and lubricate the pad contact points (abutment areas) with high-temperature brake lubricant (a thin film only).
• Install the new pads into the bracket by hand.

Step 9: Compress the caliper piston and reinstall the caliper

• Use a brake caliper piston compressor tool (specialty) to slowly push the piston fully back into the caliper.
• A piston compressor is a tool that pushes the piston straight back without cocking it.
• Slide the caliper over the new pads and install the slide pin bolts using a 13mm socket and 3/8" drive torque wrench (10-60 ft-lbs range).
• Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs).

Step 10: Reinstall wheels and lower the truck

• Reinstall the wheels and hand-tighten lug nuts using a 21mm socket.
• Lower the truck off the jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum, pair) using the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Torque the lug nuts in a star pattern using a 1/2" drive torque wrench (50-250 ft-lbs range).
• Torque to 203 Nm (150 ft-lbs).

Step 11: Restore pedal feel and fluid level

• With the engine OFF, pump the brake pedal 10–15 times until it feels firm.
• Check the brake fluid level and top off with DOT 3 brake fluid if needed.
• Reinstall the brake master cylinder cap by hand.

---

✅ After Repair

• Start the truck and confirm the brake pedal stays firm.
• Test the parking brake: set it, try to roll slowly, then release it.
• Do a careful road test and listen for grinding or pulling.
• Bed-in the pads (break-in): make 8–10 moderate stops from 40 to 10 mph, allowing 30–60 seconds between stops for cooling.
• Recheck for brake fluid leaks around both rear calipers.

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $550-$950 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $180-$420 (parts only)

You Save: $370-$530 by doing it yourself!

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

---

🎯 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.