🔧 Focus - Rear Brake Pads & Rotors Replacement

This repair replaces the rear brake pads and brake rotors on your Focus. New pads and rotors restore stopping performance and help prevent grinding, vibration, and uneven braking.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2-3 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on a cool vehicle. Brake parts can stay very hot after driving.
• ⚠️ Use jack stands every time. Never work under or beside a car supported only by a jack.
• ⚠️ The rear caliper piston must be rotated while being pushed in. A rear caliper wind-back tool turns the piston back into the caliper without damaging it.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while a caliper is removed.
• ⚠️ Avoid breathing brake dust. Use brake cleaner, not compressed air.
• ⚠️ No battery disconnect is required for this repair.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• 19mm lug nut socket
• 1/2-inch drive breaker bar
• 1/2-inch drive torque wrench
• 3/8-inch drive ratchet
• 7mm hex bit socket
• 13mm socket
• 15mm wrench
• T50 Torx bit socket
• Rear brake caliper wind-back tool (specialty)
• Flathead screwdriver
• Wire brush
• Brake parts cleaning brush
• Dead blow hammer
• Brake cleaner spray
• High-temperature brake grease
• Bungee cord
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses
• Dust mask

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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 - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner spray - Qty: 1-2 cans
• DOT 4 brake fluid - Qty: 1 small bottle

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🅿️ Park your Focus on level ground, shift into 1st gear, and release the parking brake before removing the rear brakes.
• 🧱 Place wheel chocks in front of both front wheels so the car cannot roll.
• 🔍 Check the brake fluid reservoir under the hood. If it is full, remove a small amount with a clean suction tool before compressing the calipers.
• 🧤 Put on safety glasses, gloves, and a dust mask before cleaning brake parts.
• 🔩 Loosen the rear lug nuts slightly before lifting the vehicle.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen the Rear Lug Nuts

• Use the 19mm lug nut socket and 1/2-inch drive breaker bar to loosen each rear lug nut about 1/2 turn.
• Do not remove the lug nuts yet.
• Loosen wheels before lifting.

Step 2: Lift and Support the Rear of the Vehicle

• Use the floor jack to lift the rear of your Focus at the correct rear lifting point.
• Place jack stands under the rear support points.
• Slowly lower the vehicle onto the jack stands.
• Gently shake the car by hand to confirm it is stable.

Step 3: Remove the Rear Wheels

• Use the 19mm lug nut socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet or your fingers to remove the loosened lug nuts.
• Remove both rear wheels and place them flat under the vehicle as an extra safety backup.

Step 4: Inspect the Brake Assembly

• Look at the rear caliper, pads, rotor, brake hose, and parking brake cable.
• Use a flashlight if needed, but do not pull or twist the brake hose.
• If you see wet brake fluid, stop and repair the leak before continuing.

Step 5: Remove the Rear Caliper

• Use the 13mm socket to remove the rear caliper slide pin bolts.
• If the slide pin spins, hold it with the 15mm wrench while loosening the bolt with the 13mm socket.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket.
• Use a bungee cord to hang the caliper from the suspension spring.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the rubber brake hose.

Step 6: Remove the Old Brake Pads and Hardware

• Use your hands or a flathead screwdriver to slide the old brake pads out of the caliper bracket.
• Use the flathead screwdriver to remove the old metal pad clips from the bracket.
• Pad clips are thin metal guides that let the pads move smoothly.

Step 7: Remove the Caliper Bracket

• Use the T50 Torx bit socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to remove the rear caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the caliper bracket and set it on a clean surface.
• If the bolts are tight, use steady pressure. Do not jerk the tool.

Step 8: Remove the Old Rotor

• Pull the rotor straight off the hub by hand.
• If it is stuck from rust, tap the rotor hat area with a dead blow hammer.
• Do not hit the wheel studs.
• A rotor hat is the raised center section of the brake rotor.

Step 9: Clean the Hub and Bracket

• Use the wire brush to clean rust from the wheel hub face.
• Use the brake parts cleaning brush and brake cleaner spray to clean the caliper bracket pad contact areas.
• Let all cleaned parts dry before installing new parts.
• Clean hubs prevent brake vibration.

Step 10: Install the New Rotor

• Use brake cleaner spray to clean both friction surfaces of the new rotor.
• Slide the new rotor onto the hub by hand.
• Install one lug nut backward by hand to hold the rotor flat while you work.

Step 11: Reinstall the Caliper Bracket

• Position the caliper bracket over the new rotor.
• Start the bracket bolts by hand first to prevent cross-threading.
• Use the T50 Torx bit socket and 1/2-inch drive torque wrench to tighten the bracket bolts.
• Torque to 70 Nm (52 ft-lbs)

Step 12: Install New Brake Hardware

• Press the new pad clips from the rear brake hardware kit into the caliper bracket by hand.
• Use a small amount of high-temperature brake grease on the pad clip contact points.
• Do not put grease on the rotor surface or pad friction material.

Step 13: Wind Back the Rear Caliper Piston

• Use the rear brake caliper wind-back tool to rotate and push the caliper piston fully into the caliper.
• Go slowly and watch the brake fluid reservoir under the hood so it does not overflow.
• The piston face has notches. Align the notches so the new inner pad sits correctly.
• Slow pressure protects the seals.

Step 14: Install the New Brake Pads

• Slide the new rear brake pads into the caliper bracket by hand.
• Make sure the friction material faces the rotor.
• The pads should move smoothly in the clips without being loose.

Step 15: Reinstall the Rear Caliper

• Remove the bungee cord and carefully lower the caliper over the new pads.
• Start the caliper slide pin bolts by hand.
• Use the 13mm socket to tighten the bolts while holding the slide pin with the 15mm wrench if needed.
• Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs)

Step 16: Repeat on the Other Side

• Repeat Steps 5 through 15 on the other rear wheel.
• Always replace rear brake pads and rotors in pairs.

Step 17: Reinstall the Wheels

• Remove the temporary lug nut holding each rotor.
• Install the wheels by hand.
• Thread all lug nuts by hand first.
• Use the 19mm lug nut socket to snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.

Step 18: Lower the Vehicle and Torque the Lug Nuts

• Use the floor jack to lift the vehicle slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove the jack stands.
• Lower the vehicle fully to the ground.
• Use the 19mm lug nut socket and 1/2-inch drive torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Torque to 135 Nm (100 ft-lbs)

Step 19: Pump the Brake Pedal

• Before moving the vehicle, press the brake pedal slowly several times until it feels firm.
• This seats the caliper pistons against the new pads.
• If the pedal stays soft or sinks, do not drive the vehicle.

Step 20: 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.
• Do not overfill above the MAX mark.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Start the vehicle and confirm the brake pedal feels firm before driving.
• ✅ Test the brakes at walking speed in a safe area.
• ✅ Listen for grinding, scraping, or clicking noises.
• ✅ Perform a gentle brake bedding procedure: make 8-10 smooth stops from about 30 mph to 5 mph, allowing time between stops for cooling.
• ✅ Avoid hard braking for the first 200 miles unless needed for safety.
• ✅ Recheck the rear lug nut torque after your first short drive.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $350-$550 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $120-$230 (parts only)

You Save: $230-$320 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5-2.0 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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