How to Replace Brakes in a Mercury Tracer

The brakes in a Mercury Tracer perform a vital safety function. Hydraulic fluid is forced through steel lines and forces a piston inside of a caliper to push against a brake rotor. Inside the caliper is a brake pad that makes the connection with the rotor. Over time, the pad will wear down due to friction. When you start to feel vibration in the steering wheel during braking, check and replace the brakes in your Mercury Tracer.

Instructions

1

Turn the lug nuts on the front wheels 45 degrees to loosen.

2

Put the floor jack under the front jack point located near the radiator and jack up the Tracer.

3

Continue to loosen the lug nuts and remove them.

4

Slide the wheel of the hub assembly.

5

Unbolt the top and bottom caliper mounting bolts, pull the caliper off the rotor, and secure them to the coil spring above the brake assembly.

6

Remove the brake pad from the caliper. You may need to tap the pad from behind using a rubber mallet to knock it loose from the caliper.

7

Push the caliper piston back into the caliper. Slide the face of one of the brake pads over the piston. Slide the c-clamp over the piston and caliper and tighten the c-clamp to force the piston back into the caliper assembly.

8

Insert the new brake pads and reassemble the caliper.

9

Slide the caliper back over the rotor and reinstall the caliper mounting bolts. Place a small amount of thread locker on the bolt threads and tighten the bolts until you feel resistance. Then, give the bolts an additional 1/4 turn.

10

Spray the brake assembly down with brake parts cleaner. Make sure that there is no residual oil or residue on the brake assembly.

11

Mount the wheel on the wheel hub assembly and tighten the lug nuts down.

12

Lower the vehicle to the ground and torque the lug nuts to 100 ft lbs.