How to Fix Mustang Brakes

The brakes on a Ford Mustang wear down over time due to friction created by the pad material rubbing against the brake disc. Fortunately, fixing the brakes in this instance is a simple matter of replacing the pad material. Once you have verified that the pad material is down to 1/8-inch, you'll need to replace the pads. However, if your Mustang is suffering from a weak brake pedal pressure, you may want to check the fluid levels first before touching the brake pads.

Instructions

Check the brake fluid level. Open the hood and check the fluid level of the brake master cylinder. The fluid level should be between the upper and lower marks on the brake master cylinder. If it is not, you will need to add brake fluid until it is between the upper and lower marks on the master cylinder reservoir.

Check for leaks. Press on the brake pedal with firm pressure. Then, release the brake pedal. Check the master cylinder reservoir, and check underneath the Mustang, especially at all four wheels, for any brake fluid. A leak indicates a failure of the brake system, which would need to be serviced by a professional brake shop.

Replace the brake pads. If there is no leaking brake fluid, the next step is to replace the brake pads. Loosen the wheel lug nuts with a tire wrench by turning the lugs one-quarter-turn counterclockwise. Do not unstake the wheel from the wheel hub assembly.

Raise the Mustang onto jack stands. Raise the front and rear of the car using a floor jack. Jack up on the front and rear crossmember and place jack stands under the pinch welds in the front and rear of the car. Then, lower the car onto the jack stands. The pinch welds are reinforced tabs under the side rails of the vehicle that are designated as secure points for electric hydraulic lifts or jack stands.

Remove the lug nuts and pull the wheel off.

Remove the caliper pin bolt on the bottom of the caliper with a socket wrench. The pin bolt is removed from behind the caliper.

Press the caliper piston back into the caliper with a c-clamp. Place a c-clamp over the caliper. The screw head of the clamp sits flush with the outboard brake pad and the other side of the caliper sits against the back of the caliper. Turn the handle on the clamp to force the piston in.

Remove the upper and lower caliper mounting bolts and slide the caliper off.

Remove the old brake pads from the caliper and insert the new ones with the same orientation.

Put the caliper back on the brake rotor, re-tighten the caliper mounting bolts. Make sure you put a small amount of thread locker on the threads of the caliper bolts to keep them secure in the caliper. Tighten the caliper mounting bolts to 50 lbs. per foot with a torque wrench.

Tighten the caliper pin bolt to 27 lbs. per foot with a torque wrench.

Put the wheel back on and tighten the lug nuts.

Lower the Mustang to the ground and torque the lug nuts to 100 lbs. per foot.