Being that you live in mountains, get new rotors. It's going to cost you 50-60 to get them turned (maybe more where u live. Most shops in southern Louisiana charge 25-30ea) and new rotors are like 90-100ea and u can usually get 20% off if you order online. But price isn't my biggest concern. I'm sure your brakes get HOT in downhill braking. Turned rotors will warp a lot more quicker with the kind of heat you'll be putting them through.

Stay away from online kits unless you buy from a reputable, known brand/manufacturer. Too many of those cheaper sets are poor, cheap shite.

I'd go to Advance Auto and get either their Carquest Gold or Platinum line pads and their Carquest rotors are very good as well. Order online and pickup in store for 20% off entire order.

Lastly, watch this YouTube video from 1A Auto. They do some of the most comprehensive auto DIY videos on YouTube! LINK

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Posted by Tiger-Striped-Bass

The Bay Area

Member since Dec 2004

1266 posts

Posted on 4/9/20 at 8:03 am to boudinman

Compressing Caliper - I don't know if all Fords are this way, but my wife's 2014 Flex calipers do not compress in the usual manner. The piston is threaded so to speak, and you have to rotate it. It will not compress with a c-clamp. It's been a little while since I did them, so I don't remember in great detail. Drove me crazy until I found a youtube video for another ford vehicle that described and showed doing it with a special tool. I managed without the tool, but only after watching the video of how the tool works and then improvising.

The piston looks like this

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Posted by Boat Motor Bandit

Member since Jun 2016

1891 posts

Posted on 4/9/20 at 8:10 am to cdaniel76

Have changed my own brakes my entire like on multiple vehicles. Only hand to change rotors ONCE among all those vehicles. And I had my rotors turned about 6 times in my life of vehicles. I know for sure I've had 5 different trucks and my wife at least that many or more cars and SUV's. Over 200K on all those vehicles/ Changing rotors often is a sales pitch much like oil needing to be changed every 3000 miles. Its just to get you to buy MORE product. Turn the rotor if it hangs on ya finger nail if not change the pads amd move on!!. IF you get a rotor hot or grind on it with no pad for a long distance would be the only times I would suggest changing the rotor.

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Posted by boudinman

Member since Nov 2019

5014 posts

Posted on 4/10/20 at 8:23 am to Tiger-Striped-Bass

Thanks for this info. I didn't know some of the calipers had to be rotated. I've only seen the compressed ones. Have to file this away in my memory.