Brake Pads - Rear

Replace worn rear brake pads on 2015-2020 Ford F-150 with 5.0L V8 Coyote engine, including caliper service and proper bedding procedure.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear brake pad set (left and right) × 1 — Use OEM Motorcraft or equivalent
• Brake hardware kit (anti-rattle clips, shims) × 1 — Often included with pad set

Fluids

• Motorcraft DOT 4 LV Brake Fluid — 0.25 qt

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level, solid surface and engage parking brake firmly
2. Place wheel chocks in front of front wheels
3. Loosen rear wheel lug nuts 1/4 turn while vehicle is on ground
4. Lift rear of vehicle with floor jack at rear axle and secure with jack stands under frame rails
5. Remove rear wheels completely
6. Open brake fluid reservoir and use turkey baster to remove approximately 2-3 oz of fluid to prevent overflow when compressing pistons

Procedure

1. 1

   Inspect brake system condition
   Visually inspect rear brake rotors for deep scoring, cracks, or excessive rust. Check brake hoses for cracks, bulging, or leaks. Measure rotor thickness with micrometer if available (minimum thickness is stamped on rotor hat). If rotors are below minimum thickness, deeply scored, or warped, they must be replaced before installing new pads. Inspect caliper slide pins for torn boots or seized movement.
2. 2

   Remove caliper slide pin bolts
   Locate the two caliper slide pin bolts on the inboard side of the caliper (accessible from behind). Use an 18mm socket to remove both caliper slide pin bolts completely. Support the caliper with your hand as you remove the second bolt to prevent it from falling.
   Torque spec

   Caliper Slide Pin Bolts30 Nm (22 lb-ft)
3. 3

   Pivot caliper upward
   Carefully pivot the caliper upward and away from the rotor. Use a bungee cord or wire to hang the caliper from the suspension or frame. Do not allow the caliper to hang by the brake hose, as this can damage the hose internally and cause brake failure.
4. 4

   Remove old brake pads and hardware
   Remove the outer and inner brake pads from the caliper bracket. Note the orientation and position of any anti-rattle clips or shims. Remove all anti-rattle clips and hardware from the caliper bracket. Take a photo before removal if helpful for reassembly reference.
5. 5

   Clean caliper bracket and slides
   Spray caliper bracket thoroughly with brake cleaner, focusing on pad slide areas and hardware mounting points. Use wire brush to remove rust and debris from bracket contact surfaces where pads slide. Clean the caliper slide pins by removing them from the bracket and wiping off old grease. Inspect slide pin boots for tears or damage; replace if compromised.
6. 6

   Compress caliper pistons
   Using brake caliper piston compression tool or large C-clamp, slowly compress both caliper pistons fully into the caliper bore. Place tool or clamp on caliper body (not on slide pins) with pressure applied to piston face. Compress slowly and evenly. Monitor brake fluid reservoir to ensure it does not overflow. If pistons are difficult to compress or corroded, caliper may need replacement.
   ⚠Ensure reservoir cap is loose but not removed to allow fluid displacement without creating vacuum.
7. 7

   Lubricate slide pins
   Apply a thin coat of silicone brake grease to the entire length of both caliper slide pins. Do not use petroleum-based grease, as it will damage rubber boots. Reinstall slide pins into caliper bracket, ensuring boots seat properly. Slide pins should move smoothly with light hand pressure; if binding occurs, inspect for corrosion or damage.
8. 8

   Install new brake hardware
   Install new anti-rattle clips and hardware from the brake hardware kit onto the caliper bracket. Ensure clips are fully seated and oriented correctly per the reference photo or instructions included with pads. Apply a thin layer of silicone brake grease to the pad slide areas on the bracket where the pad backing plates contact metal (do not apply grease to friction material).
9. 9

   Install new brake pads
   Install inner and outer brake pads into the caliper bracket, ensuring they are properly seated in the anti-rattle clips. The friction material should face the rotor. Verify pads move smoothly in the bracket with light hand pressure. If pads included wear indicators (metal tabs), ensure they are positioned at the top of the pad per manufacturer instructions.
10. 10

    Reinstall caliper
    Lower the caliper down over the brake pads and align the slide pin bolt holes. Clean threads of caliper slide pin bolts with brake cleaner and wire brush. Apply thin coat of silicone brake grease to slide pin bolt threads and underside of bolt heads. Insert both slide pin bolts and hand-tighten completely before torquing.
    Torque spec

    Caliper Slide Pin Bolts30 Nm (22 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Torque caliper slide pin bolts
    Using torque wrench, tighten both caliper slide pin bolts to 35 Nm (26 lb-ft) in a crisscross pattern. Verify caliper is centered over rotor and both bolts are properly seated.
    Torque spec

    Caliper Slide Pin Bolts30 Nm (22 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Repeat for opposite side
    Perform steps 1 through 11 on the opposite rear wheel to replace the other side's brake pads. Always replace brake pads in axle sets (both rear wheels) to maintain balanced braking performance.
13. 13

    Reinstall wheels and restore brake pedal
    Reinstall rear wheels and hand-tighten lug nuts in star pattern. Before lowering vehicle, pump brake pedal slowly 10-15 times until pedal becomes firm and reaches normal height. This repositions caliper pistons against new pads. Pedal should not go to floor; if it does, inspect for system issues. Check brake fluid reservoir level and top off with Motorcraft DOT 4 LV brake fluid to MAX line if needed.
    ⚠️Do not attempt to drive vehicle until brake pedal is firm and reaches normal height. Failure to restore pedal will result in no braking ability.
14. 14

    Lower vehicle and final torque
    Lower vehicle to ground and remove jack stands. With vehicle weight on wheels, torque wheel lug nuts to 140 Nm (103 lb-ft) in star pattern using torque wrench. Re-check lug nut torque after 50 miles of driving.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts140 Nm (103 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Ensure brake fluid reservoir is filled to MAX line with Motorcraft DOT 4 LV brake fluid only
2. Verify all tools and parts are removed from wheel wells and under vehicle
3. Double-check that all caliper slide pin bolts and wheel lug nuts are properly torqued

Verification

• Pump brake pedal multiple times - pedal should be firm and hold pressure, not sink to floor
• Start engine and verify brake pedal height remains consistent with power assist active
• Perform low-speed brake test in safe area (5-10 mph) to verify brakes engage smoothly without pulling to one side
• Check for any brake fluid leaks around calipers and reservoir
• Perform proper bedding procedure: Make 6-10 stops from 40 mph to 10 mph with moderate pressure (50% braking), allowing 30 seconds between stops to cool. Avoid complete stops during bedding. After bedding, avoid heavy braking for 200 miles to allow pads to fully cure
• Listen for any abnormal noises during braking - squealing may occur initially but should diminish after bedding
• Re-torque wheel lug nuts to 140 Nm (103 lb-ft) after first 50 miles of driving

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