Paul's Travel Pictures

Ford Expedition Front Brake Pads Replacement Guide
How to change the front disc brake pads on a fourth generation 2018, 2019 and 2020 Ford Expedition SUV.

Main Menu            Home           Digital Cameras

Misc. Pictures            Articles            My Blog

2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-001
2018 Expedition MAX
2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-002
Slightly Loosen Lug Nuts
2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-003
Raise Front of SUV
This automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the 4th generation (2018, 2019, 2020 and probably also the 2021, 2022 and 2023 model years) Ford Expedition SUV in changing the front disc brake pads and lubricating the caliper slider pins. (Plus written directions for replacing the rotors as well.)

Owners of other Ford or Lincoln vehicles such as the Explorer, F-150, Escape, EcoSport, Transit, F-350, F-250, Edge, Flex, Ranger, Fiesta, Focus, Fusion, Mustang, Bronco, Super Duty, Navigator, Continental, MKZ, MKX, MKC, MKT, Aviator, Corsair and Nautilus may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful.

A few compatible sets of new front brake pads with their part numbers include the following: Power Stop 16-1414, Bendix CFC1770, Centric 106.14140, Brembo P24166N and EBC Brakes DP61855.

The tools and other items needed to complete this procedure include a lug nut wrench, a floor jack, two jack stands, a 13mm socket with a 3/8" drive ratchet, an "F" clamp and a tube of brake caliper grease.

The first few steps are to drive the SUV on to a level surface, shift the transmission into "Park" and turn off the ignition.

Then engage the emergency / parking brake and place wheel chocks on both sides of the rear tires to help prevent the vehicle from moving.

Slightly loosen the six lug nuts on the front wheel by turning them about 1/4 to 1/3 turn in the counterclockwise direction with the tire iron.

Carefully raise the front of the SUV with the floor jack and securely support it with two jack stands.

Please do not solely rely on the floor jack to support the vehicle.



 

2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-004
Spin Off Lug Nuts
2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-005
Six Lug Nuts Removed
2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-006
Caliper, Bracket, Rotor
Spin off the six lug nuts and set them aside in a safe place.

Carefully remove the front wheel to reveal the caliper, bracket, rotor and suspension.

I prefer to only work on one side of the vehicle at a time to keep three tires on the ground for extra safety.

Some home mechanics also choose to place the wheel and tire under the frame rail as a backup support device in the unlikely event that both the jack stands fail.

2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-007
Front Brake Caliper
2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-008
Top Caliper Bolt
2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-009
Loosen Upper Caliper Bolt
The front brake caliper is held in place by two bolts situated on the back side of the caliper.

The bolt heads face in towards the engine bay.

Loosen the top caliper bolt by turning it in the clockwise direction (as seen from the outside of the vehicle) with the 13mm socket and a 3/8" drive ratchet.

2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-010
Loosen Lower Caliper Bolt
2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-011
Spin Out Bottom Bolt
2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-012
Remove Top Caliper Bolt
Then loosen the bottom caliper bolt by turning it in the clockwise direction (when viewed from the outside of the car) with the 13mm socket and a 3/8" drive ratchet.

Spin out the two caliper bolts the rest of the way by hand and set them aside in a safe place.

2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-013
2 Caliper Bolts Removed
2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-014
Lift Caliper Off Pads
2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-015
Rest Caliper On Rotor
Carefully pull the front brake caliper out of the bracket and off the old pads.

Rest the caliper on top of the rotor or suspend it from the suspension spring with a bungee cord or some rope.

Try to avoid twisting, bending, kinking or stressing the rubber brake fluid hose.

2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-016
Remove Old Inner Pad
2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-017
Remove Old Outer Pad
2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-018
Pad Abutment Clips
Remove the old inner and outer brake pads from the bracket.

If there is a "wear indicator" or "squeal" bar on the old pads make a mental note of where it is situated.

It seemed like the wear indicator bars were missing on this 2018 Expedition MAX.

If your set of new brake pads includes a bag of replacement hardware, pull the old pad abutment or "anti-rattle" clips out of the top and bottom of the bracket.

Clean off the rotor, bracket, lug studs and caliper with some CRC Brake Parts Cleaner spray.

Avoid breathing in the brake cleaning spray or the brake dust since they may be carcinogenic (cancer causing).

Apply a thin layer of brake parts lubricant grease to the top and bottom of the pad abutment clips before pushing them into the top and bottom of the bracket.

Make sure the pad abutment clips are fully seated.

If you've been feeling vibrations, shuddering or shaking in the front end while braking, the OEM rotors might be warped and should be replaced.

A few compatible front rotors with their part numbers are as follows: ACDelco 18A2461, Callahan CRK14646, Raybestos 680508, Centric 121.65119 and DuraGo BR90084602.

The general procedure for replacing the rotors is as follows. Remove the two bracket bolts (which were 18mm on the previous generation). Slide the old rotor off the lug studs and wheel hub. Push the new rotor into place. Re-attach the bracket and the two bolts. The torque specification for the bracket bolts on the previous generation is a range between 145 to 184 lb-ft of torque. For extra insurance against the bolts vibrating loose if you drive off-road, I recommend using some Loctite Blue (removable with hand tools) or Loctite Red thread locker adhesive fluid (requires heating for removal).

2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-019
Caliper Slider Pins
2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-020
Lubricate Slider Pins
2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-021
Replace Slider Pins
In order for the caliper to operate smoothly, the two caliper slider pins or "guide bolts" need to be well lubricated.

Avoid mixing up the top and bottom caliper slider pins! On some Ford models, the top and bottom pins are slightly different and should not be switched.

Pull out one caliper slider pin at a time from its rubber dust boot, apply a thin layer of brake caliper grease and then push it back into place.

Rotate the pin a few times to help spread the grease.

2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-022
Attach "F" Clamp
2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-023
Brake Fluid Reservoir
2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-024
Twist Off Brake Fluid Cap
In order for the caliper to fit over the thicker new brake pads, the two caliper pistons will need to be compressed back.

Attach the "F" clamp to the caliper and use the back of an old brake pad to evenly distribute the pressure across the two pistons.

Move to the right (driver side) rear area of the engine bay and locate the brake fluid reservoir bottle situated behind the engine air filter housing and in front of the plastic cowl near the windshield.

Twist off the brake fluid cap in the counterclockwise direction.

Set the cap aside in a safe place.

Removing the reservoir cap will allow the brake fluid to more easily travel back through the system when you compress the caliper pistons.



 

2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-025
Compress Caliper Pistons
2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-026
Compress 2nd Piston
2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-027
Replace Reservoir Cap
Slowly turn the "F" clamp handle in the clockwise direction to compress the two pistons.

Repeatedly check the fluid level in the reservoir to make sure it doesn't overflow.

You may need to re-position the "F" clamp to fully compress the second piston.

Continue compressing the two pistons until they are just about flush with the rubber dust boots surrounding them.

Replace the reservoir cap as soon as possible since brake fluid is hygroscopic so it readily absorbs moisture from the air.

If the brake fluid absorbs too much water from the air, it may lead to reduced braking performance.

2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-028
Install New Inner Pad
2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-029
Install New Outer Pad
2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-030
New Outer Pad Installed
Install the new inner and outer brake pads into the bracket.

If your old pads were equipped with a wear indicator bar, orientate the wear indicator bar on the new pads in the same position.

2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-031
Push Pads Against Rotor
2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-032
Lower Caliper Over Pads
2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-033
Spin In Top Caliper Bolt
Push the two pads together until they are flush against the rotor.

Carefully lower the caliper over the new pads and into the bracket.

If the caliper won't fit over the thicker new brake pads, you may need to retract the two pistons back a bit further.

Line up the bolt holes in the caliper with their corresponding holes in the slider pins within the bracket.

2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-034
Replace Bottom Bolt
2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-035
Tighten Upper Bolt
2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-036
Tighten Lower Bolt
Spin in the two bolts a few turns by hand in the counterclockwise direction (when viewed from the outside of the SUV) to help prevent them from becoming cross threaded.

Tighten the two bolts to just a fraction of a turn past finger tight.

If the caliper slider pins turn as you are attempting to tighten the caliper bolts, hold them in place with a wrench.

If you often drive off-road, consider applying a small amount of Loctite Blue threadlocking adhesive to the caliper bolts to help prevent them from vibrating loose.

The torque value specification in the service manual for earlier Expedition models was a range of 24 to 27 lb-ft of torque.

2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-037
Tighten Bolts CC <--
2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-038
Rubber Valve Cap
2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-039
Brake Fluid Bleeder Valve
Double check that the two caliper bolts are tight before moving on to the next steps.

If your brake pedal has been feeling soft or spongy, the brake fluid might contain some air bubbles or moisture. It would be best to bleed the brake fluid at this time and replace it with fresh DOT 4 fluid.

I highly recommend using the Allstar Performance Bleeder Bottle since it makes bleeding the brake lines an easy one person job.

Check out my Acura MDX Brake Line Bleeding Guide for more information on this topic and how to use the bleeder bottle.

The brake fluid bleeder valve is located on the back side of the caliper just below the top caliper bolt.

2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-040
Replace Front Wheel
2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-041
Spin On Six Lug Nuts
2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-042
Slightly Tighten Lug Nuts

Carefully push the front wheel over the six lug studs.

Spin on the lug nuts a few turns by hand in the clockwise direction to help prevent them from becoming cross threaded.

Slightly tighten the six lug nuts in a criss-cross or "star" pattern with the lug nut wrench.

2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-043
Lower Car From Stands
2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-044
Torque Six Lug Nuts
2018-Ford-Expedition-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-045
Front Brake Job Done
Carefully lower the SUV from the jack stands by using the floor jack.

Continue tightening the lug nuts in the "star" or "criss-cross" pattern to about 1/8th to 1/4th of a turn past hand tight.

It would be best to use a torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts to the 150 lb-ft (204 Nm) specification in the owner's manual.

Sit in the driver's seat and firmly push the brake pedal a few times to help restore the brake line pressure.

I also recommend re-checking the lug nuts after your next trip and to look for drops of fresh brake fluid on your driveway, parking spot or garage floor which might indicate a leak from the bleeder valve or the reservoir.

Check the brake fluid level in the reservoir. If necessary, pour in some new DOT 4 brake fluid until it reaches the "MAX" (maximum) line.

Be sure to write down the brake pad change in your SUV's service records.

Please check out all of my 2018-2020 Ford Expedition DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides.
 

If you found this guide to be helpful, please consider making a small donation by clicking on the PayPal.com "Donate" button located to the right of this paragraph. Thank you!
(Note: I am not a registered charity. Donations are not tax deductible.)



 

Main Menu       Home       Digital Cameras

Misc. Pictures       Articles       My Blog

 

Copyright 2024 © PaulsTravelPictures.com
 All Rights Reserved ®

Paul's Travel Pictures is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Privacy Policy     About Paul & Author Contact Info