The 2001 Ford Expedition came equipped with a four-wheel-disc brake system and four-wheel ABS. Inspecting the overall condition of the brake system regularly will allow you to identify worn brake-system components before they become a safety concern. Replacing the disc brake pads yourself, when they become worn, is a good way to keep your vehicle repair costs down while maintaining the safety of your Expedition. This repair can be completed in about an hour using basic hand tools.
Apply the parking brake. Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels. Loosen the lug nuts on the front wheels slightly using the lug wrench. Raise and support the front wheels using the floor jack and jack stands. Remove the front wheels.
Place a drain pan under the brake assembly. Clean the front brakes, with brake-parts cleaner, to remove the accumulated brake dust. Avoid breathing the dust from the brake system and vapors from the parts cleaner.
Remove the two 13 mm caliper-mounting bolts that attach the caliper to the caliper bracket on the brake system of the Expedition. Lift the caliper off the caliper bracket and brake pads.
Apply a thin coat of anti-squeal compound to the back of the brake pads. Allow the compound to dry while you prepare the caliper bracket for installation.
Slide the pads, one at a time, out of the caliper bracket. Apply a dab of silicon brake grease to the contact points on the anti-rattle clips attached to the caliper bracket. Slide the new pads into place on the caliper bracket.
Open the bleeder screw on top of the caliper. Slip an old brake pad onto the caliper pistons and use the C-clamps to push the caliper pistons into the caliper housing. Use one C-clamp over each piston, two clamps in total, to push the pistons evenly into the caliper. Close the bleeder screw while the C-clamps hold pressure on the pistons. Remove the C-clamps and clean the caliper with brake-parts cleaner to remove the brake fluid that has spilled out.
Slip the caliper over the brake pads onto the caliper bracket. Bolt the caliper to the bracket. Install the wheel and lower the Expedition to the ground. Pump the brake pedal several times to expand the caliper before driving the SUV.
