How to Replace the Parking Brake Pads on a 1998 Ford Explorer With Disc Brakes

You can replace the parking brake pads on your 1998 Ford Explorer equipped with disc brakes in your home garage, saving yourself time and money. The parking brake pads wear down over time and with use and will need to be replaced. Set aside a couple hours of time to do the job yourself. You can get all the supplies and tools you need from your local auto parts retailer.

Instructions

1

Place wheel chocks in front of each of the front tires.

2

Put on your safety glasses and loosen the lug nuts on the rear wheels with a lug wrench. Position a jack under the rear differential of the vehicle and raise it up high enough to slide jack stands under it next to each rear wheel. Lower the Ford onto the jack stands.

3

Remove the lug nuts on the left rear wheel and take off the wheel. Place a drip pan under the left rear wheel and spray the brake assembly with brake cleaner.

4

Take off the bolts on the brake caliper with a socket set. Lift the brake caliper off the rotor from the top. Place the caliper bracket onto the spring to keep it from pulling on the brake line.

5

Find an oval-shaped rubber plug on the inside of the backing plate and remove it with a pick. Rotate the star-shaped adjuster in an upward motion with the pick. Gently tap the brake rotor hub with a hammer then remove the drum.

6

Remove the return and adjuster springs with a pick by pulling them out of their respective eyelets. Take out the adjuster manually. Unhook then remove the hold-down springs for the brake shoes with the pick. Remove the brake shoes and spray the area with brake cleaner.

7

Reverse the above steps to reassemble the components.

8

Repeat Steps 3 through 7 for the other rear wheel.

9

Remount the wheels on the Explorer and reinstall the lug nuts. Raise the SUV, remove the jack stands then lower the vehicle to the ground with the jack. Tighten the lug nuts with a torque wrench to 100 foot-pounds.