Brake Drum - Rear

This procedure covers removal and installation of the rear brake drums on a 2011-2014 Ford F-150 with 5.0L V8 Coyote engine and 4WD.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear brake drum × 2 — Use OEM specification or quality aftermarket

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level, solid ground and engage parking brake
2. Place wheel chocks in front of both front wheels
3. Loosen rear wheel lug nuts while vehicle is still on the ground (do not remove)
4. Raise rear of vehicle using floor jack at rear axle differential housing or frame rail jack points
5. Support vehicle securely on jack stands placed under frame rails behind rear axle
6. Remove rear wheels completely and set aside

Procedure

1. 1

   Release parking brake
   Fully release the parking brake from inside the vehicle. Verify the parking brake cables are slack. The vehicle is now supported only by jack stands.
2. 2

   Inspect drum for retention hardware
   Check if the brake drum has any small sheet metal clips or screws retaining it to the wheel studs. Some F-150 drums use small Phillips head screws for assembly retention. If present, remove these screws completely.
3. 3

   Attempt initial drum removal
   Grasp the brake drum firmly with both hands and pull straight outward away from the vehicle. If the drum slides off easily, proceed to step 6. If the drum is stuck, continue to next step.
4. 4

   Apply penetrating oil if drum is seized
   If drum does not come off easily, spray penetrating oil around the center hub area where the drum contacts the axle flange. Allow 5-10 minutes for penetration. The drum may be corroded to the hub surface.
   ⚠Keep penetrating oil away from brake shoe friction material as it will contaminate the linings and reduce braking effectiveness.
5. 5

   Remove seized drum using percussion
   Using a rubber mallet, tap firmly around the outer edge of the drum in a circular pattern. Alternate tapping with pulling attempts. If drum still will not release, tap on the rear face of the drum near the center hub area while pulling. Never strike the friction surface inside the drum or use excessive force that could damage wheel bearings.
   ⚠Excessive force or striking the center of the drum can damage wheel bearings or axle shaft threads. Use controlled, moderate force only.
6. 6

   Remove drum completely and inspect
   Once drum is free, remove it completely and set aside. Inspect the drum interior friction surface for cracks, excessive scoring, or contamination. Inspect brake shoes for wear and contamination. If shoes contact drum at raised points due to wear grooves, the drum is beyond service limits and must be replaced.
7. 7

   Clean hub mounting surface
   Using a wire brush, thoroughly clean the axle flange hub surface where the drum mounts. Remove all rust, corrosion, and debris. This ensures the new or resurfaced drum will seat flat and true. Wipe clean with brake cleaner.
8. 8

   Prepare drum for installation
   If installing a new drum, remove any protective oil coating using brake cleaner and clean rags. Verify the drum interior is clean and free of debris. If reusing the old drum, ensure it has been inspected or resurfaced by a qualified machine shop and is within specification.
9. 9

   Install brake drum
   Align the drum with the wheel studs and slide it onto the hub. The drum should slide on smoothly and seat flush against the axle flange. Ensure the drum is fully seated and not cocked at an angle. If installing retention screws, thread them in hand-tight only (these are assembly aids, not structural fasteners).
10. 10

    Install wheel and lug nuts
    Place the wheel onto the hub and thread all lug nuts by hand to prevent cross-threading. Snug the lug nuts in a star pattern using a lug wrench, but do not fully torque yet.
11. 11

    Repeat for opposite side
    Repeat steps 2 through 10 for the opposite rear brake drum. Both rear drums should be serviced at the same time to maintain balanced braking performance.
12. 12

    Lower vehicle and torque lug nuts
    Remove jack stands and carefully lower the vehicle to the ground using the floor jack. Once the vehicle is resting on the ground with full weight on the wheels, torque all rear lug nuts to specification in a star pattern using a calibrated torque wrench.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts140 Nm (103 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Ensure both rear drums are properly seated and all lug nuts are torqued to specification in a star pattern
2. Remove wheel chocks from front wheels
3. Verify all tools and parts have been removed from under the vehicle

Verification

• Pump the brake pedal several times to verify firm pedal feel (pedal should not sink to floor)
• Test parking brake operation - it should hold the vehicle on an incline
• Perform a low-speed brake test in a safe area to verify normal braking operation and no unusual noises
• Check for any vibration or pulsation during braking that would indicate improperly seated drums
• Re-torque wheel lug nuts after driving 50-100 miles to ensure they remain properly secured

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