Instructions for Replacing the Rotors in the 1999 Mercury Mystique

Mercury discontinued the Topaz after the 1994 model year and its replacement was the Mystique. Much like the Mercury Topaz had the Ford Tempo, the Mystique also had a Ford cousin, the Contour. The 1996 Mystique came standard with a 130-horsepower, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine. It also came standard with front disc brakes. Mercury recommends replacing the rotors when their disc measures less than 0.874 inches thick. Replacing the front rotors on the 1999 Mystique is a relatively easy task and most automotive experts recommend replacing the brake pads with the rotors.

Instructions

1

Remove half of the fluid from the master cylinder using a turkey baster. Transfer this fluid to a small container.

2

Loosen, but do not remove, the front lug nuts.

3

Raise the front of the Mystique and put jack stands beneath the frame rails. Lower the vehicle until the stands support all of its weight. Remove the lug nuts and pull the wheels off of the vehicle.

4

Remove the outer brake pad spring -- the thin, metal wire on the rear of the outer brake pad -- by prying it from the holes in the caliper with a flat-head screwdriver.

5

Loosen the two torx-head bolts on the rear of the caliper with a ratchet and a T40 torx-bit socket. Pull the torx-head bolts from the rear of the caliper. Pull the caliper off the caliper bracket and hang it from a nearby suspension component using a bungee strap.

6

Pull the inner and outer brake pads from the caliper bracket and remove the two bolts on the rear of the bracket with a ratchet and socket.

7

Pull the rotor off of the mystique. Lightly tap the rear of the rotor to free it if it does not pull off easily. Place the new rotor on the vehicle.

8

Clean the brake pad shims on the caliper bracket with a wire brush and lubricate them with disc brake grease. Reinstall the caliper bracket, torquing the two bolts to 88 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket.

9

Insert the new inner and outer brake pads on the caliper bracket.

10

Set the old inner brake pad in the caliper so it touches the caliper piston. Place an 8-inch C-clamp on the caliper, position the clamp so the screw part contacts the brake pad and the fixed side contacts the rear of the caliper. Tighten the C-clamp until the piston fully retracts into the caliper.

11

Place the caliper on the caliper bracket. Apply a generous coat of disc brake grease to the smooth part of the caliper bolts and tighten them to 20 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and T40 torx-head socket.

12

Reinstall the brake pad spring on the rear of the outer brake pad using a flat-head screwdriver.

13

Repeat Steps 4 through 12 for the rotor on the other side of the Mystique.

14

Reinstall the front wheels and hand-tighten the lug nuts. Raise the Mercury from the jack stands, with a floor jack, and remove the jack stands. Lower the Mercury to the ground. Tighten the lug nuts to 62 foot-pounds in a crisscross patter with a torque wrench and a socket.

15

Press and release the brake pedal until it feels firm. Check the brake fluid level in the master cylinder and add fluid until it reaches the "Max" level on the master cylinder.

16

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