How to Replace Brake Pads for Focus?
4 Answers
Below are the step-by-step methods for replacing Focus brake pads: 1. Before replacing the brake pads, check the brake fluid first. If the brake fluid level is above the maximum limit, some should be extracted to prevent overflow during replacement. 2. Then remove the wheel of the brake. 3. Use a wrench combined with a socket to remove the bolts of the brake caliper. 4. Take off the old brake pads and replace them with new ones. The wear condition of Ford Focus brake pads depends on the following three factors: 1. The quality of the brake pads, i.e., the degree of wear resistance. 2. If frequently driving on mountainous steep slopes with frequent brake use (and frequent overload), the wear will be fast, otherwise slow. 3. Driving habits, insisting on medium-speed driving, slowing down in advance when encountering obstacles, and not stepping on the brakes randomly, which saves fuel and reduces brake pad wear.
As a veteran mechanic with over a decade of experience, changing Focus brake pads is a task I can do blindfolded. First, loosen your wheel lug nuts but don't remove them completely - you'll need to jack up the vehicle and remove the tire before starting the real work. Use a socket to remove the caliper guide pins (apply penetrating oil if they're rusted on older cars). Here's the key point: the caliper piston must be screwed back clockwise using a special tool - forcing it can damage the dust boot. Always grind chamfers on new pads' edges before installation to prevent squeaking. Replace the retaining clips with new ones as the factory plastic clips tend to become brittle. Remember to remove about 1/4 of the brake fluid from the reservoir before resetting to prevent overflow when pushing back the piston. After tire installation, pump the brake pedal about a dozen times until it firms up - this completes the bleeding process.
Last week, I just replaced the front brake pads on my 2018 Focus. Actually, even girls can handle this job. You just need to prepare a jack, a 19mm socket, and a piston retraction tool. Remember to engage the parking brake and put the car in P gear. When loosening the bolts, stepping on the wrench with your foot makes it easier. After removing the tire, be careful not to press on the brake fluid line—use a wire to hang the caliper. Be patient when retracting the piston; mine took over 20 clockwise turns to fully retract. Apply anti-squeal paste to the new pads, but avoid getting grease on the metal surfaces. Here’s a handy tip: lightly sand the rust ring on the edge of the brake rotor with sandpaper before installation to reduce noise. During the test drive, start with a few gentle stops at low speed, then perform two hard brakes at 40 km/h. New pads need about 200 km of driving to reach optimal performance.
To replace the brake pads on a Ford Focus yourself, it's essential to have the right tools: a 7mm hex key to remove the guide pins, and a piston retraction tool (C-clamp or twist-type, with the latter being more suitable for models with electronic parking brakes). When performing the operation, remember to deactivate the electronic parking brake maintenance mode for the rear wheels: with the engine off, press the brake pedal, press the start button twice to power on without starting the engine, then pull and release the electronic parking brake lever five times. Pay close attention to safety details: place wheel chocks diagonally against the tires, and ensure the jack is positioned on the reinforced chassis points. After replacement, check the brake fluid level, ideally maintaining it 3mm below the MAX line. It's recommended to use OEM parts, as aftermarket pads may cause brake dive.
