How To: Replace front brake pads
 

Pull truck onto a level area.

Set parking brake

Loosen all lug nuts. Jack front of truck off the ground set a jack stand under the truck to catch if it happens to fall.

Remove all lug nuts and remove tire and set off to the side

What u should see when you remove the wheel.
http://www.fordrangerforum.com/frf/h...s/7cb43647.jpg

You will need a 14mm wrench or a 14mm socket which ever you prefer to remove the caliper bolts (marked in red)
http://www.fordrangerforum.com/frf/h...4174fb42-1.jpg

First start by removing the caliper bolts on the back side
http://www.fordrangerforum.com/frf/h...s/56a12ada.jpg
http://www.fordrangerforum.com/frf/h...s/b4f798b7.jpg

Pull the Caliper from the top up and backwards to fully remove it. You can either set it on the A Arm or tie it up so the brake line does not get stretched
http://www.fordrangerforum.com/frf/h...s/e05b7fe9.jpg

Now you can see the brake pads
http://www.fordrangerforum.com/frf/h...s/a259e27f.jpg

Pull it towards u a little bit and then pull it towards the back of the truck and it will pop out
http://www.fordrangerforum.com/frf/h...s/d59b4caf.jpg

http://www.fordrangerforum.com/frf/h...s/8df14d9f.jpg

Same deal with the back side pad
http://www.fordrangerforum.com/frf/h...s/106d14ea.jpg

http://www.fordrangerforum.com/frf/h...s/357a7604.jpg

http://www.fordrangerforum.com/frf/h...s/d76e6d1d.jpg

Now time to open up your new pads. They should come with a shim deal you stick onto the back side of the pad. Some pads do some don't

http://www.fordrangerforum.com/frf/h...s/97b41a2d.jpg

http://www.fordrangerforum.com/frf/h...s/27fbb9cc.jpg

To install the pad back into the holder place the bottom first and then slide the top into it's spot. It is easy to know which way it goes cause it will only go one way
http://www.fordrangerforum.com/frf/h...s/f97b60ad.jpg
http://www.fordrangerforum.com/frf/h...s/139df427.jpg

Do the same for the back side.

Now since you have new pads you will need to compress the pistons on the caliper to fit over the new thicker pads.

You can use a big C clamp and a piece of wood or use a caliper compressor tool found in auto stores

Put it on there and then crank it down compressing the piston. Advantage of C clamp and wood you can do both pistons at the same time

http://www.fordrangerforum.com/frf/h...s/5b6278d0.jpg

http://www.fordrangerforum.com/frf/h...s/65ba817f.jpg

http://www.fordrangerforum.com/frf/h...s/eed82b23.jpg

Once bolt are compressed down slide the caliper back over the pads and tighten the bolts back down. It is advised to use some loc tite on the bolts to prevent them from backing out.

Proper toruqe for the caliper mounting bolt is 22-26 ft-lbs

Great walkthrough. i'm getting ready to do the front pads on my 01.
Question though,i didn't read anything about opening the bleeder valve before compressing the pistons, is this not needed?

No dont have to they should compress pretty easily

Cool,Thanks again for the great walkthrough.

Re: How To: Replace front brake pads
 

Great! this helped out a lot. Know of any HOW TO's for the rear drums??

Re: How To: Replace front brake pads
 

pretty good guide, I just have one question, when you rotate the rotor after everything's put back together before you put the tire on, should you hear the brakes dragging across the rotor or contacting the rotor at all.

Re: How To: Replace front brake pads
 

at first yeah, pump the brakes a few times and let the pistons settle

Re: How To: Replace front brake pads
 

Depending on how new your truck is, you may have to compress the valve through the bleeder valve. for instance, i have a '98 and i had to open the bleeder valve to let some of the fluid out so my new pads would fit right. FYI if you do have to do this, DO NOT LET AIR IN YOUR BRAKE SYSTEM! this causes problems and with air there is sometimes dirt. try getting a tube that can fit right over the valve and drain into a bottle. good luck, it can be harder than it seems

Re: How To: Replace front brake pads
 

I just replaced the pads and master cylinder on the rear drums on my ranger. really its kinda self explanitory once you get in there. when we worked on mine, we took both wheels off to use the other as a reference. WORD OF CAUTION: dont bend the master cylinder end peices too much or it will break. its only a 15 dollar part, but its a pain. there are a lot of springs in the drum breaks and they can easily snap back, maybe want to wear some eye protection with this job. taking it apart is easier than putting it back together. some advice would be to put the parts of the left side part of the drum in a seperate spot than the right side's parts. this will make putting it back together a lot easier and less time consuming. i hope this helps, sorry i dont have pics.

Re: How To: Replace front brake pads
 

hey guys I have an 06, will I have to open up the bleeder valve? and for instance if I take a piece of wood and C clamp and compress the pistons, what causes them to come back out and seat the brake pads properly, just by pumping the brakes and its all good?

Re: How To: Replace front brake pads
 

you problem wont have to bleed the brakes, so no. and yes, pumping the brakes and going for a slow test drive and braking

and i mean slow at first

Re: How To: Replace front brake pads
 

if I do have to bleed the brakes, how would I go about doing it?

Re: How To: Replace front brake pads
 

What be the additional steps needed to get the rotor off?
Thanks!

Re: How To: Replace front brake pads
 

Great Write up!

Re: How To: Replace front brake pads