2010-2018 Ford F-150 Brake Job Tools and Torque Specs

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

A brake job on a 2010-2018 Ford F-150 needs a floor jack and stands rated for a full-size truck, a deep socket set and breaker bar, a caliper piston tool, a torque wrench that reaches well past 100 lb-ft, and the right brake fluid. Ford's owner manual for the 2015 F-150 lists wheel lug nut torque at 150 lb-ft (204 Nm) on M14 x 1.5 studs, and the caliper and bracket bolts should be torqued to the values in the factory service manual for your exact year, because those figures change between the 2010-2014 and 2015-2018 generations.

This guide walks through the tool list, the torque values we could confirm from Ford's own documentation, the fluid each generation calls for, and the recalls worth checking before you put new pads and rotors on the truck.

Two generations, two sets of details

The years in this guide cover two different trucks. The 2009-2014 F-150 is the steel-bodied 12th generation. The 2015-2018 truck is the aluminum-bodied 13th generation, and Ford changed a lot under it, including the brake fluid specification. Parts are not interchangeable across that line just because the truck looks similar, so always shop by year, cab, drive type and engine. Our fitment notes reflect that split: the Brembo OE front brake kit for 2010-2014 F-150 is a 12th-generation part, while the EBC Extra Duty front pads for 2018-up F-150 2.7L belong to the later truck.

The rear brakes also vary. Ford's 2015 F-150 owner manual has separate sections for a conventional parking brake and an electric parking brake, so check which one your truck has before you order rear pads. Some rear pad sets, such as the DBA XP rear pads for 2012-2017 F-150 with manual parking brake, are listed only for trucks with the manual system. On a truck with an electric parking brake, the rear caliper has to be put into its service position with a capable scan tool or the procedure in the service manual before the piston can be retracted. Forcing it back with a C-clamp can damage the actuator.

Tools for an F-150 brake job

Torque specs: what Ford publishes and what to look up

Wheel lug nuts (2015-2018). The technical specifications table in Ford's 2015 F-150 owner manual lists M14 x 1.5 lug nuts at 150 lb-ft (204 Nm). Ford's footnote says the value is for threads free of dirt and rust, so clean the studs and do not lubricate them unless the service manual tells you to. Ford also says to retighten the lug nuts to the specified torque within 100 mi (160 km) after any wheel removal, tire rotation or flat repair. Tighten them in the crisscross order shown in the manual, with the truck back on the ground.

Wheel lug nuts (2010-2014). Do not assume the earlier truck shares the 2015-up stud thread. Read the torque from the owner's guide that came with your truck or from the door-jamb and service information for your VIN. Buy replacement nuts by year.

Caliper slide pin bolts and caliper bracket bolts. These are the two fasteners people mix up. The bracket bolts hold the whole caliper assembly to the knuckle and take far more torque than the smaller slide pin bolts. Torque each to the value in the Ford workshop manual for your year and axle. If the service manual calls for threadlocker or new bolts on reassembly, follow it.

Bleeder screws. Snug only. They are small, they snap easily when seized, and over-tightening them cracks the seat.

Brake fluid by generation

Ford's 2015 F-150 owner manual specifies Motorcraft DOT 4 Low Viscosity (LV) High Performance Motor Vehicle Brake Fluid, part number PM-20, meeting Ford specification WSS-M6C65-A2. Ford says to fill between the MIN and MAX marks on the reservoir, and warns that using any other fluid may degrade brake performance. It also says to keep the fluid clean and dry, because dirt, water or petroleum products can damage the system.

For 2010-2014 trucks, read the fluid type printed on the master cylinder reservoir cap and the owner's guide for your year rather than assuming the newer DOT 4 LV spec. Never top off with fluid from an old, opened bottle, since brake fluid absorbs moisture from the air.

Check these recalls before you start

Several F-150 recalls in this range involve the brake master cylinder, not the pads or rotors, and they are worth checking by VIN before you blame a soft pedal on worn friction parts. NHTSA records show:

• 16V345000: certain 2013-2014 F-150 trucks with 3.5L engines, where the master cylinder rear cup seal can roll and leak fluid into the brake booster, which can cause loss of front brake function.
• 20V332000: certain 2014-2017 F-150 trucks with the 3.5L EcoBoost, master cylinder leaking fluid into the booster. Dealers replace the master cylinder and inspect the booster.
• 22V150000 and 25V236000: later expansions of that campaign that reach 2016-2018 F-150 trucks.

Warning signs include a low reservoir with no visible external leak, a longer or softer pedal, and more pedal effort. If any of these apply, check open recalls first. If your truck is outside the recall population, a replacement brake master cylinder or brake booster may still be the repair.

Choosing pads and rotors, and what to replace together

Ford's own brake section notes that grinding, continuous squealing, or steering wheel shudder under braking mean the brakes need inspection. Grinding usually means metal is on the rotor, and those rotors should be replaced along with the pads. A shudder usually points to rotor thickness variation.

Match the friction material to how you use the truck. For daily driving, a ceramic street pad keeps dust and noise down; browse our ceramic brake pads. For regular towing or heavy payloads, a truck compound such as the Hawk LTS light truck front pads for 2014-2016 F-150 or the Hawk SuperDuty front pads for 2010-2014 F-150 holds up better to heat. If you want rotors built for heavy use, look at the DBA 4000 T3 slotted front rotor for 2012-2014 F-150, or start from our full brake rotors selection.

Replace pads in axle sets, both sides together. Replace or resurface rotors when they are scored, below minimum thickness (stamped on the rotor) or causing pulsation. Install new brake hardware kits (abutment clips and slide pin boots) whenever the old ones are rusted or loose, and inspect the flexible brake hoses for cracks or swelling.

Bedding the new pads

Hawk's published street pad procedure is a good general method: after installation, make 6 to 10 stops from about 30 to 35 mph with moderate pressure, then 2 to 3 harder stops from about 40 to 45 mph, without dragging the brakes, and let the system cool for 15 minutes. Hawk also advises that if you reuse rotors, contamination from the old pads must be removed first, and that the rotor must be free of oil, grease and brake fluid. Always follow the instructions packed with your specific pads if they differ.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the lug nut torque on a 2015-2018 F-150?

Ford's 2015 F-150 owner manual lists 150 lb-ft (204 Nm) for M14 x 1.5 lug nuts, on clean, rust-free threads. Retighten to that value within 100 miles after the wheel has been off.

What brake fluid does a 2015-2018 F-150 use?

Ford specifies Motorcraft DOT 4 Low Viscosity High Performance brake fluid, PM-20, or an equivalent that meets Ford specification WSS-M6C65-A2. For 2010-2014 trucks, go by the reservoir cap and your owner's guide.

Can I push the rear caliper piston back with a C-clamp?

Only on trucks with a manual parking brake. If your F-150 has an electric parking brake, the caliper must be put into service position with a scan tool or the service manual procedure first.

Do I need new caliper bracket bolts?

Check the Ford workshop manual for your year. If it calls for threadlocker or new bolts on reassembly, follow it. Bracket bolts take much more torque than the slide pin bolts.

My pedal went soft but the pads are new. What should I check?

Check for open master cylinder recalls by VIN. Several 2013-2018 F-150 campaigns cover master cylinders leaking fluid into the brake booster, which shows up as a low reservoir with no external leak and a softer, longer pedal.

Sources

1. Ford 2015 F-150 Owner Manual - Wheels and Tires, Technical Specifications - 150 lb-ft (204 Nm) lug torque on M14 x 1.5, clean threads, retorque within 100 mi
2. Ford 2015 F-150 Owner Manual - Capacities and Specifications, 3.5L EcoBoost - Motorcraft DOT 4 LV PM-20, WSS-M6C65-A2
3. Ford 2015 F-150 Owner Manual - Changing a Road Wheel - jack safety, wheel blocking, tightening order
4. Ford 2015 F-150 Owner Manual - Brakes, General Information - grinding, squealing and shudder warning signs
5. NHTSA recalls - 2014 Ford F-150 - campaigns 16V345000 and 20V332000
6. NHTSA recalls - 2017 Ford F-150 - campaigns 22V150000 and 25V236000
7. Hawk Performance - How To - pad installation prep and street pad bed-in procedure