'18 Expedition Brake Torque Spec Confirmation

[KOMaynard]

I'm prepping for a Pads/Rotors on my '18 Expedition Max, in addition to the all too common driver side valve cover. In preparation for the valve cover, I got a subscription for AllData, and decided to do check the Torque Specs for the Brakes.

That being said, it's listing the following specs, which sound like they have to be incorrect and are too high, but perhaps they aren't. Anyone able to confirm if the following listing is factual, and if so, if anyone has actually tried to follow this spec with success?

FRONT Caliper Bolts: 27 ft-lb
FRONT Caliper Bracket Bolts: 184 ft-lb
REAR Caliper Bolts: 26 ft-lb
REAR Caliper Bracket Bolts: 258 ft-lb

Thanks in advance.

 

[S20Workstation4]

Yes, those specs are correct.

The Rear Bracket seems abnormally high, but I checked with the workshop manual it is indeed 258 Ft-lbs.


Joseph

 

[KOMaynard]

Yes, those specs are correct.

The Rear Bracket seems abnormally high, but I checked with the workshop manual it is indeed 258 Ft-lbs.


Joseph

Yeah, that was my exact thought as well. 258 is a whole lot of force, and well above anything I've ever run into before. I was almost wondering if it was misprinted as ft-lb instead of NM. The most I've seen on rears is like 140.

 

[KOMaynard]

Looking at the actual listings for parts, although the procedure calls for removal of the bracket. It looks like it isn't necessary to even remove the rear bracket, even if you're doing a rotor change. I may be able to avoid the entire thing all together, it'll just make cleaning the slide pin guide holes a little more tedious. I wonder if the design being the way it is, causes the need for the uptick in torque.

The front looks like it'll have to happen either way. It has a more traditional design and blocks the rotor from being removed.

 

[Avian]

I'm prepping for a Pads/Rotors on my '18 Expedition Max, in addition to the all too common driver side valve cover. In preparation for the valve cover, I got a subscription for AllData, and decided to do check the Torque Specs for the Brakes.

That being said, it's listing the following specs, which sound like they have to be incorrect and are too high, but perhaps they aren't. Anyone able to confirm if the following listing is factual, and if so, if anyone has actually tried to follow this spec with success?

FRONT Caliper Bolts: 27 ft-lb
FRONT Caliper Bracket Bolts: 184 ft-lb
REAR Caliper Bolts: 26 ft-lb
REAR Caliper Bracket Bolts: 258 ft-lb

Thanks in advance.

Having lived through the horror of doing a brake job (professionally) and not torqueing those crucial bolts to specs and having the caliper fall off inside the wheel and destroy the wheel, caliper, and other goodies, I not only torque to spec, but the caliper bracket mounting bolts (which were what failed in my case 20+ years ago), I apply Loc-tite red as well.

I've done hundreds of brake jobs since, applied the thread locker, and had NO failures since!

Final note: The failure I had was on a GMC Suburban loaded with kids. Thankfully, there were no injuries or any type of accident.

 

[Tom991]

I'm prepping for a Pads/Rotors on my '18 Expedition Max, in addition to the all too common driver side valve cover. In preparation for the valve cover, I got a subscription for AllData, and decided to do check the Torque Specs for the Brakes.

That being said, it's listing the following specs, which sound like they have to be incorrect and are too high, but perhaps they aren't. Anyone able to confirm if the following listing is factual, and if so, if anyone has actually tried to follow this spec with success?

FRONT Caliper Bolts: 27 ft-lb
FRONT Caliper Bracket Bolts: 184 ft-lb
REAR Caliper Bolts: 26 ft-lb
REAR Caliper Bracket Bolts: 258 ft-lb

Thanks in advance.

When I did my rears I read that the rear brackets were 154 ft lbs. I used my old torque wrench to see how much the were torqued to. They started to turn at 155 lbs.

 

[ROBERT BONNER]

It's been a while since I did the rears on my '20; but, my recollection is that they are an "open" caliper bracket design. Meaning that the rear (only) caliper bracket does not have to be removed to remove the rotor; so, you don't have to disturb those 258 ft lb ers. Note that someone went a little torque crazy in the rear of these trucks. As I recall the rear lower strut mount is a (legendary) 406 ft lbs.

 

[HILLY]

Some insane torque specs indeed on this truck. Those bolts are 258 lb.ft. (350 Nm). This is the upper limit of 1/2" drive torque wrenches as most top out at 250 lb.ft. or 350 Nm as spec'd. Also, the FSM also states that the bolts, and all other brake related bolts, are one time use (likely because of Loctite, which can be reapplied. They aren't TTY bolts). The caliper to anchor plate are spec'd at 26 lb.ft. (35 Nm).



It would make things easier and skip a step if the anchor plate plate has enough clearance to maneuver the disc off the hub as Robert states.

Make sure you also follow the EPB Service mode procedure before removing the rear caliper.

 

[KOMaynard]

I appreciate the help. Taking on the front today, limited time and not ideal conditions, but I was onto metal on the driver side at the piston side.