Brake Pads and Rotors - Rear

This procedure covers the replacement of rear brake pads and rotors on a 2021-2024 Ford F-150 with 3.5L EcoBoost engine, including caliper service and proper torque specifications.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear brake pad set (4 pads) × 1 — Use OEM Ford specification or quality aftermarket
• Rear brake rotors × 2 — Use OEM Ford specification or quality aftermarket
• Brake hardware kit (clips and shims) × 1 — Often included with pad set

Fluids

• Motorcraft DOT 4 LV Brake Fluid — 0.25 qt

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level, solid ground. Shift transmission to Park and apply parking brake.
2. Loosen rear wheel lug nuts 1/4 turn while vehicle is still on the ground.
3. Lift rear of vehicle with floor jack at proper jacking points per owner's manual and secure with jack stands rated for vehicle weight.
4. Remove rear wheels completely and set aside.
5. Open hood and locate brake fluid reservoir. Remove cap and use turkey baster or fluid extractor to remove approximately 2-3 oz of fluid to prevent overflow when compressing pistons.

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove caliper slide pins
   Locate the two caliper slide pin bolts on the rear of the caliper assembly. These may be hex-head bolts or require a specific caliper pin socket. Remove both slide pin bolts completely. Keep track of which bolt came from which position as they may be different lengths.
   Torque spec

   Caliper Slide Pin Bolts35 Nm (26 lb-ft)
2. 2

   Remove caliper from bracket
   Carefully swing the caliper up and away from the rotor. Do NOT let the caliper hang by the brake hose. Support the caliper using a wire hanger or bungee cord attached to the suspension or frame. Inspect the brake hose for cracks, leaks, or damage.
   ⚠Never allow the caliper to hang unsupported by the brake hose - this can damage the hose and cause brake failure.
3. 3

   Remove brake pads and hardware
   Remove the old brake pads from the caliper bracket. Note their orientation for reference. Remove any anti-rattle clips, shims, or spring hardware from the bracket. Inspect all hardware - replace if worn, bent, or corroded.
4. 4

   Remove caliper bracket
   Locate the two large caliper bracket bolts that mount the bracket to the axle hub. These are larger than the slide pin bolts and require significant torque. Remove both bracket bolts completely and remove the bracket from the vehicle. Keep these bolts separate from the slide pin bolts.
   Torque spec

   Bracket Bolts117 Nm (86 lb-ft)
5. 5

   Remove old rotor
   Pull the old rotor straight off the hub. If the rotor is stuck due to corrosion, use penetrating oil and tap gently with a rubber mallet. On F-150s, there may be small clips or screws holding the rotor - remove these if present. Clean the hub surface thoroughly with a wire brush to remove rust and debris.
6. 6

   Install new rotor
   Clean the new rotor with brake cleaner to remove any protective coating or oil from manufacturing. Slide the new rotor onto the hub, ensuring it seats fully and flush against the hub face. If your vehicle had rotor retention screws or clips, reinstall them now.
   ℹ️New rotors often have a protective oil coating that must be removed with brake cleaner before installation to prevent brake contamination.
7. 7

   Reinstall caliper bracket
   Position the caliper bracket over the rotor and align the mounting holes with the axle hub. Apply medium-strength thread locker to the bracket bolt threads. Install both bracket bolts and tighten to specification using a torque wrench in a criss-cross pattern.
   Torque spec

   Bracket Bolts117 Nm (86 lb-ft)
8. 8

   Install new brake hardware and pads
   Install all new anti-rattle clips, shims, and hardware into the caliper bracket according to the kit instructions. Apply a thin layer of silicone brake grease to pad backing plates where they contact the hardware (do NOT get grease on friction surfaces). Install the inner and outer brake pads into the bracket in the correct orientation.
9. 9

   Compress caliper piston
   Before reinstalling the caliper, the piston must be compressed fully into the caliper bore to accommodate the new, thicker brake pads. Use a C-clamp or brake caliper piston tool, placing one side against the back of the caliper body and the other against the old brake pad or a piece of wood. Slowly compress the piston completely. Monitor the brake fluid reservoir - it should rise but not overflow.
   ⚠Compress the piston slowly to avoid damaging the caliper seal or forcing contaminated fluid back into the ABS system.
10. 10

    Service and reinstall caliper
    Remove the caliper slide pins from the bracket and inspect them. Clean thoroughly and apply fresh silicone brake grease to the smooth pin shaft (NOT the threads). Inspect the pin boots for tears or damage - replace if necessary. Reinstall the greased pins into the bracket. Position the caliper over the new brake pads and align the slide pin bolt holes.
11. 11

    Install caliper slide pin bolts
    Apply silicone brake grease to the slide pin bolt threads and under the bolt heads. Install both slide pin bolts and tighten to the specified torque value using a torque wrench. Ensure the caliper moves freely on the slide pins after installation.
    Torque spec

    Caliper Slide Pin Bolts35 Nm (26 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Repeat for opposite side
    Perform all previous steps (1-11) on the opposite rear wheel to replace both rear brake assemblies. Always replace brake pads and rotors in axle sets to maintain balanced braking performance.
    ⚠Always replace brake components in complete axle sets - never replace only one side as this creates uneven braking.
13. 13

    Reinstall wheels and lower vehicle
    Reinstall the rear wheels and hand-tighten all lug nuts in a star pattern. Lower the vehicle until the wheels just contact the ground but are not bearing full weight. Torque the lug nuts to specification in a star pattern using a torque wrench. Fully lower the vehicle and remove jack stands.
    Torque spec

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

    Restore brake fluid level and pump pedal
    Check the brake fluid reservoir and top off to the MAX line with fresh Motorcraft DOT 4 LV brake fluid. Replace the reservoir cap. Pump the brake pedal slowly 10-15 times until it feels firm. The pedal should become progressively firmer as the pistons contact the new pads. Check fluid level again and top off if needed.
    ⚠️Do NOT start or move the vehicle until a firm brake pedal is achieved. If the pedal remains soft after pumping, there may be air in the system requiring professional bleeding.

Reassembly

1. Ensure all caliper slide pin bolts and bracket bolts are torqued to specification and thread locker was applied where specified.
2. Verify brake fluid reservoir is filled to MAX line with fresh DOT 4 LV fluid.
3. Confirm all tools and parts have been removed from wheel wells and under vehicle.
4. Double-check that wheel lug nuts are torqued to 140 Nm (103 lb-ft) in a star pattern.

Verification

• Pump brake pedal until firm resistance is felt - pedal should not sink to floor and should feel consistent with pre-service operation.
• Start engine and verify brake warning light is OFF on instrument cluster.
• Test brakes at low speed (under 15 mph) in a safe area before normal driving - brakes should engage smoothly without pulling to one side.
• Check for any fluid leaks around calipers, hoses, and reservoir after test drive.
• Perform break-in procedure: Make 6-10 gentle stops from 30-40 mph with moderate pedal pressure, allowing 30 seconds between stops to cool. Avoid hard stops for the first 200-300 miles.
• After 50-100 miles, recheck wheel lug nut torque and brake fluid level.

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