2015-2020 Ford F-150 Front vs Rear Brakes: What Wears First and What to Replace

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

On a 2015-2020 Ford F-150, the front brakes almost always wear out first, because braking shifts the truck's weight forward and the front axle does most of the stopping. The rears last longer, but they are not maintenance-free: they carry the parking brake, and on trucks with the electric parking brake they need a special service mode before the pads can be changed. Here is how to tell which end needs work, and what to replace while you are in there.

Why the Front Brakes on an F-150 Wear Out First

Every time you press the pedal, the truck's mass pitches forward onto the front tires. Wagner's brake-system guide puts it plainly: because braking shifts the vehicle's weight forward, the front brakes do most of the work. On a half-ton pickup that effect is exaggerated, because the engine sits over the front axle and the bed is usually empty. An unloaded F-150 carries a lot of its weight up front and relatively little over the rear wheels, so the brake system sends more of the stopping effort to the front calipers.

The result is that most F-150 owners replace front pads more often than rear pads over the life of the truck. How much more often depends on how you drive. Trucks that tow, haul in the bed, or live in stop-and-go traffic put more work on the rear axle than a commuter that rarely carries anything, so rear wear can catch up faster than you expect. That is why neither end should be assumed good just because the other one was recently done.

Ford's maintenance schedule for this generation calls for inspecting the brake pads, shoes, rotors, drums, linings, hoses and parking brake at every oil change interval, and for trucks driven in dusty or sandy conditions it calls for a brake pad and rotor inspection every 7,500 miles. That regular inspection is the most reliable way to know which axle is actually closer to the limit.

Front vs Rear at a Glance

Symptoms: How to Tell Which End Needs Brakes

Ford's owner manual for this truck notes that occasional brake noise is normal, but a metal-to-metal sound, a continuous grinding, or a continuous squeal can mean the linings are worn out. It also says a continuous vibration or shudder in the steering wheel while braking should be checked. Those symptoms point to different ends of the truck:

• Steering wheel shake under braking almost always points to the front rotors. The steering wheel is connected to the front wheels, so front rotor thickness variation shows up in your hands.
• Pulsation you feel in the pedal or seat, but not the steering wheel is more often a rear rotor issue.
• Squeal or grinding can come from either end. Roll slowly through a quiet parking lot with a helper listening at each wheel, or pull the wheels and look at the pad material through the caliper.
• Uneven dust is a clue. Dark dust on the front wheels with cleaner rear wheels is normal. Heavy dust on one side only can mean a sticking caliper slide or piston on that corner.
• The parking brake will not hold on a grade. Ford's 2017 manual says that if the parking brake cannot hold the vehicle, it may need service or the vehicle may be overloaded. That is a rear-brake issue.

For rotors, Power Stop explains that the minimum thickness is engraved on the rotor itself, on the hat, the edge, or inside the cooling vanes, and that a rotor measured with a micrometer below that number must be replaced. Other signs they list include scored or grooved faces, a raised lip at the outer edge, blue heat discoloration and a pulsating pedal.

The Rear Brakes and the Parking Brake: Know Which Truck You Have

This generation of F-150 used two different parking brake designs, and that changes how the rear brake job goes.

Foot pedal parking brake. Ford's 2017 owner manual describes setting the parking brake by pressing the parking brake pedal to its fullest extent and releasing it by pressing the pedal again. On these trucks the rear pads come out the conventional way.

Electric parking brake. The same 2017 manual lists an electric parking brake as equipment on some trucks, and the 2018 manual describes the electric parking brake as replacing the conventional foot parking brake, operated by a switch on the instrument panel to the left of the steering wheel. The 2018 manual also lists a "Park Brake Maintenance Mode" message, which it describes as a special mode used to allow service of the rear brakes. In practice, that means you cannot simply push the rear pistons back with a C-clamp. The system has to be placed in its service mode first, using the factory procedure or a scan tool that supports it, and taken back out when you are done. Forcing the pistons back without doing this risks damaging the parking brake actuator.

The 2018 manual also warns that the electric parking brake cannot be applied or released if the battery is low or has no charge, so check battery health before blaming the rear calipers for a parking brake fault.

What to Replace, and What to Replace With It

Pads and rotors together, per axle. Power Stop's guidance is to replace pads and rotors at the same time: new pads on worn rotors (or the reverse) compromise braking efficiency, the old part's wear pattern shortens the new part's life, and doing both at once avoids paying for the same labor twice. Always do both sides of an axle together so the truck does not pull.

Front first, rear when measured. If your front pads are worn but the rears still have plenty of lining and the rotors are above minimum thickness, it is fine to do only the front. Measure; do not guess. If the rears are close, doing all four at once saves a second weekend.

Hardware and slides. Clean and lubricate the caliper slide pins and install new abutment clips. Seized slides cause the one-sided wear described above. Our brake hardware kits cover the clips and pins.

Brake fluid. Ford specifies DOT 4 Low Viscosity (LV) High Performance brake fluid meeting WSS-M6C65-A2 for this truck, and warns that using any other fluid may degrade brake performance. Only use fluid from a sealed container. If the fluid is dark, have it flushed with the correct spec when you do the pads.

Calipers and hoses. If a caliper piston is seized, a boot is torn, or a hose is swollen or cracked, replace it now. See our brake calipers and brake hoses.

Choosing Pads and Rotors for How You Use the Truck

For a daily-driven F-150 that rarely tows, a quality ceramic pad and a coated OE-style rotor give quiet, low-dust stops. Browse ceramic brake pads for that. If you want sharper bite and better cooling on the axle that does most of the work, a drilled and slotted setup like the 2015-2020 F-150 front Power Stop Z23 brake kit pairs carbon-ceramic pads with drilled and slotted rotors.

If you tow a boat or camper, haul heavy loads, run a lifted truck or drive long mountain descents, look at a truck-and-tow compound. Power Stop describes its Z36 Truck and Tow kit as a carbon-fiber ceramic formula for severe-duty use, with drilled, slotted and zinc-plated rotors, stainless shims and hardware, and high-temperature lubricant included. Towing is also when the rear axle earns its keep, so plan on inspecting the rears more often. You can shop the brand in our Power Stop collection.

How Hard Is the Job?

A front pad and rotor job on this truck is a reasonable driveway job for someone with a floor jack, jack stands, a breaker bar and a torque wrench. The caliper bracket bolts are large and tight, so torque them to the value in the factory service manual rather than guessing; under-torqued bracket bolts are a safety risk. Rust at the hub can make a rotor stubborn to remove, so have penetrating oil and a rubber mallet ready.

The rear is similar on pedal-parking-brake trucks. On electric parking brake trucks, add the service-mode step before and after, and confirm the parking brake applies and releases normally, with the warning lamp going out, before the truck leaves the driveway. After either job, pump the pedal until it is firm before moving, then bed in the new pads per the pad maker's instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do rear brakes on a 2015-2020 F-150 wear faster than the front?

Normally no. The front brakes do most of the stopping because weight shifts forward under braking, so the fronts usually wear first. Heavy towing, hauling or a sticking rear caliper can change that, which is why both axles should be inspected at every oil change.

Can I replace just the front brakes on my F-150?

Yes, as long as the rear pads have good lining left and the rear rotors measure above the minimum thickness stamped on them. Always replace both sides of the same axle together.

Does my F-150 have an electric parking brake?

If you set the parking brake with a switch on the dash to the left of the steering wheel, yes. If you set it with a foot pedal, no. Ford's 2017 manual lists the electric parking brake as equipment on some trucks, and the 2018 manual describes it as replacing the foot parking brake.

Why won't my F-150's rear caliper piston push back?

On trucks with the electric parking brake, the rear system must be put into its maintenance mode before the pistons can be retracted. Forcing them can damage the actuator. On pedal-brake trucks, a piston that will not retract usually means a seized caliper that should be replaced.

What brake fluid does a 2015-2020 F-150 use?

Ford's owner manuals for this generation specify DOT 4 Low Viscosity (LV) High Performance brake fluid meeting WSS-M6C65-A2. Use fluid from a sealed container only.

Should I get truck-and-tow brakes if I pull a trailer?

If you tow regularly, haul heavy loads or drive long grades, a severe-duty pad compound with rotors designed to shed heat is a good match. For light daily driving, a quality ceramic pad and OE-style rotor is usually quieter and cleaner.

Sources

1. Ford 2018 F-150 Owner's Manual - electric parking brake operation, Park Brake Maintenance Mode for rear brake service, low-battery warning, DOT 4 LV fluid spec, brake inspection schedule
2. Ford 2017 F-150 Owner's Manual - foot pedal parking brake, optional electric parking brake, brake noise and vibration guidance, DOT 4 LV fluid spec
3. Wagner Brake - How Car Brakes Work - weight shifts forward under braking so the front brakes do most of the work
4. Power Stop - Replace Pads and Rotors at the Same Time - reasons to replace pads and rotors together
5. Power Stop - Minimum Rotor Thickness - where minimum thickness is stamped, how to measure, rotor wear signs
6. Power Stop - Z36 Truck and Tow Brake Kit - severe-duty pad compound and kit contents for towing