Newbie Brake Question

[bartman64]

I'm new to the board, but from what I've seen this is an excellent site. I just purchased an '04 XLT Explorer with ~ 45k miles on it. Previous owner has never replaced front or rear brakes and I figured it was past due. I've never replaced brakes on my own and I figured this would be as good a time to start as any. I have searched the board looking for related topics, but came up empty. Any tips or advice? I've heard the rear could be a challenge. Are there any special tools required to get the e-brake cable off?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Cdaddy78]

The rear is the same as the front, its 4 wheel disc. You dont need to remove the brake line if you are just replacing the pads. Just take off the caliper housing, remove the pads, compress the caliper (a C-clamp would help) and pop the new pads in. Fairly easy.

 

[bartman64]

The rear is the same as the front, its 4 wheel disc. You dont need to remove the brake line if you are just replacing the pads. Just take off the caliper housing, remove the pads, compress the caliper (a C-clamp would help) and pop the new pads in. Fairly easy.

Sounds easy enough. Thanks for the info...

 

[grumpy]

I would look them over before going out and buying the new pads. I just bought new pads for mine at 70,000 miles thinking it was about that time and when I pulled the wheels off and looked at the pads, they were only about half worn out. I pull a boat with mine too. I replaced them anyway but could have probably waited until trade in time.

 

[tower]

Pads are very easy to replace.
If you have never done it before the X is a good one to start with. You will only need simple tools the only thing that you my need that you might not have is something to push the pistons back in, I use a c-clamp.
I also use a turkey baster to remove the brake fluid, you will need to remove some or it might over flow.
45K is a little early but for less then $100 in parts and an hr or so of time it is well worth it.
I also replaced my front rotors with some nice slotted ones the rear rotors are very hard to replace so I left those stock.
Good luck

 

[trucku]

Dont forget to use caliper grease on the backs of the pads. Regrease the caliper pins too, but they might not be needed since truck is not old. Follow torque specs. I would say while your at it..flush out you brake system if the fluid looks old and dark, since you will have access to you bleed valve.

 

[410Fortune]

rear disc pads will not need to be changed at 45K, more like 100K miles.
The front pads do 70% or more of the braking.

OEM front pads typically last 60K miles.

 

[AirXtreme]

2004 XLT V8 brake pad change

I just changed all 4 pads on the Explorer today. 44400 miles. I didn't want to force them off so I looked around on different forums to see what others say. All I was getting was it isn't hard almost as easy as doing the fronts.

To remove the rear pads you must take out the caliper bolts and pry up on the bottom of the caliper to get it to swing out of the way. A little different than the fronts since the fronts don't use the pad mounting clips to hold on the caliper. Took as much time on the rears as fronts once I figured that out. New tires and brakes now she is set for the winter.:navajo: