2012-2018 Ford Focus Front vs Rear Brakes: What Wears First and What to Replace

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

On a 2012-2018 Ford Focus the front brakes wear out first, almost every time. The front discs do most of the stopping, so the front pads and rotors are the routine replacement item, while the rear brakes (drums on many S and SE cars, discs on higher trims) usually last much longer. The smart move is to check both ends at every service, replace front pads and rotors as a set, and only do the rear when it actually measures worn.

How the Focus brake system is laid out

Every third-generation Focus sold in the U.S. from 2012 to 2018 uses disc brakes up front with four-wheel ABS. What changes from car to car is the rear axle. Published specifications for the 2015 Focus SE list two configurations: front disc with rear drum, or four-wheel disc. In practice the entry S and most SE cars were built with rear drums, while higher trims such as Titanium and the ST run rear discs. Some SE cars with optional equipment also have rear discs, so never order rear parts by trim name alone.

The quickest check is to look through the rear wheel. If you see a flat rotor face and a caliper, you have rear discs and need rear pads. If you see a closed, cup-shaped drum with no caliper, you have rear drums and need brake shoes. Every Focus of this generation uses a hand lever parking brake that works the rear brakes, per the owner manual, which matters when you service the rear.

Why the front wears first

When you brake, the car's weight shifts forward. Wagner, a major brake manufacturer, puts it simply: because braking shifts the weight forward, the front brakes do most of the work. The Focus is also a front-engine, front-drive car, so the nose carries more weight than the tail even when the car is parked. That is why the front brakes are the larger, harder-working set, and why brake pressure is proportioned so the rear axle does not lock before the front.

The result is predictable: most Focus owners go through two or more sets of front pads before the rear brakes need anything. Rear drum shoes in particular tend to last a very long time on a Focus because they see light duty. That is not a reason to ignore them, though. Drums can seize, self-adjusters can stick, and wheel cylinders can leak, all without much friction wear.

Symptoms: front problem or rear problem?

Ford's owner manual notes that occasional brake noise is normal, but a metal-to-metal sound, continuous grinding or a continuous squeal means the linings may be worn out and should be checked. It also calls out continuous vibration or shudder in the steering wheel while braking as something to have inspected. Use where you feel the problem to point you toward the right axle.

• Steering wheel shake when braking: almost always the front rotors, typically from uneven pad deposits or thickness variation.
• High-pitched squeal that stops when you press the pedal: often front pad wear indicators touching the rotor. Replace the front pads soon.
• Grinding from the front: pads down to the backing plate. The rotors are now damaged and must be replaced too.
• Parking brake lever pulls higher than it used to: on drum cars, worn shoes or a stuck self-adjuster. On disc cars, worn rear pads or a stretched cable.
• Pulsation felt in the seat rather than the wheel, or a rear scraping noise: points to the rear drums or rotors.
• Wet residue on the inside of a rear tire: a leaking rear wheel cylinder on drum cars. Fix it right away, since fluid on the shoes ruins them.

Also watch the dash. The manual says that if the brake warning lamp stays on with the parking brake released, the brake system should be serviced immediately. A low brake fluid warning can mean the pads are worn far enough that fluid has moved into the calipers, or that there is a leak.

What to replace on the front

For the front axle the standard job is pads and rotors together. Power Stop's rotor guide explains that the minimum thickness is engraved on the rotor, on its hat or within the vanes, and that if a rotor is worn past that number or would have to be cut below it, it needs to be replaced. It also advises checking rotor thickness whenever you replace pads and replacing rotors in pairs so the car brakes evenly. On a high-mileage Focus, front rotors are usually close to minimum by the second pad change, so most shops simply fit new rotors.

A quality ceramic pad is the right match for a daily-driven Focus: low dust, quiet, and gentle on rotors. We carry Bosch front ceramic brake pads for the 2012-2018 Focus and C-Max, and you can compare other options in our ceramic brake pads collection and front and rear brake rotors. While the wheels are off, replace the pad abutment clips if they are rusted or bent, and clean and lubricate the caliper slide pins. A brake hardware kit covers the clips.

What to replace on the rear

Drum-equipped cars: the job is shoes, springs and hardware, plus drums if they are scored or worn past the maximum diameter cast into the drum. Inspect both wheel cylinders by peeling back the rubber boots; any fluid behind the boot means replace the cylinder. After assembly, set the shoes close to the drum so the self-adjuster has little to do, then check parking brake travel. Shop rear brake shoes by your exact model year.

Disc-equipped cars: rear pads and, if under minimum thickness, rotors. The rear calipers carry the parking brake mechanism, so the piston may need to be rotated back into the bore rather than simply pushed. Use the correct tool, and release the parking brake lever before you start. See our brake pads and brake calipers if a rear caliper is seized or leaking.

Brake fluid and how hard the job is

Ford specifies DOT 4 Low Viscosity (LV) High Performance brake fluid meeting Ford specification WSS-M6C65-A2, sold as Motorcraft PM-20. The manual warns against using any fluid other than the recommended one and says to use fluid only from a sealed container. On manual-transmission cars the clutch and brakes share the same reservoir, so the correct fluid matters for the clutch too. If the fluid is dark, or it has been several years since it was changed, a flush during a brake job is cheap insurance.

Front pads and rotors on a Focus are a beginner-to-intermediate driveway job with basic hand tools, jack stands and a torque wrench; torque the caliper bracket bolts and lug nuts to the values in the factory service manual. Rear discs are similar but need the piston tool. Rear drums take the most patience because of the springs and adjuster, so do one side at a time and use the other side as a reference. Ford's maintenance schedule calls for inspecting the brake pads, shoes, rotors, drums, linings, hoses and parking brake at every oil change interval, which is the easiest way to catch wear before it turns into a rotor or drum replacement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my 2012-2018 Focus have rear drum or rear disc brakes?

Base S and most SE cars have rear drums; higher trims such as Titanium and ST have rear discs, and some SE cars have them with optional equipment. Look through the rear wheel: a caliper and flat rotor means disc, a closed drum means drum.

Should I replace front and rear brakes at the same time?

Only if both are worn. The front almost always needs service first. Replace brakes in axle pairs (both fronts or both rears), and measure the rear rather than replacing it on a schedule.

Do I need new rotors every time I replace the front pads?

Not always, but measure them. If a rotor is below the minimum thickness marked on it, or would go below it when resurfaced, replace both front rotors.

What brake fluid does a Ford Focus use?

Ford calls for DOT 4 Low Viscosity (LV) fluid meeting WSS-M6C65-A2, such as Motorcraft PM-20. Use fluid from a sealed container only.

Why does my parking brake lever pull up so high?

On drum cars it usually means worn shoes or a self-adjuster that is not working. On disc cars it can mean worn rear pads or a cable that needs adjustment. Have the rear brakes inspected.

Can I convert my Focus rear drums to discs?

It is possible, but it means changing the rear brake assembly, lines and parking brake parts. For a daily driver, fresh shoes and drums stop the car as designed and are far less work.

Sources

1. Ford Motor Company - 2015 Focus Owner's Manual - brake fluid spec (DOT 4 LV, WSS-M6C65-A2, PM-20), brake noise and vibration guidance, hand lever parking brake, shared clutch reservoir, brake inspection at every oil change
2. Auto123 - 2015 Ford Focus SE technical specifications - front disc/rear drum and four-wheel disc configurations, four-wheel ABS
3. Wagner Brake - How the brake system works - forward weight shift makes the front brakes do most of the work; disc pads vs drum shoes
4. Power Stop - How to find minimum rotor thickness - where minimum thickness is marked, replace rotors worn past it, replace in pairs