🔧 Focus - Rear Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

Rear pads and rotors are a matched wear surface. Replacing them together restores braking power and helps prevent noise and vibration.

Before I give the exact Ford steps + torque specs, I need 1 detail: does your Focus have an electronic parking brake button on the console, or a manual hand lever?

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Support your Focus on jack stands; never rely on a jack.
• ⚠️ Brakes create dust—wear a dust mask and don’t blow dust with compressed air.
• ⚠️ If your Focus has an electronic parking brake (EPB), you must put it in service mode before pushing pistons back, or you can damage the EPB actuator.
• ⚠️ Brake parts can be hot; let everything cool first.

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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
• Lug nut socket (19mm)
• Ratchet (3/8" drive)
• Ratchet (1/2" drive)
• Torque wrench (20–200 ft-lbs range)
• Socket set (metric)
• Wrench set (metric)
• Flathead screwdriver
• Brake caliper hanger hook
• Brake piston wind-back tool (specialty)
• Brake cleaner spray
• Wire brush
• High-temp silicone brake grease
• Threadlocker (blue)
• Rubber mallet
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Dust mask
• OBD2 scan tool with EPB service function (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 rotors - Qty: 2
• Rear brake hardware kit (clips/shims) - Qty: 1
• Rear caliper slide pin boots (if torn) - Qty: 1
• Brake fluid (DOT 4) - Qty: 1 quart

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, steering straight, and chock the front wheels.
• Confirm parking brake type: EPB button vs manual lever.
• If EPB button: plan to use an OBD2 scan tool with EPB service mode (service mode retracts the parking brake motor so the piston can be pushed back safely).
• Open the hood and check the brake fluid reservoir level so it doesn’t overflow when pistons are pushed back.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Confirm EPB type (needed for the correct procedure)

• Look at the center console: if you have a PARK button/switch, it’s EPB. If you have a pull-up handle, it’s manual.
• Reply with: “EPB button” or “manual lever”, and I’ll give you the exact Ford steps with the correct piston method and the correct torque specs.

Step 2: Do not start disassembly yet

• If EPB button: do not remove calipers until EPB is in service mode using an OBD2 scan tool with EPB service function (specialty).
• If manual lever: we’ll verify whether your rear caliper piston must be rotated while compressing using a brake piston wind-back tool (specialty).

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✅ After Repair

• After I provide your exact procedure, you’ll do a firm brake pedal pump until the pedal is solid before moving the car.
• If EPB button: you’ll exit EPB service mode and confirm the parking brake applies/releases normally.
• You’ll verify brake fluid level is at the MAX line (not overfilled).

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $450-$900 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $140-$350 (parts only)

You Save: $310-$550 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5-3.0 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.