How to Replace Brakes on a 2001 Ford Focus

Replacing the brakes on a 2001 Ford Focus is much like replacing the brakes on any Focus model from 2000 to 2005. The front brakes use brake pads that are the main components used with the brake pedal, while the rear wheels use brake shoes that work mainly with the parking brake. Whether you're changing front or rear brakes, you must change them on both sides of the car at the same time.

Instructions

Front Brake Pads

1

Apply the car's parking brake and loosen the lug nuts on both front wheels. Raise the front end, support it on axle stands, and remove the wheels.

2

Pry the brake caliper's retaining clip out with a screwdriver, disconnect the brake hose from its strut bracket, and disconnect the caliper by removing its guide pins with an Allen wrench. Support the caliper someplace where it won't stretch its brake hose. You can hang it with wire or string, for instance.

3

Pull the inner brake pad and its built-in retaining spring out of the caliper piston. Slide the outer brake pad and its securing clip out of the caliper.

4

Compress the piston with a C-clamp. This will push fluid back into the brake master cylinder. Make sure the reservoir doesn't overflow.

5

Install the new pads into the caliper. The inner pad connects to the piston via its spring, and the outer one attaches with its securing clip.

6

Connect the caliper back on the disc and tighten the guide pin bolts to 21 foot-pounds.

7

Repeat the process on the other front wheel. Reinstall the wheels and lower the car.

Rear Brake Shoes

8

Block the car's front wheels, release the parking brake, and make sure the car is in Park. Raise the rear end, support it on axle stands, and remove both rear wheels.

9

Unscrew the four bolts at the rear of the drum and hub assembly to remove the drum.

10

Remove the hold-down springs and pins for the shoes with pliers. Disconnect the top ends of the shoes from the cylinder, then pull the bottom ends off of the bottom anchor. Disconnect the parking brake cable from the rear shoe.

11

Disconnect the return springs and the adjuster from the shoes by moving the bottom ends together and pulling the front shoe away from the strut. Pull the adjustment strut away from the rear shoe and remove the strut support spring.

12

Apply high-temperature grease to the spots on the cylinder that contact the brake shoes as well on as the sliding components on the brake shoe adjuster.

13

Connect the adjustment strut and its support spring to the replacement rear shoe, connect the front shoe to the adjustment strut and the brake shoe adjuster, then connect the return springs to the shoes and the parking brake cable to the rear shoe.

14

Install the bottom end of the shoes to the cylinder's bottom anchor and connect the top ends on the cylinder. Connect the eccentric cam to the rear shoe with it set at its lowest position. Connect the hold-down pins and springs to the shoes.

15

Reconnect the brake drum to the cylinder and tighten the bolts to 49 foot-pounds.

16

Repeat the process on the opposite rear wheel. Connect the wheels and lower the rear end.