How to Replace Ford Front Brakes

Replacement of the brake pads on your Ford front disc brakes is a common money-saving project for the home mechanic. It does not require specialized tools. Most home mechanics already have the tools needed to do this job, and if not, they are available at your local auto parts store. There are some safety concerns to be aware of when you do this project. Proper lifting of the vehicle and finishing the job with a test drive eliminate these problems and make this a safe project for the beginner.

Instructions

1

Set the parking brake, and position wheel chocks behind the rear wheels to prevent the vehicle from rolling while the front wheels are off. Loosen the lugnuts slightly with the lug wrench, and then raise the front wheels off the ground. Position jack stands under the frame, and lower the vehicle down onto them. Remove the front wheels and store them, with the lugnuts, out of the way. Lifting and securing the vehicle in this manner will prevent serious injury.

2

Remove the caliper by removing the caliper slide bolts, and prying the caliper off the rotor with a large screwdriver. Open the bleeder screw located on the caliper housing and push the caliper piston back into the housing with the c-clamp. Close the bleeder screw and remove the c-clamp. This prevents debris in the caliper bore from damaging the system when pushing the piston into the caliper housing.

3

Remove the two bolts attaching the caliper bracket to the steering knuckle, and remove the rotor. Take the rotor to the local auto parts store or service center, and have it checked for thickness. If it meets specifications, have it machined to eliminate any warp that may be present. The shop that is machining the rotor will check it and advise you if replacement is needed.

4

Reinstall the rotor and caliper bracket onto the steering knuckle, and tighten the caliper bracket bolts securely. Clean the caliper slides and pad contact points, and lube them with silicone brake lube.

5

Install the new pads onto the caliper bracket, and slide the caliper into place. Tighten the caliper bolts securely. Repeat steps two through five on both sides of the vehicle.

6

Reinstall the wheels and tighten the lug nuts securely. Lower the vehicle to the ground and tighten the lug nuts, in a star pattern, one more time. Pump the brake pedal several times until the brakes are hard to push, and then test drive.