How to Change a Ford Taurus Rear Brake Rotor

The Taurus has been a long-lived mid-sized sedan in the Ford Motor Company. It has front disc brakes, while the rear brakes may be drum or disc. Unlike the front rotors, the rear rotors are solid plated without cooling vents. Because the rear disc brakes only provide 30 percent of the braking power, they don't get as hot as the front brakes and do not require cooling vents.

Instructions

1

Remove 1/3 of the brake fluid from the master cylinder, using the new hand pump. Pump the fluid into a tin can and then dispose of it. Replace the master cylinder cover before proceeding.

2

Make sure that the Taurus is in gear and the parking brake is not set. You will not be able to remove the rear calipers if you set the parking brake.

3

Loosen the wheel nuts of the rear tires 1/8 of a turn, with the tire iron wrench, and then lift the rear of the Taurus with a jack and safely support the car on jack stands.

4

Finish removing the wheel nuts, and then remove the tires.

5

Remove the caliper bolts, with a ratchet and a suitable socket.

6

Pry the caliper off of the pads and rotor with a slotted screwdriver. There is no need to remove the parking brake connection from the caliper. Support the caliper to the rear strut coil spring with a caliper hook, out of the way.

7

Remove the pads from the caliper bracket, noting how they are positioned in the bracket. If you're not replacing the pads, then you'll need to install them in the same position that they were removed from. Remove the caliper bracket bolts, with a ratchet and suitable socket, and set the bracket aside.

8

Use the slotted screwdriver to pry off the two rotor retaining rings located on the lug studs if present. You do not need to reuse them.

9

Remove the rotor from the wheel hub. If the rotor is stuck to the hub by rust, then spray penetrating lubricant around the circumference of the rotor-to-hub connection and allow it to soak in for a few minutes. Use a hammer to strike the flat hub of the rotor, but not the plate surface where the pads contact. Strike the hub of the rotor in different positions if it's stubborn. Spray more penetrating lubricant if necessary, and continue to strike it with the hammer until it breaks free.

10

Clean the front face of the wheel hub with a piece of emery cloth to remove any visible rust. Clean around the edges of the hub flange as well.

11

Spray the new rotor with brake cleaner spray to clean off the sticky rust-preventative coating. Be sure to spray both sides, including on the back of the hub mating surface of the rotor. Wipe the rotor dry with a clean shop rag.

12

Replace the caliper bracket and tighten the bolts to 120- to 130-foot pounds, with the torque wrench and socket.

13

Replace the pads in the caliper bracket in their respective positions.

14

Use the caliper reset tool and suitable adapter to turn the caliper piston clockwise into the caliper piston bore until it's fully seated. Place the caliper over the pads and rotor; align the caliper bolts into the caliper and knuckle connection. Tighten the bolts to 35-foot pounds, using the torque wrench and socket.

15

Repeat this procedure for the other side. Rotors and pads should always be replaced in sets. Replace the wheels and wheel nuts and then tighten them to 100-foot pounds with the torque wrench and socket. Torque the wheel nuts in a star pattern once the Taurus is back on the ground.

16

Pump the brake pedal several times to extend the caliper pistons back out of the bore and seat them against the surface of the rotor. After this step, recheck the brake fluid and add new brake fluid if necessary. Test drive the Taurus for proper braking operation.