How to remove rear caliper

[beertracker]

Howdy:

I am new to this forum and hope I have posted my question in right forum. Here goes how do I remove the rear brake caliper on a 02 Explorer XLT? It's 4 wheel disk and 4 wheel independent suspension.

Thanks much,

Beertracker

 

[jrford]

two bolts.
getting the rotors off are the big problem.

 

[tv4fish]

As stated -- there are 2 bolts that hold the caliper on - they are accessed from the inside of the wheel, not from the outside. You just need to remove those 2 bolts and then pull the caliper assy. out away from the rotor. Pretty simple task.

 

[dcm0123]

Remove 2 bolts as stated above. Pads will come out with calipers as an assembly.

Pry bottom of caliper out. The upper edge of the pads hook onto the spindle assembly. After you pry the lower edge out, you can drop the caliper assembly slightly to disengage where it hooks on and then pull it out.

As noted above, removing the rotors is the hardest part because the emergency brake shoes bind up inside the rotor/drum.
If you are doing rear disc pads, I suggest you be prepared to do the rotors and emergency brake shoes as well.
If you decide to buy a new hold down kit for the emergency brake shoes, buy one from Ford. Some of the aftermarket kits (NAPA in particular) do not have the correct hold down clips which makes it impossible to install. The NAPA kit requires you to rotate the pin but you do not have the clearance required to do so.

 

[beertracker]

Thanks for the info it was helpful. I found those two bolts and they look like part of the suspension? Will alignment be affected by removing the two bolts? Should I have an alignment performed after removal\installation of the two bolts?

I am trying to replace the rear brake pads that's why I asked about rear caliper removal.

Thanks,
Beertracker

 

[dcm0123]

Just to make sure you are looking at the right bolts, they should take a 13 or 14MM socket if my recollection is right. They will not affect alignment.

If your rotors are corroded or grooved, you may be forced to remove and replace them. The emergency brake drum is part of the rotor and will be removed/replaced with it. The emergecy brake shoes are hidden inside the rotor.

If you can reuse the rotors as is, you will not need to worry about the emergency brake shoes unless they are giving you trouble.

In the northeast, the rotors tend to corrode and require replacement before the pads wear out. The corrosion inside the drum makes it next to impossible to remove the rotor/drum without damaging the emergency brake shoes and hold down kit.

 

[beertracker]

Okay in order to remove the rear caliper must I first remove the rotor?

Thanks,
Beertracker

 

[corkey]

no,,just the 2 bolts,,

 

[beertracker]

Job complete! I removed the caliper, removed\installed pads. Nothing to it! Thanks to all who helped with answers.

Beertracker