Hi there! I have a couple of questions.
What special tools do I need to replace the brake pads and rotors on my 2017 F150 EcoBoost?
Also, what recommendations do you have for brake pads and rotors? I was thinking of buying from Autozone or O’Reilly’s, but I’m open to any online store that the community prefers.
I recently did brakes on my 2019 4WD. It was pretty straightforward. I ordered my parts from RockAuto and saved quite a bit with a rebate. If your truck has an electric e-brake, make sure to look up how to activate service mode.
Getting the caliper bracket bolts off the front was tough because they use strong threadlocker. Rotary the wheel to make access easier. An impact wrench is super helpful. It took a lot of effort to get those bolts out. Don’t forget to use threadlocker when putting them back together.
@Blair
Threadlockers can be a pain but I guess it gives peace of mind haha
@Blair
Thanks a lot for this info! Really appreciate it!
What’s the cost and how long does it usually take to replace the brakes and rotors yourself? I just had mine done at a shop, including a brake fluid flush, and it cost $1,100. I was not ready for that!
@Ethan
Sorry to hear about that. A mechanic quoted me $400 just for rear brakes, including parts and labor. I got brake pads and rotors from Autozone for under $100 total. Replacing the brakes should take about a couple of hours. It’s definitely worth it to do it yourself. Everything’s getting so expensive these days.
@Bailey
I chose the higher-quality pads and rotors.
After looking at RockAuto, I was surprised by how cheap the parts are. I might be able to do the rear brakes for under $60. Still researching options.
@Ethan
I think I paid around $550 for the rear brakes at a dealer and then $500 for the fronts at a different shop. The other shop used low-quality brake pads that leave a lot of dark dust everywhere, so I’m doing them myself with Motorcraft parts from now on.
If your front rotors are hard to take off, save yourself the trouble and just swap the hubs.
If you’re still using the factory lug nuts, now is a good time to replace them with solid ones that won’t swell.
@Vesper
Which brand do you suggest? Thanks for the helpful tips!
It’s a tough job. The previous poster was right that the caliper bracket bolts are tight. An impact wrench would help a lot, but you can get by with a breaker bar. I’d also recommend a torque wrench. The caliper bracket bolts need to be torqued to 184 ft-lbs, which is tighter than you might think. Most auto parts stores have rentals available. Also, be sure to have something to hang the caliper with. There are holes in the frame on the front that work great for this, and plenty of spots in the rear. I’m pretty sure I didn’t even hang them in the rear.