The rear brakes on the 1998 Mercury Mystique are non-servo drum brakes that have a self-adjuster quadrant built into the system. Under normal driving conditions, the quadrant keeps the brake shoes adjusted and rarely needs manual adjustment. If the brake shoes or adjuster quadrant are replaced, the brake shoes are adjusted to the same diameter as the inside diameter of the brake drums. The average home mechanic can complete this adjustment in about an hour if no other repairs are being performed.
Instructions
- 1
Release the parking brake and block the right front wheel with wheel chocks in front of and behind the wheel. Raise the left rear wheel off the ground using a floor jack. Position a jack stand under the pinch weld on the lower edge of the body of the car about six inches in front of the rear wheel opening. Remove the lug nuts using a lug wrench. Lay the wheel and lug nuts aside.
2Slide the rear brake drum off the hub assembly. If the drum is stuck, a few sharp blows with a large hammer around the edge of the drum will loosen it from the hub. Clean loose brake dust from the inside of the drum and the brake shoes using a spray bottle filled with water. This will prevent inhalation of the dust.
3Loosen the lock nut on the drum adjusting gauge by turning the knurled knob. Slide the small side of the gauge into the drum, with the shoulders of the gauge resting on the edge of the drum.
4Expand the two halves of the gauge by pulling them apart until the gauge is the same size as the inside diameter of the drum. Tighten the knob securely.
5Insert a pocket screwdriver between the knurled cam of the adjuster quadrant and the quadrant. Pry out on the adjuster can until the large side of the brake shoe adjuster gauge will slide over the brake shoes with a slight amount of drag on the gauge.
6Reinstall the drum and the wheel. Remove the jack stand and lower the floor jack until the wheel is on the ground. Repeat the procedure for the other side of the car.
