I am hoping some of you can help. I changed the brakes on my 2008 Ford Expedition yesterday. The back went smoothly. The front were a nightmare. After figuring out that the bolt holding the brakes was a 7mm allen wrench for the back brakes, you figure the front is the same....WRONG!! We tried an 8 and it was too small. We tried a 10...too big. So it must be a 9! Have you ever tried to buy a 9mm allen wrench? They don't exist!! We tried every standard and metric size I have!!

So my B-I-L took a 10mm he had and ground it down until it worked. My question...Do any of you know what size it actually is on the front? Totally stumped.

BTW What should have taken 45 minutes, took about 4 hours after it was all said and done!!

 

Not sure if it's changed from earlier years but I use either a Torx T-40 or T-45 bit. Fits perfectly.

 

my 1999 uses a torx not an allen wrench on the front

 

Yes it is a 9mm hex and yes a 9mm hex wrench does exist, it just isn't a part of standard hex sets. You have to special order it separately.

 

Thanks Alloro!! I went to so many stores and saw so many sets and they all jumped from 8 to 10...whether it was Allen wrench sets or sockets with Allens on them!!

I'm heading to Albuquerque today. I'll see if I can find one.

r2Millers I had looked on the internet and it said my model was a 40 and 45 torx...so I thought I was set. It was not, however.

 

You might try the Torx if you have them. I know I can use Torx many times where hex heads are used. They do work interchangeable with some sizes.

 

I had the same issue back in Fall 2013. Changing the brakes on my 2008 Expedition EL XLT. We tried Autozone, O'Reilly's, Advanced Auto, and a local Ford Service Dept (who couldn't even tell us the right size was a 9mm BTW...) We tried the T-45 also but it didn't work on mine. A friend who is a great mechanic said he filed the 10MM down but we did not have the time or inclination to do that. I finally stopped in at our local small NAPA store. They had the 9mm in stock! It cost around $6 but now I have it and the whole day wasted hunting, buying, trying, and returning will not happen next time