Was gonna put some new pads up front on the truck today, but couldnt for the life of me get the calipers off. Didnt have a big enough c-clamp to compress the pistons. Is there a way to get them off without using a clamp or trying to compress them with a screw driver (which i dont want to do at all) Any advice?

 

Something just don't sound right! Are the rotors bad?

 

From what i could tell, no. I beat on the calipers with a dead blow and could get it to where it would go up and down and about an inch towards me but then they just seem to hang up.

 

Are the pads free of the caliper as you try to slide it out?

 

No. Caliper is contacting the pads

 

Are you trying to remove just the caliper or are you trying to remove the caliper, anchor plate and pads in one shot?

 

just the caliper. This is my first time messing with brakes. I looked over the workshop manuals in the 6.0 tech folder and then went at it. Didnt get far though!! What did i do wrong?

 

So far every thing you did sounds right, except the caliper should just lift (or be fairly easily persuaded) straight up minus the pads...

 

Let me ask this then. Lets say if there was still a good amount of pad left, would this make it harder to get off. I figured it was time for some new pads b/c i had some what i thought was indicator squeeks. Now i have nothing so i figured they were getting low. After looking at them with the tire off ready to put the new pads on, they still have some meat on em.

 

Pad thickness should not make all that much difference, especially with the design of the caliper...

I just had the brakes done on my truck for the first time just a couple of weeks ago at 106,000 miles. The pads had about 15-20% left on them and the calipers came off fairly easily...

 

I agree, something in your disassembly steps doesn't sound quite right. I've not done this year/model myself, but I've never seen one where you have to compress the piston *before* removing the caliper. Again, I'm not 100% familiar with the exact style of yours (just got my '06, haven't had the pleasure yet), but generally on the newer fords the calipers slide side-to-side (perpendicular to the rotor) on a pair of pins, and those pins are held in place by bolts, on each, from the back side. Remove the bolts, then the pins can be retracted, then the caliper (with the pads attached) will lift out of the directly off the rotor (in the radial direction). Then you could remove the pads from the caliper, and then you would compress the pistons back in to the caliper.

 

The pads are held down on the anchor plate with clips. The pads will stay on when the caliper slides off. It almost seems like the pistons are getting hung on those little bumps on the back of the brake pads. I thought it was going to be easy because when i took the two bolts off, the caliper fell down a little so im thinking this will be easy. Then i went to pull them straight out and it wont budge.

 

Right - the pads stay in the the bracket, my mistake. But the caliper still slides on a couple pins for lateral movement, I believe - you do have the pins out far enough for the caliper to clear them? That caliper *should* slide right out...

Sorry to be guessing here, I don't have the truck here and I can't find my book!

 

Im gonna try again Monday. If anyone esle has anything to add, please do!

 

1. remove the brake fluid reservoir cap.
2. remove the caliper pin bolts.
3. swing the bottom of the caliper out before it has a chance to drop down and then slide the caliper down about 1/4" and the caliper should come off.
4. if it doesnt, there is not enough clearance to get the caliper off. had this issue on my 03 fronts. you have to work the piston into the bore slighty to remove the caliper, less than 1/4". the rail clips are pushing the pads out while your trying to slide the caliper off. if i remember right, you can grab it and pull the caliper to you and get the clearance you need. there maybe enough clearance to slightly move the piston in with a couple of large scewdrivers wedged in from the sides, just have to be cautious...no hammers, just work it in a little at a time. i used my hands and pulled like the dickens to move the piston in.
5. if you do get the clearance but it is still hanging up, maybe a clip or one of rail clips is hanging you up and you'll just have to overcome the issue.

sorry, don't have the link for the 03 manual anymore....not much has changed though...
https://www.motorcraftservice.com/pu...20/S8OMAIN.HTM

he calls the anchor mounting bolts, caliper bolts, but i would remove the anchor to clean the pin bores anyway.
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hope this helps
rob