Brake Pads and Rotors - Rear

Complete replacement of rear 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

• Rear brake pad set × 1 — Use OEM or equivalent for 3.5L EcoBoost
• Rear brake rotors × 2 — Use OEM specification for 4WD model
• Brake hardware kit (clips and springs) × 1 — Included with quality pad sets

Fluids

• Motorcraft DOT 4 LV Brake Fluid — 0.25 qt

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level ground and engage parking brake firmly.
2. Loosen rear wheel lug nuts 1/4 turn while vehicle is on the ground, but do not remove.
3. Lift rear of vehicle with floor jack at rear differential or frame contact points and secure with jack stands at manufacturer-specified locations.
4. Remove rear wheels completely and set aside.
5. Using turkey baster or suction tool, remove approximately 1/3 of brake fluid from master cylinder reservoir to prevent overflow when compressing caliper pistons.
6. Inspect brake lines and hoses for damage, cracks, or leaks. Replace if any damage is found before proceeding.

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove caliper slide pin bolts
   Locate the two caliper slide pin bolts on the rear of the caliper body. These are typically 13mm bolts. Remove both slide pin bolts completely and carefully lift the caliper off the rotor. Do NOT allow the caliper to hang by the brake hose - immediately support it with a wire hanger or bungee cord attached to the suspension or frame.
2. 2

   Remove brake pads and hardware
   With the caliper supported, remove the old brake pads from the caliper bracket. Note the orientation of any anti-rattle clips, shims, or springs. Remove all old brake hardware clips from the caliper bracket. These clips wear and should be replaced with new hardware included in quality pad sets.
3. 3

   Remove caliper bracket
   Using an 18mm socket, remove the two caliper bracket bolts that attach the bracket to the axle housing or backing plate. These bolts are very tight and may require significant force. Once removed, take the caliper bracket off completely to access the rotor.
4. 4

   Remove old rotor
   Pull the old rotor straight off the hub. On 4WD F-150 models, the rotor may be stuck due to rust or corrosion. If stuck, use a rubber mallet to tap around the rotor face (never the friction surface) or thread M8x1.25 bolts into the threaded holes in the rotor face to press it off. Clean the hub face thoroughly with a wire brush to remove all rust and debris.
   ⚠Do not strike the rotor friction surface with a hammer as this can cause hard spots and brake pulsation.
5. 5

   Install new rotor
   Spray the new rotor with brake cleaner to remove the protective oil coating applied during manufacturing. Wipe completely dry. Slide the new rotor onto the hub, ensuring it seats flush against the hub face. If desired, use a lug nut to temporarily hold the rotor in place during reassembly.
6. 6

   Clean and reinstall caliper bracket
   Wire brush the caliper bracket mounting surfaces and the pad contact points (abutments) on the bracket to remove rust and old lubricant. Apply medium-strength thread locker to the caliper bracket bolt threads. Position the bracket over the new rotor and start both bracket bolts by hand. Torque the caliper bracket bolts to specification in a cross pattern.
   ⚠Thread locker is required on caliper bracket bolts. Failure to use thread locker can result in bolts loosening and complete brake failure.
   Torque spec

   Caliper Bracket Bolts201 Nm (148 lb-ft)
7. 7

   Install new brake hardware
   Install the new anti-rattle clips and hardware onto the caliper bracket abutments. Ensure all clips are fully seated and secure. Apply a thin layer of silicone brake grease to the pad contact points on the abutments where the pad backing plates will slide, but keep grease away from the friction material.
8. 8

   Compress caliper piston
   For the integrated parking brake caliper on this vehicle, the piston must be rotated clockwise while compressing. Use a brake caliper piston tool designed for integrated parking brake calipers (a cube-style tool with pins). Insert the tool into the piston face and rotate clockwise while applying inward pressure until the piston is fully retracted into the caliper bore. The piston slots must align with the pad backing plate tabs.
   ⚠️Do NOT use a standard C-clamp to compress the rear caliper piston on this vehicle. The integrated parking brake mechanism requires rotation during compression or the caliper will be damaged.
9. 9

   Install new brake pads
   Install the new inner and outer brake pads into the caliper bracket, ensuring the friction material faces the rotor and any backing plate tabs engage properly with the piston slots and abutment hardware. Verify the pads move freely in the bracket.
10. 10

    Reinstall caliper
    Remove the caliper from its support and carefully position it over the new brake pads and rotor. Ensure the caliper slides onto the slide pins properly. Clean the slide pin shafts with brake cleaner and inspect the rubber boots for tears or damage. Apply a thin coat of silicone brake grease to the slide pin shafts. Install both slide pin bolts and torque to specification.
    ⚠Never use petroleum-based grease on brake components. Only use silicone brake grease or synthetic caliper grease.
    Torque spec

    Caliper Slide Pin Bolts35 Nm (26 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Repeat for opposite side
    Repeat steps 1 through 10 for the opposite rear wheel. Always replace brake pads and rotors in complete axle sets to maintain balanced braking performance.
12. 12

    Reinstall wheels and initial torque
    Mount the rear wheels onto the hubs and install all lug nuts by hand. Tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern with a hand wrench until snug but not fully torqued. Lower the vehicle to the ground so the wheels are supporting the vehicle weight.
13. 13

    Final wheel torque
    With the vehicle on the ground, use a torque wrench to torque all wheel lug nuts to specification in a star pattern. Make at least two complete passes around each wheel to ensure even seating.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts140 Nm (103 lb-ft)
14. 14

    Restore brake pedal and check fluid
    Before moving the vehicle, pump the brake pedal slowly and firmly until it becomes firm and reaches normal height. This seats the caliper pistons against the new pads. Check the brake fluid level in the master cylinder reservoir and top off with fresh Motorcraft DOT 4 LV brake fluid to the MAX line. Do not overfill.
    ⚠️CRITICAL: The brake pedal will go to the floor if you attempt to move the vehicle before pumping the pedal. Always restore pedal before moving vehicle.

Reassembly

1. Ensure all caliper bolts are torqued to specification and thread locker was applied to bracket bolts.
2. Verify brake fluid level is between MIN and MAX marks on reservoir.
3. Confirm no tools or parts were left in wheel well areas.
4. Double-check that all wheel lug nuts are torqued properly in star pattern.

Verification

• Pump brake pedal until firm with engine off. Pedal should be at normal height and feel solid.
• Start engine and verify brake pedal does not sink with sustained pressure (if it does, there may be air in the system).
• Test parking brake function by engaging and verifying it holds the vehicle on a slight incline.
• Perform a low-speed brake test (5-10 mph) in a safe area to verify brakes engage smoothly without pulling or noise.
• After the first 50-100 miles, re-torque wheel lug nuts and check brake fluid level.
• Bed-in new brake pads per manufacturer instructions (typically 30-50 moderate stops from 30-40 mph without coming to complete stop to allow cooling between applications).
• Inspect for any brake fluid leaks around calipers and brake lines after first test drive.

Related trouble codes on this vehicle

Codes that commonly send this job to the bay — tap one for symptoms, causes, and diagnostic steps.

Chasing one of these codes and not sure which part is guilty? Ask a master mechanic about YOUR car →

More procedures for this vehicle