🔧 F-150 - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

Replacing the rear brake pads on your F-150 means removing the rear wheels, retracting the electronic parking brake motors, removing the rear calipers, and installing new pads. Your F-150 Lariat uses an electronic parking brake, so the rear parking brake must be placed into service mode before the calipers are compressed.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Your F-150 has an electronic parking brake. Do not force the rear caliper pistons back unless the parking brake is in service mode.
• ⚠️ Work on a flat, solid surface and support the truck with jack stands. Never rely on a floor jack alone.
• ⚠️ Brake dust can be harmful. Wear safety glasses and a dust mask, and avoid blowing dust with compressed air.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while a rear caliper is removed.
• ⚠️ Brake fluid may rise in the reservoir when compressing calipers. Remove excess fluid if needed using a clean fluid syringe.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not normally required for this job, but keep the ignition off after entering parking brake service mode.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• 21mm lug nut socket
• 13mm socket
• 15mm wrench
• 3/8-inch ratchet
• 1/2-inch breaker bar
• 1/2-inch torque wrench rated to 150 ft-lbs
• 3/8-inch torque wrench rated to 50 ft-lbs
• Rear brake caliper piston compression tool
• Flathead screwdriver
• Small wire brush
• Brake cleaner spray
• Brake caliper hanger hook
• Floor jack rated 3-ton minimum
• Jack stands rated 3-ton minimum
• Wheel chocks
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses
• Dust mask
• Clean shop towels
• Brake fluid syringe

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Rear brake hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper slide pin grease - Qty: 1
• Brake parts cleaner - Qty: 1
• DOT 4 brake fluid - Qty: 1 pint

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🅿️ Park your F-150 on level ground, shift to Park, and leave the engine off.
• 🧱 Place wheel chocks in front of the front tires so the truck cannot roll.
• 🧤 Put on safety glasses, gloves, and a dust mask before working around brake dust.
• 📘 A brake caliper is the clamp that squeezes the pads against the rotor. The rotor is the round metal disc behind the wheel.
• 🔧 A torque wrench tightens bolts to a measured tightness. This prevents loose or over-tightened brake parts.
• 🅿️ Put the electronic parking brake into service mode before raising the truck.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Enter Electronic Parking Brake Service Mode

• Sit in the driver seat with the doors closed.
• Turn the ignition on without starting the engine. For push-button start, press the start button without pressing the brake pedal.
• Push and hold the electronic parking brake switch down in the release direction.
• While holding the switch down, press the accelerator pedal fully to the floor.
• Keep holding both, then turn the ignition off.
• Within 5 seconds, turn the ignition back on while still holding the switch and accelerator.
• Wait until the instrument cluster displays a parking brake maintenance/service mode message.
• Release the accelerator pedal and parking brake switch.
• Do this before lifting the truck.

Step 2: Loosen the Rear Lug Nuts

• Use a 21mm lug nut socket and 1/2-inch breaker bar to loosen each rear lug nut about half a turn.
• Do not remove the lug nuts yet.
• Loosen while tires touch ground.

Step 3: Lift and Support the Rear of the Truck

• Use a floor jack rated 3-ton minimum under the rear axle center section or approved rear lift point.
• Raise the rear of your F-150 high enough for both rear wheels to clear the ground.
• Place jack stands rated 3-ton minimum under the rear axle tubes near the leaf spring mounts.
• Lower the truck gently onto the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Lightly shake the truck by hand to confirm it is stable.

Step 4: Remove the Rear Wheels

• Use the 21mm lug nut socket and 1/2-inch breaker bar to remove the loosened lug nuts.
• Remove both rear wheels and set them flat aside.

Step 5: Inspect the Brake Assembly

• Use a flashlight if available to look at the rear brake pads, rotor, caliper, and brake hose.
• Check for fluid leaks, torn rubber boots, deep rotor grooves, or uneven pad wear.
• If the rotor is deeply grooved, cracked, or below minimum thickness, replace the rotor before installing new pads.

Step 6: Remove the Rear Caliper Bolts

• Use a 15mm wrench to hold the caliper slide pin if it spins.
• Use a 13mm socket and 3/8-inch ratchet to remove the two rear caliper guide pin bolts.
• Keep the bolts clean and set them aside.

Step 7: Lift Off the Rear Caliper

• Use a flathead screwdriver to gently wiggle the caliper loose if it is tight.
• Lift the caliper off the rotor by hand.
• Hang the caliper from the suspension using a brake caliper hanger hook.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the rubber brake hose.

Step 8: Remove the Old Brake Pads and Hardware

• Pull the old inner and outer pads out of the caliper bracket by hand.
• Use a flathead screwdriver to remove the old stainless pad clips from the bracket.
• Use a small wire brush to clean the pad clip mounting areas on the bracket.
• Spray the bracket areas with brake cleaner spray and wipe with clean shop towels.

Step 9: Compress the Rear Caliper Piston

• Open the brake fluid reservoir cap under the hood by hand.
• Watch the fluid level while compressing the piston.
• Use a brake fluid syringe to remove a small amount of fluid if the reservoir gets close to overflowing.
• Use the rear brake caliper piston compression tool to slowly push the caliper piston fully into the caliper.
• Move slowly and stop if the piston does not retract smoothly.
• Slow pressure protects brake parts.

Step 10: Install New Brake Hardware

• Install the new rear brake pad clips from the rear brake hardware kit into the caliper bracket by hand.
• Make sure each clip sits fully flat and locked in place.
• Apply a thin layer of brake caliper slide pin grease only where the brake pad ears touch the clips.
• Do not get grease on the brake pad friction material or rotor face.

Step 11: Install the New Rear Brake Pads

• Slide the new inner and outer pads from the rear brake pad set into the caliper bracket by hand.
• The friction material must face the rotor.
• Make sure the pads move smoothly in the clips without binding.

Step 12: Reinstall the Rear Caliper

• Remove the caliper from the brake caliper hanger hook.
• Lower the caliper over the new pads by hand.
• Use the 13mm socket and 3/8-inch ratchet to install the two caliper guide pin bolts.
• Use the 15mm wrench to hold the slide pins if they spin.
• Tighten the caliper guide pin bolts with the 3/8-inch torque wrench to Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs).

Step 13: Repeat on the Other Rear Side

• Use the same 13mm socket, 15mm wrench, flathead screwdriver, rear brake caliper piston compression tool, and 3/8-inch torque wrench on the opposite rear brake.
• Replace pads and hardware on both rear wheels as a set.
• Always replace brake pads in pairs.

Step 14: Reinstall the Rear Wheels

• Place each rear wheel back onto the hub by hand.
• Thread all lug nuts on by hand first to prevent cross-threading.
• Use the 21mm lug nut socket and 1/2-inch breaker bar to snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.

Step 15: Lower the Truck and Torque Lug Nuts

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

Step 16: Exit Electronic Parking Brake Service Mode

• Turn the ignition on without starting the engine.
• Pull and hold the electronic parking brake switch up in the apply direction.
• While holding the switch up, press the accelerator pedal fully to the floor.
• Keep holding both, then turn the ignition off.
• Within 5 seconds, turn the ignition back on while still holding both.
• Wait until the parking brake maintenance/service mode message clears.
• Release the accelerator pedal and parking brake switch.

Step 17: Pump the Brake Pedal

• With the truck still in Park, press the brake pedal slowly several times until it feels firm.
• This moves the caliper pistons back against the new pads.
• Check the brake fluid reservoir and top off with DOT 4 brake fluid if needed.
• Reinstall the reservoir cap by hand.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Start your F-150 and confirm the brake pedal feels firm before driving.
• ✅ Apply and release the electronic parking brake a few times to verify normal operation.
• ✅ Check behind both rear wheels for brake fluid leaks.
• ✅ Recheck lug nut torque after the first short drive using the 1/2-inch torque wrench to Torque to 204 Nm (150 ft-lbs).
• ✅ Bed in the new pads with several gentle stops from about 30-35 mph, allowing cooling time between stops.
• ✅ Avoid hard braking for the first 100-200 miles unless needed for safety.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $250-$450 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $60-$140 (parts only)

You Save: $190-$310 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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