Ford Freestyle rear pad and rotor replacement
I am replacing the rear rotors and disk pads on my 2006 Freestyle at 35k. I have done this many times on GM and Chrysler vehicles. To compress the brake cylinder, I always put a C clamp on it, opened up the master cyclinder resevoir, removed some fluid if it was to full and then compressed the brake cylinder with the C clamp. The cylinder compresses, resevoir fills up and I put it back together. This is not working on my Freestyle. The wheel cylinder will not compress. I tried opening up the bleed port in case their was a check valve in the system somewhere and this has had little effect on compressing it.
Teddyo
Teddyo
Cars & Trucks - Ford - Freestyle - 2006 Ford Freestyle
Answers & Comments
Most Fords I've worked on have a screw-in rear caliper design. Look at the caliper piston - do you see two notches on the face, across from each other? Those are the keyholes for screwing the piston back in. AutoZone rents/loans the piston retractor tool (leave them the full value of the kit, about $40, take it home and use it, then return it and get 100% of your money back). Simply fit the proper sized key disc onto the tool and screw it back into the caliper, and you're done.
Rent the tool. It's free, they return your deposit.
Ford rear brakes are a problem in that passenger side goes in counter clock wise. The driver side goes in clockwise. But since the tool is only for left handed threads you have an awkward situation on the passenger side. You have to compress with the nut while you back out with the center screw. So turn one a little and then turn the other a little. Don't stop until the piston is completely flush with the cylinder. This is only necessary because the emergency brakes actuate the rear brakes. The fronts can be done with a c-clamp.