The 1999 F-150 Rear Rotor Removal

The 1999 Ford F-150 came with a wide array of options to fit the needs of nearly any buyer, including five engines, two transmissions and two cab designs. Another option on the 1999 F-150 was replacing the standard rear drum brakes with disc brakes. If you are replacing the rear rotor on the 1999 F-150, replace the brake pads to avoid wearing out the new rotors at a fast rate. Removing and installing the rear rotor on the F-150 is a relatively straightforward task that most do-it-yourself mechanics can complete.

Instructions

Removal

1

Loosen the rear lug nuts with a ratchet and socket. Raise the rear of the F-150 with a floor jack and slide jack stands under the trucks rear axle. Lower the F-150 onto the jack stands. Remove the lug nuts and pull the rear wheels from the rear hubs.

2

Remove the bolts securing the rear caliper using a ratchet and socket and lift the caliper from its bracket. Hang the caliper from a nearby suspension component, using a bungee strap. Skip to Step 6 if you are not changing the brake pads and are reusing the old rotor.

3

Pry upward on one side of the metal retaining clip on the rear of the outer brake pad, using a flathead screwdriver, and pull that side of the pad upward and off the caliper. Pry upward on the other wide of the clip and remove the brake pad from the caliper.

4

Position an 8-inch C-clamp over the caliper so its screw side touches the inner brake pad and its fixed side contacts the rear of the caliper. Position a drain pan under the caliper and turn the caliper bleeder valve a quarter-turn counterclockwise with a combination wrench to open it. Immediately tighten the C-clamp until it tops tightening. Immediately close the bleeder valve. Remove the C-clamp.

5

Pull the inner brake pad toward the outside of the caliper to remove it. Notice that the pad has metal fingers that secure it in the caliper pistons cavity.

6

Pull the rotor from the rear hub. If the rotor does not pull off easily, remove the rubber plug from the rear of the disc brake backing plate and rotate the parking brake shoe adjuster wheel -- the star-shaped wheel -- downward with a flathead screwdriver to free the rotor. Press the rubber plug back into its hole.

7

Repeat Steps 2 through 6 on the other side of the F-150.

Installation

8

Guide the original or new rotor onto the rear hub. Proceed directly to Step 4 if you reinstalled the original rotor.

9

Align the metal fingers on the rear of the inner brake pad with the cavity in the caliper piston. Press the pad toward the piston until the pad seat on the top of the piston and its fingers are fully inserted into the pistons cavity.

10

Set the outer brake on the caliper and pry one side of its metal retaining clip upward with a flathead screwdriver. Slide that side of the pad onto the caliper and repeat the process on the other side of the brake pad. Slide the brake pad onto the caliper until it seats into place on the caliper.

11

Remove the caliper from the bungee strap and set it on its bracket. Hand-tighten the caliper-to-bracket bolts, then torque them to 20 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket.

12

Repeat Steps 1 through 4 on the other side of the F-150.

13

Set the wheels back onto the rear hubs and hand-thread the lug nuts. Raise the rear of the truck from the jack stands with a floor jack and remove the jack stands. Lower the F-150 to the ground. Tighten the lug nuts, in a crisscross pattern, to 100 foot-pounds.

14

Check the brake fluid level in the master cylinder. If needed, unscrew the cap from the brake master cylinder and add new DOT 3 fluid until it the level reaches the Max line on the reservoir.