Brake Pads and Rotors - Front

Replace front brake pads and rotors on a 2011-2014 Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost 4WD, including caliper service and proper torque procedures.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Front brake pad set (4 pads total) × 1 — Use OEM Motorcraft or quality aftermarket
• Front brake rotors × 2 — Use OEM specification
• Caliper slide pin grease × 1 — Silicone-based brake grease
• Anti-rattle clips (if not included with pads) × 1 — Verify included with pad set

Fluids

• Motorcraft DOT 4 LV Brake Fluid — 0.25 qt

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level, solid ground. Place transmission in Park and engage parking brake.
2. Remove approximately half the brake fluid from the master cylinder reservoir using a turkey baster or fluid extractor to prevent overflow when compressing pistons. Dispose of old fluid properly.
3. Loosen front wheel lug nuts 1/4 turn while vehicle is still on the ground.
4. Raise front of vehicle with floor jack at designated lift points and support securely on jack stands under the frame rails.
5. Remove front wheels completely and set aside.
6. Inspect brake lines, hoses, and calipers for leaks, damage, or excessive corrosion before proceeding.

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove caliper slide bolts
   Locate the two caliper slide pin bolts on the rear of the caliper assembly (facing toward the engine). These are typically 13mm bolts. Use a 13mm socket or wrench to remove both slide pin bolts completely. Support the caliper with your hand as you remove the second bolt to prevent it from falling.
   ⚠Do not let the caliper hang by the brake hose as this can damage the hose internally.
2. 2

   Remove and support caliper
   Carefully lift the caliper off the rotor and bracket. Use a wire coat hanger, bungee cord, or suspension hook to hang the caliper from the suspension or frame. Ensure there is no tension on the brake hose. Do not disconnect the brake hose unless replacing the caliper.
3. 3

   Remove old brake pads and hardware
   Remove the old brake pads from the caliper bracket. Take note of the position of any anti-rattle clips, shims, or springs. Remove and discard old anti-rattle clips from the bracket. Clean the pad contact areas on the bracket with a wire brush and brake cleaner.
4. 4

   Remove caliper bracket
   Locate the two caliper bracket bolts (typically 18mm) that attach the bracket to the steering knuckle. These are larger than the slide pin bolts and require significant force to remove. Use a breaker bar if necessary. Remove both bracket bolts and remove the caliper bracket completely.
   ℹ️Caliper bracket bolts are high-torque fasteners and may require penetrating oil if vehicle has high mileage or exposure to salt.
5. 5

   Remove old rotor
   Remove the old brake rotor by pulling it straight off the wheel hub. If the rotor is stuck due to rust or corrosion, use a rubber mallet to tap around the rotor face and edges (avoid hitting the wheel studs). Some rotors may have a small threaded hole where you can thread in a bolt to push the rotor off the hub.
6. 6

   Clean hub and prepare new rotor
   Use a wire brush to thoroughly clean the wheel hub surface, removing all rust and debris. This ensures the new rotor seats flush. Clean the new rotor with brake cleaner on both sides to remove the protective oil coating. Dry thoroughly with a clean, lint-free cloth.
   ⚠Failure to remove protective coating from new rotors will contaminate brake pads and cause poor braking performance and noise.
7. 7

   Install new rotor
   Place the new rotor onto the wheel hub, ensuring it sits flush against the hub surface. If necessary, use a lug nut threaded backward to temporarily hold the rotor in place while working. Verify the rotor spins freely without excessive runout (wobble).
8. 8

   Reinstall caliper bracket
   Position the caliper bracket over the new rotor and align with the mounting holes on the steering knuckle. Apply medium-strength thread locker to the caliper bracket bolt threads. Install both bracket bolts and torque to specification in a cross pattern.
   ⚠️Caliper bracket bolts are critical safety fasteners. Torque to exact specification using a calibrated torque wrench.
   Torque spec

   Caliper Bracket Bolts117 Nm (86 lb-ft)
9. 9

   Compress caliper piston
   Before installing new pads, the caliper piston must be compressed to accommodate the thicker new pads. Use a C-clamp or brake caliper piston tool to slowly compress the piston back into the caliper bore. Position the clamp on the back of the piston and the rear of the caliper body. Compress slowly and watch the brake fluid reservoir to ensure it does not overflow.
   ⚠Rapid piston compression can damage ABS components. Compress slowly and steadily.
10. 10

    Install new brake pad hardware and pads
    Install new anti-rattle clips onto the caliper bracket in the same positions as the old clips. Apply a thin layer of silicone brake grease to the pad backing plate contact points on the bracket (where pads slide). Install the new brake pads into the bracket, ensuring they are properly seated in the clips. The pad with the wear indicator (if present) typically goes on the inner position.
11. 11

    Service caliper slide pins
    Remove the caliper slide pins from the bracket (if not already removed). Clean the pins thoroughly with brake cleaner and inspect for wear, corrosion, or damage. Clean the pin bores in the bracket. Apply a fresh coat of silicone brake grease to the slide pins, covering the entire sliding surface. Reinstall the pins into the bracket.
    ℹ️Proper slide pin lubrication is essential for even pad wear and caliper function. Use only silicone brake grease, not petroleum-based lubricants.
12. 12

    Reinstall caliper
    Remove the caliper from its supported position. Position the caliper over the new brake pads and bracket. Ensure the caliper piston faces the inner brake pad. Align the caliper slide pin bolt holes and install both slide pin bolts. Torque the slide pin bolts to specification.
    ⚠️Improperly torqued slide pin bolts can cause caliper detachment or seizure, resulting in brake failure.
    Torque spec

    Caliper Slide Pin Bolts35 Nm (26 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Repeat for opposite side
    Repeat steps 1 through 12 for the opposite front wheel, ensuring all procedures are performed identically.
14. 14

    Reinstall wheels and restore brake pedal
    Reinstall both front wheels, threading lug nuts by hand initially. Lower the vehicle until tires just touch the ground but jack stands still support weight. Torque lug nuts to specification in a star pattern. Fully lower vehicle and remove jack stands. Before moving the vehicle, pump the brake pedal slowly 10-15 times until firm resistance is felt and pedal height is normal.
    ⚠️Do not attempt to move the vehicle until brake pedal is firm. New pads must be seated against rotors before driving.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts140 Nm (103 lb-ft)
15. 15

    Check brake fluid level and test brakes
    Open the master cylinder reservoir and check brake fluid level. Add Motorcraft DOT 4 LV brake fluid to bring level to the MAX line. Do not overfill. Reinstall reservoir cap. Start the engine and test brake pedal feel with vehicle stationary. Perform a low-speed brake test in a safe area before returning to normal driving.
    ⚠️Test brakes at low speed in a safe area before normal operation. Verify proper brake function and absence of pulling, noise, or vibration.

Reassembly

1. Torque all fasteners to exact specifications using a calibrated torque wrench in the sequence specified.
2. Ensure no tools or parts are left in the wheel well area before reinstalling wheels.
3. Verify brake hoses are not kinked, twisted, or under tension after caliper reinstallation.
4. Double-check that all caliper bolts and wheel lug nuts are fully tightened before test driving.

Verification

• Brake pedal should feel firm and maintain consistent height after pumping 10-15 times with engine off.
• With engine running, brake pedal should not sink slowly to the floor when held under constant pressure.
• Perform multiple low-speed stops (15-20 mph) in a safe area to verify even braking without pulling to either side.
• After 50-100 miles, re-torque wheel lug nuts to specification to ensure proper seating.
• Follow pad and rotor manufacturer's bedding procedure (typically 10-15 gradual stops from 30-40 mph) to properly seat pads and avoid glazing.
• Inspect for any fluid leaks around caliper connections and brake lines after first test drive.
• Listen for any unusual noises during braking; some light squealing is normal during initial bedding but should diminish.
• Check brake fluid level after bedding procedure and top off if necessary with Motorcraft DOT 4 LV brake fluid.

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