How to Remove the Rear Caliper Support Bracket Pins for the 2000 Mustang GT

The brake caliper guide pins in your Mustang GT keep the brake pads properly aligned within the support bracket. Although you can remove the brake caliper from the support bracket, you must remove each of the guide pins to replace the rear brake pads. With a socket wrench and a pair of needle-nose pliers you can remove the guide pins on your 2000 Mustang GT's rear brake caliper yourself. Removing the pins will take you less than five minutes to do once you have removed the tire.

Instructions

1

Place a wheel block in front of the driver and passenger's side front tires of your 2000 Mustang. Loosen the lug nuts a quarter turn counterclockwise on the rear passenger's side tire with a lug wrench.

2

Raise your Mustang, using the frame rail as a support, with a hydraulic jack. Place a jack stand on the immediate right of the hydraulic jack to aid in supporting the Mustang's weight.

3

Remove all of the lug nuts with the lug wrench. Pull the wheel off the hub assembly on your Mustang then roll it to the side of the work area.

4

Remove the inner, upper and lower caliper mounting bolts with a socket wrench. If you look behind your Mustang's brake caliper, you will see the two bolts securing it to the support bracket. Unless you're removing the brake rotor, do not remove the support bracket's two bolts.

5

Stack two empty milk crates on top of each other. Turn the crates upside down so that the bottom of them faces up. Position the crates on the side of your Mustang's brake caliper within the wheelwell.

6

Lift your Mustang's brake caliper vertically off the support bracket and brake rotor. Set the brake caliper down on top of the milk crates so that you're able to clearly see the outer brake pad and both guide pins. At the front of each guide pin, on both sides of the outer brake pad, you should see a small metal cotter pin.

7

Straighten out the legs on the cotter pin on the right first with a pair of needle-nose pliers. Grab the small metal loop at the top of the cotter pin with the pliers and pull it out of the service hole on the guide pin. Repeat this step to remove the cotter pin from the guide pin on the left of your Mustang's brake caliper.

8

Grasp the guide pin on the right, at its rear where it pushes through the inner brake pad, with the pliers. Twist the guide pin back and forth while simultaneously pulling it away from both brake pads. Repeat this step to remove the guide pin on the left side of your 2000 Mustang GT's brake caliper.