2.3 rear brake pad change how to ‘21 to ‘24 models.

[CitrusBronco]

You mentioned bleed brakes as needed. What is the scenario where that would be needed, it seems like a pad change should not introduce air into the system? Or could that happen when manually retracting the pistons?

Before I figured out I could press the piston in by hand by turning the Torx screw as described I opened the bleeder to try to allow the piston to be pushed in. You may not need to open the bleeder, if you don’t that’s good. It was to late I already did.

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[Bill K]

Ok I am posting so others can reference if they want to service themselves. 2.3 auto w/vacuum boost brakes. The rear has no brake service mode for the DIY person like the 2.7 electric has.

Park Bronco, make it safe. Parking brake off. Battery stays connected, Bronco turned off.
(All safety stuff first, chock wheels jack stands, etc)

First 3 steps pics below.
Remove rear wheels and disconnect the parking brake actuator plug.
Remove parking brake motor, 2 Allen bolts.
Rotate the torx bolt (t55 I think) 360 clockwise, just 1 complete turn. By hand no wrench needs to be attached to the Torx bit.

Remove caliper, remove pads and replace clips and pads.
Retract the piston. No tools needed. Push in piston with your hand, it will go a little and stop. When it stops rotate the torx 360 again. Push in piston unt it stops, repeat until it’s fully retracted. If Torx no longer turns by hand. Reverse counter clockwise direction 360, repeat until piston is retracted. Took me about 5 rotations of pushing.
I needed to open the bleeder nut a little. You do whatever you do when you bleed brakes.

Once it’s retracted Reinstall caliper, brake motor and plug it back in. Torque to spec, and reinstall tires and make ready to drive. Start Bronco and bleed brakes as needed.

If someone sees I missed a step or knows better let me know. This is what I found to work for me this evening.

Very helpful. Saving for the future when I need it. Will cut down on any surfing required at that time for this maneuver.

 

[Tonka Bronka]

You mentioned bleed brakes as needed. What is the scenario where that would be needed, it seems like a pad change should not introduce air into the system? Or could that happen when manually retracting the pistons?

It's not a bad idea to flush and bleed the system every other year for best practice, but a pad change is really a great time to do it also.

 

[orion]

It's not a bad idea to flush and bleed the system every other year for best practice, but a pad change is really a great time to do it also.

I started doing this every time I change pads on all my vehicles. Pump until clean fluid comes out. It's cheap and easy.

 

[87-Z28]

Are there any aftermarket replacement pads worth getting?

 

[Brian_B]

Are there any aftermarket replacement pads worth getting?

I don’t have a ton of miles on them yet but so far I’d say the Power Stop Z36 ones are marginally better than OEM for similar price. Jury is still out on slotted rotor though.

 

[Boreal]

Thanks for GuineaPiggin the poor man’s method @CitrusBronco

I’ll be giving it a go very soon!

 

[popo_patty]

Are there any aftermarket replacement pads worth getting?

I’m on my 3rd set of pads. Decided to go powerstop this time around. I have not felt any improvement and maybe not even as good.

 

[Brian_B]

I’m on my 3rd set of pads. Decided to go powerstop this time around. I have not felt any improvement and maybe not even as good.

I would say, now that I have a few thousand miles on mine:

The Powerstop pads don’t seem to be wearing as fast, but with some age I’m starting to notice stopping takes more and more - the stopping power seems to be fading over time. I may end up swapping them out early if the trend continues.

 

[crenca]

I’m on my 3rd set of pads.

How many miles? I know yours are *hard* miles.

I drive hard on road and off, though most of my off road miles are not high speed. I rotated this weekend (47.5k miles) and my pads, both front and rear, look hardly used at all...it honestly has me a little concerned

Why are mine seemingly going to last 100k + and others are swapping them out at regular intervals?

 

[popo_patty]

How many miles? I know yours are *hard* miles.

I drive hard on road and off, though most of my off road miles are not high speed. I rotated this weekend (47.5k miles) and my pads, both front and rear, look hardly used at all...it honestly has me a little concerned

Why are mine seemingly going to last 100k + and others are swapping them out at regular intervals?

I have 85,000 miles on the bronco. I’m getting about 40,000 miles per set for the OEM. 5,000 miles on the Powerstop now. I suspect my drive fast, brake hard desert wheeling doesn’t help much.

 

[ThunderFlash]

I suspect my drive fast, brake hard desert wheeling doesn’t help much

I wonder what factor a steady diet of sand might play in that. I know they make this famous paper with that stuff for wearing things away.

I put Power Stop pads and rotors on our Explorer Sport recently. Didn't notice much difference. Does EBC or any one else have an alternative pad? I used them with slotted/cross drilled rotors on my TSX and they seem to improve stopping power and pedal feel. The OEM pads look good after 32,000 on my 2-door WT...heavy 2-door WT....but I drive like a wuss, too...even use engine braking a lot with MT mode on hills.

 

[Brian_B]

Why are mine seemingly going to last 100k + and others are swapping them out at regular intervals?

That is a good question.

My front pads are factory and still look fantastic. To the point I kinda wonder if they are really engaging enough, although I can see where they are making contact on the rotors.

My rears I did at 60k - the pads probably had another 10k left in them when I did them. I've got about 25k miles on the Powerstops I replaced them with now. They look about the same as the fronts right now.

I don't drive terribly aggressively, nor am I an extreme offroader. Miles are probably split pretty evenly between mountain driving and highway miles.

On my F150s, I'd get like 150k miles out of a set of Front pads, and don't think I've ever had to change out a rear set yet.

 

[ThunderFlash]

My front pads are factory and still look fantastic.

Yeah, counterintuitively, @Ducati1098 said the Broncos will eat rear pads faster than fronts. I think he said that is a trend with most new Fords. I believe popular opinion from the peanut gallery was that the traction control system may utilize the back brakes a lot. But you know what they say about opinions.

 

[GI_Jo_Nathan]

Yeah, counterintuitively, @Ducati1098 said the Broncos will eat rear pads faster than fronts. I think he said that is a trend with most new Fords. I believe popular opinion from the peanut gallery was that the traction control system may utilize the back brakes a lot. But you know what they say about opinions.

Yep, I was complete metal and metal on the rear at 20,000 miles. Fronts looked new, and still do now at 30k. I try to remember to turn the traction control all the way off now when I'm in the dirt.

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