🔧 Rear Brakes and Rotors - Replacement

Your rear brake pads and rotors wear together, so replacing both at the same time gives you smooth braking and helps prevent noise and vibration. On your F-150, this is a straightforward rear disc brake job, but the caliper and bracket are heavy, so stay organized and support parts as you remove them.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Work on level ground and chock the front wheels before lifting the rear.
• Use jack stands. Never rely on the floor jack alone.
• Do not press the brake pedal with a caliper removed.
• Support the caliper with wire or a hook so the brake hose is not stretched.
• If your truck has an electronic parking brake retrofit or aftermarket system, put it in service mode first. Most 2015 F-150 rear brakes use a manual parking brake, so no battery disconnect is normally required.
• Brake dust may be present. Wear a mask and do not blow it off with 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 for truck weight)
• Wheel chocks
• 21mm socket
• 18mm socket
• 13mm socket
• Ratchet
• Breaker bar
• Torque wrench
• Brake caliper compression tool (specialty)
• Bungee cord or mechanic's hook
• Flat blade screwdriver
• 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
• Rear brake rotors - Qty: 2
• Brake hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on a level surface and set the parking brake.
• Loosen the rear wheel lug nuts slightly before lifting.
• Release the parking brake before removing the rear calipers.
• If the brake pedal is soft after service, stop and recheck the install before driving.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and secure the rear of the truck

• Use a floor jack to lift the rear axle or rear frame safely.
• Place jack stands under the truck and lower it onto the stands.
• Put wheel chocks at the front tires.

Step 2: Remove the rear wheels

• Use a 21mm socket and breaker bar to remove the lug nuts.
• Remove both rear wheels and set them aside.
• Keep lug nuts together so none go missing.
• Torque to 204 Nm (150 ft-lbs) during reassembly.

Step 3: Remove the caliper

• Use a 13mm socket to remove the rear caliper slide pin bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and support it with a bungee cord or mechanic's hook.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the hose.
• Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs) on reassembly.

Step 4: Remove the brake pads and hardware

• Slide the old pads out of the bracket.
• Remove the stainless hardware clips from the bracket.
• Use a wire brush to clean rust from the pad lands.
• Use brake cleaner to clean the bracket area.

Step 5: Remove the caliper bracket

• Use an 18mm socket to remove the caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the bracket from the axle flange.
• Torque to 125 Nm (92 ft-lbs) on reassembly.

Step 6: Remove the rotor

• If the rotor is stuck, use a flat blade screwdriver to back off the parking brake adjustment through the access hole if needed.
• Pull the rotor straight off the hub.
• If it will not move, tap the hat area lightly and clean the hub with a wire brush.
• Rust on the hub is the usual cause.

Step 7: Install the new rotor

• Clean the new rotor with brake cleaner before installation.
• Slide the rotor onto the hub.
• If equipped, install the rotor retaining screw and snug it gently with the correct driver.

Step 8: Reinstall the caliper bracket

• Position the bracket over the new rotor.
• Use an 18mm socket to install and tighten the bracket bolts.
• Torque to 125 Nm (92 ft-lbs).

Step 9: Install new pads and hardware

• Install the new hardware clips from the brake hardware kit.
• Apply a thin film of brake grease to the pad contact points if included with your kit.
• Install the new pads into the bracket.

Step 10: Compress the caliper piston and reinstall the caliper

• Use a brake caliper compression tool to push the piston back in slowly and evenly.
• Make sure the piston boots stay straight and do not twist.
• Set the caliper back over the new pads and install the slide pins with a 13mm socket.
• Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs).

Step 11: Reinstall the wheels

• Put the wheels back on and thread the lug nuts by hand first.
• Lower the truck slightly so the tires touch the ground and finish tightening with a 21mm socket and torque wrench.
• Torque to 204 Nm (150 ft-lbs).

Step 12: Pump the brake pedal and set the parking brake

• Before moving the truck, pump the brake pedal several times until it feels firm.
• Apply and release the parking brake a few times.
• Check that the rear wheels spin freely when the parking brake is released.

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✅ After Repair

• Check brake fluid level in the reservoir.
• Test the brakes at low speed in a safe area first.
• Listen for rubbing, clicking, or grinding.
• New pads and rotors need a short break-in period. Use gentle stops for the first 200 miles.
• If the brake pedal sinks or the truck pulls, stop and inspect the work.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $650-$1,050 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $220-$420 (parts only)

You Save: $430-$630 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 2-4 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.