I have a 03 4wd I would like to change brake pads and rotors on. Iwas reading my chilton manual and it says to remove about two-thirds break fluid from the master cylinder. that part does not make sense to me. Do any of you guys do that step to replace brakes?

 

the idea is if you've been topping off the fluid you have more fluid then your system can hold when the calipers are all the way. But if you havent been topping off the fluid you probably should be fine without doing anything.

Question tho, when was the last time you flushed the fluid? Its probably due for a full system flush, why not flush and bleed the brakes while you've got the wheels off?

 

Front breaks have never been changed. Had rears done by shop. I would like to do the fronts my self. I have 95,000 on it. Break fluid has never been changed.

 

As I look at the picture in the chilton manual it looks like c clamp is pushing in the piston in the hole of the caliper. After it is pushed in you remove the c clamp and disassemble the brakes. Am I getting this right?

 

Yes, after pushing the piston all the way in then you can remove the C-clamp.

I think there is a how to on changing the brakes. Chilton kinda sucks.

 

Is the how to on this site somewhere or is it a google search thing.

 

There was one on this site.

 

I'd flush the fluid, drain ALL the fluid from the master cylinder (siphon off the fluid), then do the brake job. Siphon off the fluid pushed back into the master cylinder (should be empty now). Put NEW fluid in and flush the brake system (same procedure as brake bleeding). Be sure to buy plenty of fluid (I'd get 2 32oz bottles, less than $10 total at Walmart).

 

I did a write up for a 2003 2wd, somewhat similar to your truck
https://www.f150online.com/forums/ar...ighlight=write


Oh and you're definitely due for a brake system flush