How to Change the Back Brakes on a '95 Mustang GT

In 1964, Ford released the now-legendary Mustang sports car. Throughout the decades, the Mustang went through many changes -- some good, and some bad. The 1994 model year brought about a big change in the Mustang's appearance, as Ford dropped the square body in favor of a more rounded body style. The 1995 model year Mustang GT came standard with a 4.9-liter, V-8 engine that produced 215 horsepower. It also came standard with four-wheel disc brakes. The rear brakes on the 1995 also act as the parking and emergency brakes, so you need a special tool to change them.

Instructions

1

Open the brake master cylinder reservoir and remove about half of the fluid, using a turkey baster. Transfer this fluid to a small container.

2

Loosen the lug nuts on the Mustang's rear wheels, using a ratchet and socket.

3

Set wheel chocks in front of the front wheels and raise the rear of the Mustang, using a floor jack. Side jack stands under the rear axle and lower the Mustang onto the jack stands. Remove the lug nuts and pull the wheels from the vehicle.

4

Trace the brake hose from the rear of the caliper to its mounting point on the rear shock absorber. Remove the bolt securing the hose to the shock absorber. Pull the hose from the shock absorber.

5

Look on the rear of the caliper and locate the E-clip holding the parking brake conduit to the rear caliper. Remove this clip with needle-nose pliers. Save this E-clip for reuse.

6

Utilize a pair of slip-joint pliers to compress the parking brake cable lever while holding the end of the parking brake cable with needle-nose pliers. Slip the cable through the small slit in the parking brake cable arm once the parking brake cable has enough slack.

7

Pull the parking brake cable and conduit out through the hole in the rear of the caliper that the conduit goes through.

8

Secure the upper caliper pin with the opened end of a combination wrench and loosen the upper caliper bolt with a ratchet and socket. Repeat this step for the lower caliper bolt.

9

Pull the caliper off of the brake system and support it on a nearby suspension component, using a bungee strap. Grab the old brake pads and pull them out of the caliper bracket.

10

Remove the two bolts on the rear of the caliper support bracket, using a ratchet and socket, and pull the support bracket from the rotor.

11

Check the rotor for any imperfections, such as: scoring, grooves, hot spotting or a mirror-like shine. If any imperfections exist, remove the rotor and place a new rotor on the vehicle. If you have never removed the rotors from your Mustang, there may be small, circular clips holding it to the hub. Pull these clips off, using needle-nose pliers, and discard them -- you do not need them when reinstalling the rotor.

12

Set the caliper bracket back on the hub and tighten its bolts to 64 to 88 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench and socket.

13

Apply a thin coat of disc brake grease to the rear of the new pads and slide them into the grooves in the caliper bracket.

14

Compress the caliper piston, by twisting and pressing the caliper piston at the same time, using a Ford rear caliper piston tool. The exact process depends on the exact tool you rent, so refer to the tool's instructions for more detail.

15

Set the caliper over the rear brake pads. Tighten the caliper bolts to 23 to 26 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench and socket, while holding the caliper pins steady with a combination wrench.

16

Guide the parking brake cable and conduit through the hole on the rear of the caliper until the stopper on the conduit rests against the hole in the caliper. Press the E-clip back on the end of the conduit, using needle-nose pliers, to lock the conduit in place.

17

Compress the parking brake cable arm, using slip-joint pliers, and guide the parking brake cable back into the lever. Release the parking brake cable lever slowly, until the cable seats in the lever.

18

Reinstall the brake hose onto the shock absorber, then tighten the bolt with a ratchet and socket.

19

Repeat steps 4 through 18 for the brakes on the other side of the Mustang GT.

20

Reinstall the rear wheels and hand-tighten the lug nuts. Raise the Mustang off the jack stands and remove the stands. Lower the vehicle to the ground.

21

Tighten the lug nuts, in a crisscross pattern, to 85 to 105 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench and socket.

22

Press and release the brake pedal until it feels firm under your foot. Check the fluid in the master cylinder and add new DOT 3 brake fluid until it reaches the "Max" line.

23

Take the old brake fluid to a nearby automotive fluid recycling center. Many auto parts stores perform this task free of charge.