🔧 Expedition - Front Brake Pad Replacement

This repair replaces the front brake pads on your Expedition. The pads are the friction material that squeeze the brake rotors to stop the vehicle, and replacing them before they get too thin helps protect the rotors and maintain safe braking.

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

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on a flat, solid surface and never rely on a jack alone. Jack stands support the vehicle safely after lifting.
• ⚠️ Wear safety glasses and gloves. Brake dust and rust can irritate your skin and eyes.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while a caliper is removed.
• ⚠️ Support the brake caliper with a hanger or bungee cord. Do not let it hang by the brake hose.
• ⚠️ Your Expedition uses an electric parking brake on the rear only, so no EPB service mode is needed for front pads.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not required for this front brake pad replacement.

---

🔧 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
• 21mm lug nut socket
• 1/2-inch drive breaker bar
• 1/2-inch drive torque wrench
• Ratchet handle
• 13mm socket
• 18mm socket
• Flathead screwdriver
• Brake caliper compression tool (specialty)
• Brake cleaner spray
• Wire brush
• Bungee cord
• Small pick tool
• Turkey baster or fluid syringe
• Shop towels
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Front brake pad hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake lubricant - Qty: 1
• DOT 4 brake fluid - Qty: 1 pint

---

📋 Before You Begin

• 🅿️ Park your Expedition on level ground, shift to Park, and apply the parking brake.
• 🧱 Place wheel chocks behind the rear tires. Wheel chocks are wedges that keep the vehicle from rolling.
• 🧤 Put on safety glasses and gloves before handling brake parts.
• 💧 Open the hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir on the driver-side rear area of the engine bay.
• 💧 If the reservoir is near MAX, use a turkey baster or fluid syringe to remove a small amount of brake fluid before compressing the caliper pistons.
• 📱 No infotainment menu steps or scan tool commands are required for the front brakes.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen the Front Wheel Lug Nuts

• Use a 21mm lug nut socket and 1/2-inch drive breaker bar to loosen the front wheel lug nuts about half a turn.
• Do this while the tires are still touching the ground so the wheels do not spin.
• Loosen only. Do not remove yet.

Step 2: Lift and Support the Front of the Vehicle

• Use a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) at the front center frame/lift point area to raise the front of your Expedition.
• Place jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) under the left and right front frame support points.
• Lower the vehicle gently onto the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Give the vehicle a light shake by hand to confirm it is stable before working near the wheels.

Step 3: Remove the Front Wheels

• Use the 21mm lug nut socket and ratchet handle to remove the loosened lug nuts.
• Remove both front wheels and place them flat under the vehicle as a backup safety measure.

Step 4: Inspect the Brake Assembly

• Look at the brake caliper, rotor, brake hose, and pad wear before taking anything apart.
• The caliper is the clamp-shaped part that holds the brake pads around the rotor.
• If the rotor has deep grooves, heavy rust, blue heat spots, or vibration while braking, the rotors should be replaced or resurfaced.
• Use brake cleaner spray and shop towels to clean loose dust from the area.

Step 5: Remove the Caliper Slide Pin Bolts

• Turn the steering wheel slightly to improve access to the caliper you are working on.
• Use a 13mm socket and ratchet handle to remove the upper and lower caliper slide pin bolts.
• Slide pins let the caliper move evenly as the pads wear.
• Hold the caliper steady by hand as the second bolt comes out.

Step 6: Remove and Support the Caliper

• Use a flathead screwdriver to gently wiggle the caliper away from the rotor if it feels stuck.
• Lift the caliper off the brake pads.
• Use a bungee cord to hang the caliper from the suspension spring or frame area.
• Do not twist, stretch, or pull on the rubber brake hose.

Step 7: Remove the Old Brake Pads and Hardware

• Slide the old inner and outer brake pads out of the caliper bracket by hand.
• Use a small pick tool or flathead screwdriver to remove the old stainless pad clips from the caliper bracket.
• The pad clips are small metal guides that help the pads slide smoothly.
• Compare the old pads to the new pads before installation to confirm the shape matches.

Step 8: Clean the Caliper Bracket Contact Areas

• Use a wire brush to clean the bracket areas where the pad clips sit.
• Use brake cleaner spray and shop towels to remove loose rust and dust.
• Do not breathe brake dust. Spray it wet first instead of blowing it with compressed air.

Step 9: Install the New Brake Pad Hardware

• Press the new brake pad clips from the front brake pad hardware kit into the caliper bracket by hand.
• Use a flathead screwdriver only if needed to seat the clips fully.
• Apply a thin film of brake lubricant to the pad contact points on the clips.
• Do not get grease on the rotor face or pad friction material.

Step 10: Compress the Caliper Pistons

• Place one old brake pad against the caliper pistons.
• Use a brake caliper compression tool (specialty) to slowly push the pistons fully back into the caliper.
• A caliper compression tool pushes the pistons straight in so the thicker new pads will fit.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir while compressing the pistons. Use a turkey baster or fluid syringe if the fluid rises too close to the top.
• Move slowly to avoid damaging seals inside the brake system.

Step 11: Install the New Brake Pads

• Slide the new inner and outer pads from the front brake pad set into the caliper bracket.
• Use your hands to make sure each pad moves smoothly in the clips.
• Apply a very thin layer of brake lubricant only to the pad backing plate contact areas if the pad manufacturer allows it.
• Keep the rotor and pad friction surfaces completely clean.

Step 12: Reinstall the Caliper

• Remove the bungee cord and carefully lower the caliper over the new brake pads.
• Install the upper and lower slide pin bolts by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Use a 13mm socket and 1/2-inch drive torque wrench to tighten the caliper slide pin bolts to Torque to 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs).

Step 13: Repeat on the Other Front Side

• Repeat Steps 4 through 12 on the opposite front wheel.
• Use the same 13mm socket, flathead screwdriver, wire brush, brake cleaner spray, and brake caliper compression tool (specialty).
• Front brake pads must be replaced in pairs.

Step 14: Reinstall the Front Wheels

• Place each wheel back onto the hub.
• Install the lug nuts by hand first.
• Use a 21mm lug nut socket and ratchet handle to snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.

Step 15: Lower the Vehicle and Torque the Lug Nuts

• Use the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) to raise the vehicle slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove the jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Lower the vehicle until the tires touch the ground.
• Use a 21mm lug nut socket and 1/2-inch drive torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern to Torque to 204 Nm (150 ft-lbs).

Step 16: Pump the Brake Pedal

• Sit in the driver seat and press the brake pedal slowly several times until it feels firm.
• This moves the caliper pistons back against the new pads.
• Do not drive until the brake pedal feels firm.

Step 17: Check Brake Fluid Level

• Open the hood and check the brake fluid reservoir.
• Add DOT 4 brake fluid only if the level is below the MIN mark.
• Use shop towels to wipe spills immediately because brake fluid can damage paint.

---

✅ After Repair

• ✅ Start your Expedition and press the brake pedal again. It should stay firm and not sink to the floor.
• ✅ Check around both front calipers for leaks or anything loose.
• ✅ Test drive at low speed in a safe area before driving normally.
• ✅ Bed in the new pads if the pad maker recommends it. A common method is several moderate stops from about 30-40 mph with cooling time between stops.
• ✅ Avoid hard braking for the first 100-200 miles unless it is an emergency.
• ✅ Recheck lug nut torque after the first short drive using the 21mm lug nut socket and 1/2-inch drive torque wrench: Torque to 204 Nm (150 ft-lbs).

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $300-$550 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $70-$180 (parts only)

You Save: $230-$370 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.0-1.5 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.