How to Change the Brake Pads in a 2002 Ford Super Duty

Super Duty refers to Ford Motor Companys light- and medium-duty trucks. The Super Duty nameplate originated on the 1999 F250 through F550 models, and was still used to describe these vehicles as of 2010. The brake pads on the vehicles press against the circular brake rotor when the brake pedal is pushed, and will wear out after a few thousand miles of use, especially if you haul or tow heavy loads.

Instructions

1

Place the transmission in "park" if you have an automatic, or leave the transmission in gear if you have a manual transmission. Open the hood and remove the brake master cylinder cap, which is mounted to the drivers-side firewall.

2

Chock the wheel diagonally opposite from the one you will be working on. Place a floor jack under the frame near the wheel you want to work on first. Loosen the lug nuts on the wheel with a lug wrench. Raise the jack until the wheel is off the ground. Remove the lug nuts completely. Remove the wheel from the hub and place it aside.

3

Remove the two bolts on the back side of the caliper with a socket and ratchet in a counterclockwise direction. Pull the caliper straight up from the caliper bracket. Support the caliper with a piece of wire to the spring in the wheel well to keep from damaging the rubber brake line that is attached to the caliper.

4

Pry the wire spring from the ends of the brake pads with a flat-blade screwdriver. Pry the two brake pads out of the caliper bracket with a flat-blade screwdriver. Place one of the used pads over the double piston on the caliper. Place a C-clamp over the pad and the back side of the caliper housing. Tighten the clamp until the pistons are fully retracted into the caliper. Remove the old pad and the C-clamp.

5

Push new pads into each side of the caliper housing until they snap into place. Compress the wire spring with your fingers and push it into the hole in the end of each brake pad. Release the spring.

6

Push the caliper back over the caliper bracket. Line up the mounting holes and tighten the retaining bolts with a socket and ratchet.

7

Replace the wheel and hand-tighten the lug nuts. Lower the floor jack. Tighten the lug nuts with a lug wrench in a crisscross configuration. Remove the wheel chocks.

8

Repeat the above steps for all remaining wheels.

9

Check the level of brake fluid in the master cylinder. Use a syringe to remove excess fluid if necessary. Replace the cap and close the hood. Depress the brake pedal a few times to seat the new pads before driving for the first time.