The 2001 Ford F-150 ushered in Ford's 23rd consecutive year of the best-selling full-sized pickup in the United States. The brakes are all-around disc brakes, which are easy to replace. You should replace the brake pads every three to six months, depending on the quality of the brakes you purchased. Some indicators that the brakes are going bad are a squealing or grinding sound as you drive that gets worse when you use the brakes, or if the brakes "grab" or stop abruptly when you use them.
Instructions
- 1
Loosen the lug nuts with a tire iron 1 rotations counterclockwise. Place some wood blocks in front of the tires you are not removing.
2Raise the Ford with a floor jack so the truck is high enough for the wheels to come off. Place jack stands underneath the support struts that run along the underside edge of the truck.
3Remove the lug nuts and lift off the tires.
4Unbolt the brake caliper mounting bracket, using a socket set. There are only two bolts. After removal, tie the bracket to the undercarriage with twine to prevent strain on the brake line.
5Remove the brake pads by hand. They should easily slip out.
6Place a C-clamp on the caliper to compress the caliper. The caliper is the cylinder in the center of the mounting bracket. Continue compressing until the caliper is flush with the mounting bracket.
7Install the new brake pads. Make sure that the brake material on each pad is facing inward, toward the rotor.
8Reattach the mounting bracket using its bolts. Put the tire and the lug nuts back on. Lower the truck and tighten the lug nuts.
