2005-2007 Ford Escape — Front Brake Pads

1

Park the vehicle and loosen the lug nuts

Park the 2005-2007 Ford Escape on a flat, level surface and engage the parking brake. Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels for safety. Use a breaker bar and the correct socket to break the front wheel lug nuts loose while the wheel is still on the ground. Do not remove them yet. The job is complete when all lug nuts turn freely by hand.

2

Raise the front of the vehicle and remove the wheel

Position a floor jack under the front subframe or designated jack point and raise the Escape until the front tire clears the ground. Support the vehicle with a jack stand placed under the frame rail. Never work under a vehicle supported only by a jack. Remove the lug nuts and pull the wheel off the hub. The step is complete when the brake caliper and rotor are fully exposed and the vehicle is stable on the stand.

3

Remove the caliper guide bolts

Locate the two caliper slide bolts on the back of the front brake caliper. Use a wrench or socket to remove both slide bolts while holding the guide pin with a second wrench if it spins. Set the bolts aside in a clean tray. The step is complete when both slide bolts are removed and the caliper is free to lift off the bracket.

4

Lift the caliper off and hang it safely

Carefully lift the brake caliper up and off the brake pads and rotor. Do not let the caliper hang by the flexible brake hose, as this can damage the hose. Hang the caliper from the coil spring or strut using a bungee cord or mechanic wire. The step is complete when the caliper is securely supported and the old pads are accessible.

5

Remove the old brake pads from the bracket

Slide the old inner and outer brake pads out of the caliper bracket. Note the position of any shims, clips, or wear indicators for reference during reassembly. Inspect the pads for uneven wear, which can indicate a sticking caliper slide pin. The step is complete when both old pads are removed from the bracket.

6

Inspect the rotor and clean the bracket

Inspect the brake rotor surface for deep grooves, scoring, or excessive rust. If the rotor is below minimum thickness or badly scored, replace it. Remove the stainless steel abutment clips from the caliper bracket and clean the pad sliding surfaces with a wire brush. Apply a thin film of brake lubricant to the clip contact points. The step is complete when the bracket is clean and the clips are reinstalled or replaced.

7

Compress the caliper piston

Before installing new thicker pads, the caliper piston must be pushed back into its bore. Place one of the old pads against the piston and use a C-clamp or brake caliper tool to slowly compress the piston until it is flush with the caliper housing. Watch the brake fluid reservoir under the hood and remove excess fluid if it approaches the top. The step is complete when the piston is fully retracted.

8

Install the new front brake pads

Apply brake lubricant to the back of the new pads where they contact the caliper and to the pad ears where they slide in the bracket. Do not get lubricant on the friction surface. Slide the new inner and outer pads into the caliper bracket, making sure the wear indicator is positioned correctly. The step is complete when both pads sit flat and slide freely in the bracket.

9

Reinstall the caliper over the new pads

Lower the caliper back down over the new pads and rotor. Make sure the caliper seats squarely on the bracket and the pads are properly aligned. Reinstall the two caliper slide bolts and tighten them to specification. The step is complete when the caliper is seated and both slide bolts are snug.

10

Reinstall the wheel and lower the vehicle

Mount the wheel back onto the hub and thread the lug nuts on by hand in a star pattern. Lower the vehicle off the jack stand with the floor jack until the tire touches the ground. Torque the lug nuts to the manufacturer specification in a star pattern. The step is complete when the wheel is torqued and the vehicle is on the ground.

11

Pump the brake pedal and check fluid level

Before driving, pump the brake pedal several times until it feels firm. This seats the new pads against the rotor and restores pedal pressure. Check the brake fluid level in the master cylinder reservoir and top off with the correct DOT fluid if needed. The step is complete when the pedal feels firm and the fluid is at the proper level.

12

Bed in the new brake pads with a test drive

Take the Escape for a careful test drive in a safe area. Perform several moderate stops from 30 to 40 mph to bed the new pads to the rotor surface. Avoid hard or panic stops for the first 200 miles. Listen for any grinding, squealing, or pulling to one side. The job is complete when the brakes stop smoothly and quietly with a firm pedal.