Ford Brake Repair Instructions

Some Ford models, like the Mustang, have brake rotors and calipers on all four wheels, so repairing tyhe brakes is simply a matter of changing the pads within the calipers. On many other models, you need to deal with brake drums and shoes on the rear brakes, which is much more complicated.

Disc Brake Pads

Siphon out half the brake fluid from the reservoir with a siphon kit or never-used turkey baster to prevent overflow. Raise the vehicle and remove both wheels on the end that you're working on; you must change the brakes on both sides. At some point you need to depress the caliper piston with a C-clamp to make room for the new pads, so doing this first is a good idea. Also, clean off the brake assembly with brake cleaner spray.

Remove the caliper's mounting bolts; this usually requires a regular socket wrench on most Ford models. Once you remove the caliper from its mounting bracket, hang it somewhere secure with a coat hanger wire. Don't let it hang by its brake hose. Remove and discard both brake pads from the caliper mounting bracket along with the spring clips. It helps to remove the guide pins and clean them. Apply high-temperature brake grease before re-installing them. You should also apply anti-squeal compound to the new brake pads' backing plates. Install new spring clips into the bracket followed by the new pads. Hold the pads against the disc as you place the caliper back in position, then apply and tighten the mounting bolts. Replace the wheels, lower the vehicle and refill the brake cylinder reservoir once you've changed the brakes on both wheels.

Drum Brake Shoes

Block the front wheels and release the parking brake before raising the rear end and removing the wheels. Remove the rear drum and brake assembly--this may require removing socket wrench bolts--to open up the drum and find the shoes. To disengage the shoes and springs from the cylinder, slide the shoe assembly down until it disengages from the cylinder's top and then tilt the shoes to lift them past the retaining plate. Unhook the lower retracting spring from the leading shoe. Spread the shoes apart at the bottom to remove the adjusting screw and its spring and the adjuster lever so you can remove the leading shoe. Pull the parking brake cable spring back with diagonal cutting pliers and unhook the cable end from the trailing shoe's parking brake lever so you can remove that shoe.

Remove the parking brake lever from the old trailing shoe by spreading its retaining clip with a screwdriver and attach it to the front of the new trailing shoe. Lubricate the cylinder's backing plate with brake grease in the spots where the shoes make contact.

Install the vehicle's parking brake lever onto the new trailing shoe. Connect the trailing shoe to the new leading shoe with the lower retracting spring and slide the shoes onto the cylinder's retaining plate. Insert the trailing shoe's hold-down pin, spring and retainer along with the adjuster screw assembly. Position the adjuster level onto the parking brake lever's pin, install the leading shoe with its hold-down pin, spring and retainer. Use pliers to stretch and connect the adjuster screw spring to the notch on the adjuster level. Center the brake shoes in place by wiggling them on the backing plate.

Reconnect the drum to the assembly. To adjust the shoes properly, remove the rubber plug from the backing plate and insert a narrow screwdriver into the hole; turn the star wheel until the brakes drag slightly as the drum turns and then turn in the opposite direction until the drum turns freely.