Ford Mustangs with four-wheel disc brakes have self-adjusting rear brake calipers. The benefit of self-adjusting calipers is longer lasting brake pads. Every time you hit the brakes, you wear the pads slightly as a by-product of stopping the Mustang. While this leads to an eventual brake job, the rear brake pads last longer than brake shoes installed on older Mustangs. Anyone with a few hours of free time and basic auto repair experience can replace rear brake pads on a Ford Mustang.
Instructions
- 1
Turn each of the rear lug nuts counterclockwise, using a lug wrench, until they are finger tight. Slap the wheel chocks against the front and rear tread of the left-front tire.
2Pick up the back end of the Mustang with the floor jack. Lower it onto the jack stands, placed near the spring shackles on the axle.
3Remove each of the rear lug nuts and both back tires by hand.
4Set the drop pan below the Mustang's left-rear brake assembly. Rinse away all of the brake dust on the rotor can caliper with brake cleaner.
5Take the left-rear caliper bolts out with a socket set. Lift the left-rear caliper out of the caliper bracket by hand. Remove and discard the old brake pads manually.
6Wash the inside of the caliper thoroughly, especially the pistons and slides, using brake cleaner. Wipe a thick layer of white lithium grease onto the caliper slides.
7Push the caliper pistons back into the left-rear caliper with your caliper tool. Set the new brake pads into the caliper by hand.
8Set the caliper back into the caliper bracket manually. Bolt it in with the socket set.
9Slide over to the Mustang's right-rear, and repeat Steps 4-8. Put the Mustang's back tires and lug nuts on by hand.
10Lower the Mustang off the jack stands. Torque the rear lug nuts to 100 ft-lb, using the torque wrench.
