How to Remove Stuck Calipers from the Rear Brakes of a Ford Escape

Brake pads create brake dust as they wear during usage. Unfortunately, brake dust is not only unsightly when it gets all over the wheels, but it is also toxic. Another issue with brake dust is its ability to turn the lubrication on the caliper slides into a thick, pasty substance that can cause your calipers to stick. Once the rear calipers are stuck on your Ford Escape, you'll need to take the caliper slides out to clean them and reapply the lubrication. However, before you can do that, you have to get the stuck calipers off the rotors.

Instructions

1

Put your safety glasses on and chock the front wheels. Loosen the rear lug nuts with the lug wrench and then jack the rear end up with the floor jack and set it on the jack stands. It's best to put the jack stands under the frame.

2

Remove the rear lug nuts and wheels by hand. Position the drip pan under the brake assembly and spray it down thoroughly with brake clean. Spray into the caliper as best as you can.

3

Remove the caliper bolts and wedge the tip of the pry bar into the opening on the back of the brake caliper, aiming down. Once the pry bar is seated, pull downward slowly until the brake caliper pulls loose. Be careful to control your downward force, as the caliper may suddenly come free and if you are pushing too hard, you may damage the caliper, the rotor or yourself.

4

Remove the pad retaining clip from the back of the caliper and then pull the old brake pads out. Spray the inside of the caliper with brake clean again, letting the excess brake clean and brake dust run into the drip pan.

5

Clean the caliper slide pins with brake clean and lubricate them with white lithium grease. You may need to clean out the slide channels as well. If there is rust in the slide channels, clean it off with the wire brush.

6

Use the caliper piston tool to push the caliper pistons back into the calipers. Insert the new brake pads and reinstall the pad retaining clip. Reinstall the brake caliper by slipping it over the rotor and reinstalling the caliper bolts.

7

Repeat steps 2 through 6 on the other side.

8

Reinstall the wheels and lug nuts, lower the Escape off the jack stands and tighten the lug nuts to 85 foot-pounds with the torque wrench.