If you can hear the rear brakes in your Ford F-250 squeal every time you apply the brake pedal, those are the wear indicators on the brake pads telling you it is time to change the pads. Servicing the rear brakes on time will prevent the need for high-cost repairs and, possibly, traffic accidents. Fortunately, you can perform this repair job at home yourself using some simple tools and stretch your F-250 maintenance budget at the same time.
Open the hood and remove at least half the brake fluid from the reservoir container on the brake master cylinder using a clean turkey baster and a small plastic bottle. The reservoir is the plastic container on top of the master cylinder attached to the brake booster -- the booster is the round, drum-like component on the firewall, on the driver's side.
Loosen the lug nuts on both rear wheel assemblies using a lug wrench.
Raise the rear of your F-250 with a floor jack, support it with two jack stands and block the front wheels with chocks.
Remove both rear wheel assemblies and start working on one brake assembly first.
Unfasten the two mounting bolts holding the brake caliper to the anchor plate. The brake caliper holds the brake pads in place against the brake rotor. Use a ratchet and socket.
Lift the brake caliper off the brake rotor and secure it to any suspension component with heavy wire. You want to avoid leaving the caliper hanging by the brake hose, which may be damaged.
Look at the mounting position of the two brake pads on the caliper mounting plate and the metal clips and then remove them.
Place the old brake pad against the caliper pistons inside the brake caliper and use a large C-clamp to press the pistons into their cylinders. Remove the C-clamp and the old brake pad. This will give you enough clearance to position the brake caliper with the new, thick pads over the brake rotor.
Spray brake parts cleaner around the brake assembly and wipe all the brake dust using a lint-free towel.
Place metal clips and the new set of brake pads on the anchor plate.
Install the brake caliper over the new brake pads and tighten the two mounting bolts to 27 foot-pounds (36 Nm) using a torque wrench and a socket.
Replace the set of brake pads on the opposite brake assembly following steps 5 through 9 of the previous sections and reinstall the wheel assemblies.
Lower your F-250 off the jack stands and tighten the lug nuts using the lug wrench.
Refill the reservoir on the brake master cylinder with new DOT 3 motor vehicle brake fluid, if necessary, to bring the fluid level up to the MAX mark and tighten the reservoir lid.
Pump the brake pedal several times to seat the new brake pads against the brake rotor. Start the vehicle and double-check that the brakes are working properly. Turn off the engine.
