Changing the Brake Pads

• 1). Remove the master cylinder cap under the hood near the driver's side. Check the level of brake fluid in the container. The fluid should be 1/4 of an inch from the top of the container.
  
  
• 2). Loosen the lug nuts with the socket on the tire iron then lift the vehicle with the jack. Remove the lug nuts by hand, remove the wheel and inspect the brakes. The rotors should not be scored (scoring occurs from the brake pad indicators digging into the rotors' surface).
  
  
• 3). Remove the caliper bolts with a 13 millimeter wrench and pull the caliper from the rotors. Place a drip pan beneath the brake to catch any displaced fluid. Open the brake fluid bleed valve located near the upper of the two caliper bolts with an adjustable wrench. Remove the brake pads. Open the caliper piston with a C-clamp or vise-grip pliers. To open, force the piston against the side of the caliper.
  
  
• 4). Apply brake grease to the opened piston where one of the two brake pads will rest and to the side of the caliper that will house the other brake pad.
  
  
• 5). Replace the old pads with new pads and reinstall the caliper around the rotor. Replace the caliper bolts and tighten the brake fluid bleed valve. Return the wheel to the wheel bolts and tighten the lug nuts.
  
  
• 6). Lower the vehicle with the jack. Tighten the lug nuts with the tire iron.
  
  

Replacing the Brake Fluid

• 1). Open the master cylinder cap. The master cylinder is found beneath the hood on the driver's side of the vehicle close to the windshield.
  
  
• 2). Lift the vehicle with the lifting jack and remove the wheels. Place the Ford on jack stands for a more stable platform. Place a drip pan beneath the brake.
  
  
• 3). Attach a clear plastic hose to the bleed valve. Press the brake pedal and open the valve. When the brake pedal is fully depressed, close the bleed valve and allow the pedal to slowly move back to its open position. Repeat this step until the brake fluid passing through the tubing shows no bubbles. During this process, make sure to add fluid to the master cylinder so that the master cylinder is never empty.
  
  
• 4). Remove the plastic tubing from the bleed valve. Close the lid on the master cylinder. Close the bleed valve. Replace the wheel and lug nuts, and lower the vehicle to the ground.