How to Remove the Brake Rotors on an F-150

Brake rotors on a Ford F-150 pick-up are either 11.7 inches or 12.1 inches in diameter depending on the year and drive configuration. Whatever the configuration, the brake rotors are an important component of a truck's braking system. The rotor houses the wheel bearings and supports the weight of the truck as well as the radial and lateral loads created when driving and maneuvering the vehicle. The rotor serves as the connecting member between the wheel/tire assembly and the truck's axle as well as supporting the lugs that locate and clamp the wheel hub. Occasionally, the rotors on your F-150 need to be replaced. To do this you must first remove the old ones.

Instructions

Removing the Rotor

1

Set the truck's parking brake fully. Break the torque on the lug nuts with the truck on the ground, but do not loosen them beyond what is necessary to spin the lug nuts off once the wheel is off the ground. Jack up the front of the truck on the side to be removed and place a jackstand under the axle on that side. Release the jack and allow the jackstand to support the load. Repeat this process on the other side if both sides are to be removed. Finish spinning off the lug nuts, then remove the wheel from the rotor.

2

Remove the caliper mounting bolts with the Allen wrench. Cock or twist the caliper against the rotor to force the brake fluid to bleed back into the master cylinder reservoir and release the residual brake pressure. Lift the caliper from the rotor, then suspend the caliper with a bungee from some convenient spot inside the wheel well. Never allow the brake line to support the weight of the unmounted caliper or brake line damage may occur.

3

Remove the bearing cup from the rotor. Straighten the cotter pin with the needlenose pliers, then remove it from the spindle. Discard the cotter pin. Remove the castle nut (locknut) from the spindle with the breaker bar. Slide the rotor partially off the spindle and then slide it back on. This will expose the outer wheel bearing. Slide the outer wheel bearing off of the spindle and carefully slide the rotor completely off the spindle, taking care to not damage the inner wheel bearing seal. Inspect the rotor pads, wheel bearings and inner wheel bearing seal for damage and replace if necessary.