How to Replace Front Brake Pads on a 1995 Ford Taurus

Mechanics recommend that vehicle owners change their brake pads every 20,000 to 40,000 miles. For front-wheel-drive vehicles such as the 1995 Ford Taurus, the front brake pads get the heaviest use. Brake pads for a domestic car such as the 1995 Ford Taurus are relatively inexpensive --- usually less than $75 for a whole set. Often the biggest expense when having your brake pads replaced is the labor. Resourceful and handy drivers can save money by changing their own brake pads.

Instructions

Park your Ford Taurus on a flat surface where you have enough room to work. Turn your engine off and set your parking brake.

Loosen the lug nuts with your lug wrench on the wheel on which you're changing the brake pad.

Raise your car using your car jack. Securely support the car on the jack stand.

Remove lug nuts and wheel.

Loosen the upper and lower caliper mounting bolts with a 12mm socket. Remove the bolts and set them aside in an order so that you know which is which when it's time to replace them.

Lift the brake caliper off of the rotor and set it upside down to the side. Take care to not kink the brake hoses in the process.

Pull the old brake pads out. You may need to use a screwdriver or small pry bar to pry them off, as they've been in there for a while, but they should come off without too much difficulty.

Put the new brake pads in. Do this by hand --- they should just slip easily into the space where you took the old ones out of and snap right into place.

Put the old brake pads in the upside-down caliper you set to the side. Put the caliper spreader between the brake pads. Turn the crank on the caliper spreader, which will open the caliper spreader and put pressure on the brake pads. The spreader should be snug against the brake pads but not too tight. Turn the caliper over.

Open the bleeder valve and drain the brake fluid into a container. Turn the caliper spreader crank a little more to help wring the brake fluid out.

Tighten the bleeder valve to close it. Remove the caliper spreader. Take out the old brake pads and dispose of them.

Place the caliper over the newly installed brake pads. Put the upper and lower caliper bolts back in place by hand, then tighten them with the socket wrench.

Replace the wheel. Replace the lug nuts and tighten them with a lug wrench.

Lower your Ford Taurus back to the ground by removing the jack stand and reversing the car jack.

Repeat this procedure on the other front wheel.