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  #31  
Old 07-23-2011, 07:29 PM
STL STL is offline
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Default Re: How To: Replace front brake pads

Quote:
Originally Posted by marino View Post
I did the front brakes today after reading your procedure with no problem. Thanks!!. Too hot outside to do the rear brake pads.
If you have never done the rear I would suggest having someone help that has.
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  #32  
Old 07-23-2011, 07:34 PM
DadsFordGirl DadsFordGirl is offline
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Default Re: How To: Replace front brake pads

Thank you, thank you, thank you.
With money tight I've been doing more DIYs and this is very helpful.
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  #33  
Old 08-18-2011, 09:52 AM
dccordell dccordell is offline
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Default Re: How To: Replace front brake pads

Great thread, really makes a brake job easy on these trucks. I knot this thread is old but I have a question after doing the front brakes:

Everything went on just fine, didn't have to open the bleeder to compress the pistons with C-clamp. But now after the job is done, and after doing some slow test runs and pumping the brakes, it seems as though the front brakes aren't working as well as they should. The truck doesn't stop as fast as it did with the old worn out brake pads, AND before the change, I could really stomp down on the brakes (had to a couple times in emergency) and none of the tires would lock up, but now if I get down on the brakes very much at all the rear tires will lock up (brand new tires on the back btw), leading me to believe the front brakes aren't doing their job at all.

I took the tires back off and did bleed the lines, although I didn't ever open the lines when installing the pads. While bleeding, I didn't notice any air.

Another thing I notice is that when pressing down on the brakes hard, the truck will try to go to the right a little and if I don't catch it, it will run off the road. Before changing the pads, it didn't do this at all. Just had the tires balanced on the front if that matters. Didn't seem to have any slack in the tires while I had it jacked up, no wiggling in all 4 directions.

The pedal isn't spongy at all though, so I'm just not sure what to check or if I should just leave it alone. Any help guys? Thanks so much...
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  #34  
Old 08-22-2011, 06:37 AM
NaCL NaCL is offline
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Default Re: How To: Replace front brake pads

I've never done brakes on a Ranger, but when I used to do them on my '78 impala, I was always told to take the cover off the master cylinder, so that you can easily compress the pistons.
Preferable to compressing them with nowhere for the extra fluid to go, and probably better than opening up the bleeder, which then can let air in the system. With the cover on the master off, all the fluid already in the system will just be forced up, but when you replace the cap, the vacuum in the system will be maintained. Dunno if I'm wrong or right, just the way I've done it in the past.
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  #35  
Old 09-03-2011, 08:12 PM
2ZZGE05 2ZZGE05 is offline
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Default Re: How To: Replace front brake pads

The safest way to compress the pistons back in the bores is to have a hose attached to the bleeder screw and open it. As you compress, the fluid will come out as opposed to being forced back into the master cylinder. Forcing it back can damage the one way valves in the combination valve/ABS.
Going to your post, NaCL, yes it is recommended to take the cover off but just enough so pressure can be relieved. Not fully off because brake fluid absorbs moisture. So you wanna leave the cap off as little as possible.
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  #36  
Old 09-09-2011, 02:07 PM
JGiddy JGiddy is offline
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Default Re: How To: Replace front brake pads

So if you're also flushing the entire system at the time of changing pads (using a hose of course), would a good order be:

bleed rear right
bleed rear left
compress front right caliper / bleed alittle out of front right / install new pad / bleed the remainder of front right
compress front left caliper / bleed alittle out of front left / install new pad / bleed the remainder of front left

? Or does it not matter when you do the pads if you're bleeding the whole system anyway?

Last edited by JGiddy; 09-09-2011 at 02:16 PM.
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  #37  
Old 09-10-2011, 12:20 AM
2ZZGE05 2ZZGE05 is offline
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Default Re: How To: Replace front brake pads

Quote:
Originally Posted by JGiddy View Post
So if you're also flushing the entire system at the time of changing pads (using a hose of course), would a good order be:

bleed rear right
bleed rear left
compress front right caliper / bleed alittle out of front right / install new pad / bleed the remainder of front right
compress front left caliper / bleed alittle out of front left / install new pad / bleed the remainder of front left

? Or does it not matter when you do the pads if you're bleeding the whole system anyway?
The order is correct. But anytime you install new pads you have to push the pistons back the entire way so the new pads fit. Since you open system up to push back the pistons, you must bleed all four wheels. If you don't you'll experience soft pedal. Bleeding takes like 15 mins with two people. Just make sure to keep the master cylinder full as you bleed.

----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by dccordell View Post
Another thing I notice is that when pressing down on the brakes hard, the truck will try to go to the right a little and if I don't catch it, it will run off the road. Before changing the pads, it didn't do this at all. Just had the tires balanced on the front if that matters. Didn't seem to have any slack in the tires while I had it jacked up, no wiggling in all 4 directions.

The pedal isn't spongy at all though, so I'm just not sure what to check or if I should just leave it alone. Any help guys? Thanks so much...
Check your brake lines in the front. They could be squished or fluid isn't flowing correctly to your caliper. More than likely the left caliper could be not sliding. You can check my removing the slider pins and check if they are lubed.
Or it could be as simple as getting an alignment.
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  #38  
Old 09-12-2011, 08:35 AM
JGiddy JGiddy is offline
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Default Re: How To: Replace front brake pads

Quote:
Originally Posted by 2ZZGE05 View Post
The order is correct. But anytime you install new pads you have to push the pistons back the entire way so the new pads fit. Since you open system up to push back the pistons, you must bleed all four wheels. If you don't you'll experience soft pedal. Bleeding takes like 15 mins with two people. Just make sure to keep the master cylinder full as you bleed.
Ok. Bleeding wasnt mentioned at all in this write-up so i was unsure if it was required if youre just doing pads.
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  #39  
Old 09-12-2011, 11:38 PM
2ZZGE05 2ZZGE05 is offline
'03 Mazda B2300
 
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Default Re: How To: Replace front brake pads

Quote:
Originally Posted by JGiddy View Post
Ok. Bleeding wasnt mentioned at all in this write-up so i was unsure if it was required if youre just doing pads.
I mean... you could push the pistons back without opening the system but you'll be pushing all that dirty fluid past your combination valve and brakes lines which can get damaged.
The best way is it to open the bleeder screw, put a hose onto it that leads into a bottle then push the pistons back. This will force the fluid out of the caliper rather than being pushed back up the lines. Then you bleed the lines of air. You can do a full flush as you bleed too.
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  #40  
Old 02-19-2012, 02:45 PM
charliesk8 charliesk8 is offline
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Default Re: How To: Replace front brake pads

i changed the pads and the front rotors..but now that everything is on place the brake pedal is really soft and it will go all the way to the bottom...ive tried pumping it for some time but it still really soft and not braking good at all....helppppp
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  #41  
Old 02-19-2012, 03:07 PM
STL STL is offline
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Default Re: How To: Replace front brake pads

Quote:
Originally Posted by charliesk8 View Post
i changed the pads and the front rotors..but now that everything is on place the brake pedal is really soft and it will go all the way to the bottom...ive tried pumping it for some time but it still really soft and not braking good at all....helppppp

Probably need to bleed them.
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  #42  
Old 11-17-2013, 04:23 PM
10rangersport 10rangersport is offline
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Default

How many pounds of torque on the slide pins?
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2010 Torch Red Ford Ranger Sport 4x4. 4.0 SOHC, Automatic Transmission, 3:73 gears, RCI Skid Plate, Toolbox, headache rack, tbar crank, 24" led light bar, k&n drop-in air filter, 3 inch body lift, Prekeys, Belltech 6400 shackles, and 33x12.50r15 Procomp Extreme Mud Terrains on 15x10 Mickey Thompson Classic Baja locks

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Originally Posted by shawn_house102 View Post
You smash her like 35's into a fender?
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  #43  
Old 11-17-2013, 06:18 PM
cvar cvar is offline
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Default Re: How To: Replace front brake pads

My Ford FSM says 38-48 ft-lbs for caliper pin bolts, and 74-96 ft-lbs for caliper bracket bolts.
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