How to Put Brake Pads on an F-150

The brake pads are crucial components of your vehicle's disc-brake system. The Ford F150 uses a braking system that requires the brake pads to contact the brake rotors for the purpose of stopping or slowing the truck. When the vehicle's brake pads are worn, the pads do not have enough surface area to withstand the heat generated during braking, and can lead to brake failure. You can have your brake pads changed by a professional mechanic at a service station, or you can perform this necessary maintenance yourself.

Instructions

1

Park the Ford away from the curb, on a relatively flat surface, away from passing traffic. Place tire blocks around the rear wheels.

2

Loosen the lug nuts on the front wheels with the socket end of the tire iron.

3

Position the jack under the front frame of the truck. Lift the Ford with the jack and place two jack stands beneath the frames. The vehicle should rest on the stands while leaving ample space between the tires and the road for removal and replacement of the wheels.

4

Remove the lug nuts and pull the wheels from the truck. Lay the tires flat near the wheel-wells. Turn the steering wheel to the left to allow better access to the right-side caliper bolts.

5

Remove the caliper bolts on the right brake. The two caliper bolts are on the left side of the caliper and can be removed with the 1/2-inch wrench. Pull the caliper from the rotor.

6

Insert the flat screwdriver between the brake pads and the caliper walls. Slide the brake pads from the caliper. The pads are fixed to the caliper by thin metal clips that can be pried from the caliper if the pads do not come off easily.

7

Open the brake-fluid bleed valve. Use a 9/16-inch wrench to open the valve located near the upper caliper bolt on the caliper. Place a drip pan or bucket to capture any brake fluid from the valve.

8

Place the C-clamp around the caliper piston and the outer edge of the caliper wall. The piston is the circular metal piece that protrudes from the inner wall of the caliper. You need to open it completely to accept the new brake pads. Screw the C-clamp to squeeze the piston against the side of the caliper. The brake fluid will flow from the bleed valve into the drip pan below.

9

Slide the new pads onto the sides of the caliper. The metal clips will slide onto the sides of the caliper by hand.

10

Place the caliper sound the brake rotor. Replace the caliper bolts with the 1/2-inch wrench. Place the wheels onto the wheel bolts. Screw on the lug nuts by hand.

11

Remove the jack stands and lower the truck to the ground with the lifting jack. Tighten the lug nuts with the socket on the tire iron.

12

Press the brake pedal three times slowly and hold the last depression for 10 seconds. Add brake fluid to the master cylinder (located beneath the hood on the driver's side of the Ford, near the windshield).