Parking Brake Shoes

This procedure replaces the rear parking brake shoes on a 2011-2014 Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost 4WD, which use a drum-in-hat style parking brake system integrated into the rear disc brake rotor assembly.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear parking brake shoe set (includes both shoes, hardware springs, and adjusters) × 1 — Motorcraft BRF-134 or equivalent
• Brake cleaner aerosol × 1 — Non-chlorinated brake cleaner
• Anti-seize compound × 1 — High-temperature rated

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level, solid ground and apply parking brake firmly
2. Place wheel chocks in front of both front wheels
3. Loosen rear wheel lug nuts 1/4 turn while vehicle is on ground
4. Raise rear of vehicle and support securely on jack stands at frame rails behind rear axle
5. Remove both rear wheels completely
6. Verify vehicle is stable and cannot roll before proceeding

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove rear brake caliper
   Remove the two caliper mounting bolts from the rear of the caliper bracket using a 21mm socket. Carefully lift the caliper off the rotor and support it with mechanics wire or a bungee cord to the suspension - never let it hang by the brake hose. Do not depress the brake pedal while caliper is removed.
   ⚠Do not allow caliper to hang by the brake hose as this can damage the hose internally.
   Torque spec

   Caliper Bolts101 Nm (75 lb-ft)
2. 2

   Remove brake rotor
   Remove the rotor retaining clip (if present) using pliers. Pull the rotor straight off the hub. If the rotor is seized, spray penetrating oil around the hub-to-rotor interface and use a rubber mallet to tap the rotor face evenly in multiple locations. You may need to thread M8 bolts into the threaded jacking holes on the rotor face to force it off. The parking brake shoes must be fully retracted inside the rotor hat for removal.
   ⚠Rotors can be extremely difficult to remove due to corrosion. Do not hit the rotor with excessive force as this can damage wheel bearings.
3. 3

   Inspect and photograph shoe assembly
   With the rotor removed, the parking brake shoe assembly is now visible on the backing plate. Take photos from multiple angles for reference during reassembly. Note the position of all springs, the adjuster mechanism location (bottom of assembly), and the routing of the parking brake cable. Clean the assembly with brake cleaner and a brush, catching all residue with a drip pan.
   ⚠️Use only wet cleaning methods or HEPA vacuum. Never blow brake dust with compressed air due to asbestos and carcinogenic material hazard.
4. 4

   Remove hold-down springs and pins
   Each shoe has a hold-down spring and pin assembly. Using brake spring pliers or a flathead screwdriver, press down on the spring retainer cup while rotating it 90 degrees to align the slot with the pin head, then release the spring. Remove the spring, retainer cup, and pin from both shoes. Keep hardware organized for the correct side.
   ⚠Hold-down springs are under compression. Control the spring during removal to prevent it from flying off.
5. 5

   Disconnect parking brake cable
   Locate the parking brake cable connection at the parking brake lever (attached to the rear shoe). Use needle-nose pliers to unhook the cable end from the lever. Note the cable routing and any guide clips that must be released.
6. 6

   Remove upper return spring
   Using brake spring pliers, carefully remove the upper return spring that connects the tops of both shoes. This spring is under significant tension - control it during removal and keep fingers clear of the release path. Note which holes the spring attaches to on each shoe.
   ⚠Upper return spring is under high tension and can cause injury if it slips during removal. Use proper brake spring pliers and maintain control.
7. 7

   Remove adjuster assembly and lower spring
   Remove the adjuster screw assembly from between the lower portions of the shoes. The adjuster connects the shoes at the bottom and includes the star wheel mechanism. Remove the lower return spring. Note the orientation of the adjuster - the star wheel should be accessible from the back side of the backing plate, and the adjuster has a left/right orientation.
8. 8

   Remove brake shoes
   With all springs and the adjuster removed, lift both brake shoes away from the backing plate. The parking brake lever will remain attached to the rear shoe. Inspect the backing plate for damage, rust, or wear. Clean all raised contact pads on the backing plate with a wire brush and brake cleaner.
9. 9

   Transfer parking brake lever to new shoe
   Remove the parking brake lever from the old rear shoe by removing the C-clip or horseshoe clip that retains the lever pivot pin. Transfer the lever to the new rear shoe in the same orientation, ensuring the lever moves freely. Install a new retaining clip. Apply a small amount of high-temperature grease to the lever pivot point.
10. 10

    Prepare adjuster and backing plate
    Disassemble, clean, and inspect the adjuster mechanism. Verify the star wheel rotates freely. Apply a thin coat of high-temperature brake grease to the adjuster threads and socket. Clean all six shoe contact pads on the backing plate and apply a thin film of high-temperature brake grease to these raised contact points only - do not contaminate the friction surface area.
11. 11

    Install new brake shoes
    Position the new shoes on the backing plate. Install the hold-down pins through the backing plate from behind, then position each shoe over its pin. Install the hold-down spring, retainer cup, and rotate to lock on each shoe. Connect the parking brake cable to the lever on the rear shoe. Verify shoes are seated properly on the backing plate contact pads.
    Torque spec

    Hold-Down Springs8 Nm (6 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Install adjuster and springs
    Install the lower return spring between the shoes. Position the adjuster screw assembly between the lower portions of the shoes with the star wheel accessible from the rear. Verify correct left/right orientation. Install the upper return spring between the tops of both shoes using brake spring pliers. Verify all springs are properly seated in their designated holes and the shoes are positioned correctly.
    ⚠Ensure upper return spring is fully seated in shoe holes. Improper spring installation can cause parking brake failure.
13. 13

    Adjust parking brake shoes
    Rotate the adjuster star wheel to expand the shoes until the inside diameter of the shoes is approximately 0.050 inches (1.3mm) less than the inside diameter of the drum portion of the rotor (typically measures with caliper or by test-fitting rotor with slight drag). The rotor should slide over the shoes with very slight resistance when properly adjusted. This is initial adjustment only - final adjustment occurs after installation.
14. 14

    Install rotor and caliper
    Clean the rotor hub mounting surface and rotor hat mounting surface with brake cleaner and wire brush. Apply a thin layer of anti-seize to the hub face (not the rotor mounting surface). Slide the rotor onto the hub, ensuring it seats fully. Install rotor retaining clip if equipped. Before installing caliper, compress the caliper piston fully using a C-clamp or caliper compression tool (this pushes brake fluid back into the reservoir). Position the caliper over the rotor and install caliper mounting bolts. Torque bolts to specification in a cross pattern.
    Torque spec

    Caliper Bolts101 Nm (75 lb-ft)
15. 15

    Final parking brake adjustment
    With the rotor installed, access the adjuster star wheel through the adjustment slot in the backing plate (may be accessible through hole in rotor or backing plate depending on position). Rotate the star wheel until the rotor will not turn, then back off the adjuster 8-10 clicks until the rotor rotates freely with no drag. Repeat for opposite side. Pump the brake pedal several times to restore brake pedal height before moving vehicle.
    ⚠️Ensure parking brake is properly adjusted before operating vehicle. Over-adjustment can cause brake drag and overheating; under-adjustment will result in inadequate parking brake performance.

Reassembly

1. Install both rear wheels and hand-tighten lug nuts in star pattern
2. Lower vehicle to ground and torque lug nuts to specification in star pattern
3. Check brake fluid level in master cylinder reservoir and top off with DOT 4 LV brake fluid if needed (fluid may have been displaced during caliper piston compression)
4. Apply anti-seize compound to caliper bolt threads for future service

Verification

• Before moving vehicle, pump brake pedal 10-15 times until pedal feels firm and returns to normal height
• Start engine and verify brake warning light is not illuminated
• Test parking brake operation: Pull parking brake lever fully and verify it holds vehicle on a slight incline without rolling
• Drive vehicle in a safe area and verify normal brake pedal feel and stopping power
• Test parking brake holding ability on an incline - vehicle should not roll in either direction
• Listen for any abnormal noise from rear brakes during light brake applications
• After 50-100 miles, re-check parking brake adjustment and verify parking brake still holds vehicle on incline
• If parking brake lever pulls excessively high (more than 6-8 clicks) or does not hold vehicle securely, readjust the star wheel adjusters

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