How to Install Rear Brakes on 2004 Ford Freestar

The 2004 Ford Freestar has self-adjusting disc brakes on the rear to help bring the minivan to a safe halt. While the brake calipers are designed to last the life of the Freestar, the brake pads are not and will require replacement several times over the life of the minivan. Ford Motor Company recommends inspecting the rear brakes at every other oil change service and replacing them when the measurement is under 3 mm. Anyone with solid auto-repair abilities can install rear brakes on a 2004 Ford Freestar in a few hours.

Instructions

1

Loosen the Freestar's rear lug nuts with the lug wrench. Place the wheel chocks against the left-front tire to keep the Freestar from moving.

2

Lift the rear end with the jack, and support it on two jack stands. Manually remove the Freestar's rear lug nuts and wheels, and set them aside.

3

Slide the drop pan under the Freestar's driver's side rear brake assembly. Wash off the caliper and rotor using brake cleaner to remove leftover brake dust.

4

Extract the bolts from the brake caliper with the socket set. Manually remove the caliper from the caliper bracket. Extract the old brake pads from the caliper by hand, and throw them away.

5

Clean the inside of the Freestar's caliper with brake cleaner. Lubricate the caliper slides thoroughly with white lithium grease.

6

Force the caliper pistons to retract with the caliper piston tool. Insert the new brake pads by hand. Set the caliper back into the caliper bracket by hand before bolting it in with the socket set.

7

Move to the back passenger's side of the Freestar. Repeat steps 3 through 6. Manually reinstall the Freestar's rear wheel and lug nuts.

8

Lower the minivan off the jack stands using the jack. Tighten all of the back lug nuts to 85 foot-pounds with the torque wrench.