🔧 Focus - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

This repair replaces the rear brake pads on your Focus. The rear pads must be replaced in pairs so both rear wheels brake evenly.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on a flat, solid surface only.
• ⚠️ Use jack stands. Never work under or beside a vehicle supported only by a jack.
• ⚠️ Make sure the parking brake is fully released before removing the rear calipers.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while a caliper is removed.
• ⚠️ Rear caliper pistons must be turned while pushed in. Forcing them straight in can damage the parking brake mechanism inside the caliper.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not required.

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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
• Breaker bar 1/2-inch drive
• Torque wrench 1/2-inch drive
• Ratchet 3/8-inch drive
• 13mm socket
• 15mm wrench
• Rear disc brake caliper wind-back tool (specialty)
• Flathead screwdriver medium
• Brake caliper hanger hook
• Wire brush small
• Brake parts cleaner
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Rear brake pad hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper slide pin grease - Qty: 1
• DOT 4 brake fluid - Qty: 1 small bottle

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park your Focus on level ground.
• Put the manual transmission in 1st gear.
• Release the parking brake fully.
• Place wheel chocks in front of the front wheels. Wheel chocks are blocks that stop the car from rolling.
• Open the hood and check the brake fluid level. If it is at the MAX line, remove a small amount before pushing the caliper pistons back.
• No infotainment menu, scan tool, or electronic parking brake service mode is needed for this repair.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen the Rear Wheel Lug Nuts

• Use the 19mm lug nut socket and breaker bar 1/2-inch drive to loosen each rear lug nut about half a turn.
• Do this while the rear tires are still on the ground so the wheels do not spin.
• Tip: Loosen only, do not remove yet.

Step 2: Raise and Support the Rear

• Use the floor jack to lift the rear of your Focus at an approved rear jacking point.
• Place jack stands under the approved rear support points.
• Lower the car gently onto the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Give the car a careful shake by hand to make sure it is stable.

Step 3: Remove the Rear Wheels

• Use the 19mm lug nut socket and ratchet 3/8-inch drive to remove the rear lug nuts.
• Remove both rear wheels.
• Slide one wheel under the car as an extra safety backup.

Step 4: Clean and Inspect the Brake Area

• Put on safety glasses and nitrile gloves.
• Use brake parts cleaner to rinse dust from the caliper and bracket area.
• Look for brake fluid leaks, torn rubber boots, or heavy rotor damage.
• If the rotor is deeply grooved or cracked, replace the rotors with the pads.

Step 5: Remove the Rear Caliper Bolts

• Use the 15mm wrench to hold the caliper slide pin steady.
• Use the 13mm socket and ratchet 3/8-inch drive to remove the upper and lower caliper bolts.
• A slide pin is a smooth guide pin that lets the caliper move in and out as the brakes apply.

Step 6: Remove the Caliper

• Use the flathead screwdriver medium to gently wiggle the caliper loose if needed.
• Lift the caliper off the brake pads and rotor.
• Hang the caliper with the brake caliper hanger hook.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the rubber brake hose.

Step 7: Remove the Old Pads and Hardware

• Pull the old inner and outer brake pads out of the caliper bracket by hand.
• Use the flathead screwdriver medium if a pad is stuck.
• Remove the old metal pad clips from the bracket.
• Use the wire brush small to clean the bracket where the clips sit.
• Tip: Clean metal helps prevent brake noise.

Step 8: Wind Back the Rear Caliper Piston

• Use the rear disc brake caliper wind-back tool to turn and push the caliper piston inward.
• A wind-back tool is a tool that rotates the piston while pressing it back into the caliper.
• Turn the piston clockwise while applying steady inward pressure.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir. Stop if the fluid is close to overflowing.
• Fully seat the piston so the caliper will fit over the thicker new pads.

Step 9: Install New Hardware Clips

• Use brake parts cleaner to clean the bracket one more time.
• Install the new rear brake pad hardware kit clips by hand.
• Make sure each clip snaps fully into the bracket.
• Apply a very thin layer of brake caliper slide pin grease to the pad ears only.
• Pad ears are the small tabs at each end of the brake pad backing plate.

Step 10: Install the New Rear Pads

• Slide the new rear brake pad set into the caliper bracket by hand.
• Make sure the friction material faces the rotor.
• The pads should slide smoothly in the clips.
• Do not get grease on the pad friction surface or rotor face.

Step 11: Reinstall the Caliper

• Lower the caliper over the new brake pads by hand.
• If it does not fit, use the rear disc brake caliper wind-back tool to retract the piston more.
• Start both caliper bolts by hand.
• Use the 15mm wrench to hold the slide pin.
• Use the 13mm socket and torque wrench 3/8-inch drive to tighten the caliper bolts to Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs).

Step 12: Repeat on the Other Side

• Repeat the same process on the other rear brake.
• Always replace both rear sides during the same brake job.

Step 13: Reinstall the Wheels

• Put each rear wheel back on by hand.
• Thread the lug nuts on by hand first.
• Use the 19mm lug nut socket and ratchet 3/8-inch drive to snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.

Step 14: Lower and Torque the Wheels

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

Step 15: Firm Up the Brake Pedal

• Press the brake pedal slowly several times before moving the car.
• The pedal may go low at first. Keep pressing until it feels firm.
• This seats the caliper pistons against the new pads.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Check the brake fluid level and top off with DOT 4 brake fluid if needed.
• ✅ Apply and release the parking brake several times.
• ✅ Test drive slowly in a safe area first.
• ✅ Listen for grinding, scraping, or clunking noises.
• ✅ Bed in the pads with 8-10 gentle stops from about 30 mph to 5 mph.
• ✅ Recheck lug nut torque after 25-50 miles: Torque to 135 Nm (100 ft-lbs).

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $220-$380 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $45-$110 (parts only)

You Save: $175-$270 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.

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