Ford F150 pickup trucks were manufactured with front disk brakes after 1980, and the pads and rotors can wear down and require replacement after several years of use. The rotor can warp from temperature changes or become damaged from abuse or lack of maintenance. The average backyard mechanic can replace the rotor on an F150 in about 30 minutes.
Jack up the truck, set it on jack stands, and remove the wheel by turning the lug nuts in a counter-clockwise direction. Set the wheel aside.
Remove the caliper by turning the bolts in the rear of the caliper housing counter-clockwise. The caliper will slide away from the rotor and can be set onto the control arm of the suspension. Do not let the caliper dangle by the brake lines, and place a block or C-clamp onto the caliper's pads to prevent it from expanding.
Uncover the center locking hub nut, and pull out its cotter pin with a pair of pliers. This nut is positioned in the center of the rotor and on some models will prevent the rotor from being removed from the hub. Once this nut is off, the rotor can be pulled free from the hub spindle. Wheel bearings may be mounted to the rotor housing, depending on the model. These bearings will have to be packed with axle grease and placed into the new rotor during assembly.
Install the new rotor, packed with the old (or new) wheel bearings by placing it onto the hub and turning the locking hub nut in a clockwise direction. Once the hub nut is slightly tight, place the cotter pin into the hole at the top of the bolt and bend it at the bottom where it comes through.
Replace the caliper by sliding it onto the rotor and turning its rear bolts clockwise. The block or C-clamp can be moved away as the caliper is positioned onto the rotor.
Mount the wheel, lock the lug nuts in a clockwise direction, and take the truck off of the jack stands.
