Ford Brake Pads and Rotors: Wear Signs and How to Choose by OEM Number

On a Ford Explorer, Fusion, Escape or Edge, brake pads and rotors are wear parts: sooner or later they have to be replaced. The real questions are when to do it and which part number fits your car. This guide covers the common signs of wear and how to choose the right Ford or Motorcraft part by model, year and OEM number.

Signs Your Pads or Rotors Are Worn

• Squeal when braking - many pads have a small metal wear indicator that touches the rotor when the friction material gets thin.
• Grinding or scraping - the pad material may be gone and metal is touching the rotor. Have the brakes checked as soon as possible.
• Pulsing pedal or shaking steering wheel under braking - often caused by uneven rotor thickness or deposits on the rotor surface.
• The car pulls to one side when braking - a caliper or its slide pins may be sticking, or the pads are wearing unevenly.
• Longer stopping distance or a soft pedal - check the pads, but also the brake fluid level and the hydraulic system.
• A visible lip on the rotor edge or deep grooves - the rotor is worn and should be measured.

Never ignore the brake warning light on the dashboard - it can mean low brake fluid or a fault in the system.

Pads or Rotors - What Needs Replacing?

1. Pads are replaced per axle. Both front wheels (or both rear wheels) get new pads at the same time, otherwise the car can pull under braking.
2. Rotors are also replaced in pairs on the same axle. Each rotor has a minimum thickness marked on it (often "MIN TH"). If it is thinner than that, cracked, deeply grooved or causing vibration, replace it.
3. New pads on worn rotors often wear unevenly and make noise. If the rotors are close to the limit, replace them together with the pads.
4. Check the rest of the system: caliper slide pins and rubber boots, brake hoses and the condition of the brake fluid.

For the first days after replacement, brake smoothly and avoid unnecessary hard stops so the new pads can bed in. Brakes are a safety system: if you are not confident doing the job yourself, have a mechanic do it.

How to Choose the Right Part

Ford fits different brakes to the same model depending on the year, engine and version. That is why "Explorer brake pads" is not enough to order the right part.

1. Model and generation. For example, the Explorer 2013-2019 and the Explorer from 2020 use different pads and rotors.
2. Front or rear. Front and rear pads are different parts with different numbers.
3. Version. Even for the same years there can be more than one number. For the front pads of the Explorer 2013-2019 our catalog lists two: EB5Z2001B and GB5Z2001B.
4. OEM number. The most reliable way is the Ford part number (e.g. EB5Z2001B) or the Motorcraft number (e.g. BRF1970). If you have the old part or a receipt, compare the numbers.
5. VIN. If you are not sure, send us your VIN and we will check the fitment.

Ford Brake Parts in Our Catalog

If your engine or version is not listed on the product page, check by VIN before ordering.

Brake parts for other models: Brakes · Ford Explorer · Ford Fusion · Ford Escape · Ford Edge

Not sure which number fits your car? Send us a part request with your VIN, or call or message us on WhatsApp: +995 505 05 06 51. We work every day, 10:00-19:00. Delivery takes 1-2 days in Tbilisi and 3-5 days to the regions.