How do you replace rear brake pads on 2004 Ford Freestar?

Answer 1

rear brakes on a 2004 freestar you need to push in and turn the piston in as the

rear calipers act also as the hand brakes, there is a special tool that you can buy

so that will push and turn at the same time.

OR - what I just did - get a 5-inch C-clamp, and tighten it up bit by bit, turning the piston bit by bit with a pair of channellocks. I turned the piston clockwise; I don't know if it matters which way. But after you've got it opened up enough to accommodate the new pads, turn the piston some more until one of the slots in it faces the front. It has to fit around a little post on the back of the inside pad.

NOTE: my Freestar is a 2005.

Improved answer - The second person here has decided he will do it the hard way. -The proper tool is cheap, and yes, it DOES matter which way you turn it in (Clockwise only. ) This method is totally stupid as you will score the piston with channel locks - and I doubt you will get it all the way in..

Well - "totally stupid" seems a bit strong. Scoring the piston with Channellocks isn't really that likely, since it doesn't take all that much force to get it to turn. I performed the C-clamp-and-Channellocks procedure over a year ago, no leakage, working well.