How to Replace the Rear Disc Brake Pads on a 1995 Ford Taurus

The 1995 Ford Taurus features either rear drum brakes and brake shoes, or rear disc brakes and brake pads. Unlike the front disc brakes and brake pads, the rear brakes account for only about 30 percent (or less for drum brakes) of the braking power for the family sedan. This means replacing rear disc brakes is not as common as having to replace the front. But because they're smaller and thinner than the front brake pads, eventually you must replace them.

Instructions

1

Park the Taurus on a flat surface suitable for lifting and supporting the car, but do not apply the parking brake.

2

Release the hood latch, open the hood and then remove the cover from the master cylinder. Use a brake fluid suction baster to suck out 1/2 of the brake fluid from the master cylinder, and then discard this fluid.

3

Place a tire chock in front of one of the front tires, then loosen the wheel nuts to the rear tires using a lug wrench 1/4-turn counterclockwise.

4

Lift the rear of the Taurus with a car jack (one side at a time), then support it onto jack stands placed under the rear lateral frame rails. Finish removing the wheel nuts and remove the tires.

5

Remove the brake hose retaining screw holding the hose bracket to the rear shock absorber, using a small hand wrench.

6

Disconnect the retaining clip of the parking brake cable from the caliper housing, and then use a pair of needle-nose pliers to disengage the end of the cable from the caliper housing.

7

Place an open end side of a combination hand wrench onto the upper slider pin of the caliper and use a closed-end side of another combination wrench to disengage the pinch bolt in a counterclockwise motion.

8

Pry the caliper downward from the rotor and pads assembly, using a standard screwdriver if necessary.

9

Use a T87P-2588-A tool (or compatible rear caliper reset tool) to wind the rear caliper piston into the caliper piston bore in a clockwise motion until it is fully seated and the notches on the piston align with the nibs of the replacement pads.

10

Pry the old pads from the caliper mount, using a standard screwdriver if necessary.

11

Install the new pads into the caliper mount, then swing the caliper upward over the pads and rotor assembly.

12

Clean the bottom threads of the pinch bolt on a wire brush wheel of a bench grinder. Apply a light coat of thread-lock compound to the threads of the bolt, and align it into the slider pin. Tighten the bolt (while holding the slide pin with an open-end side of the combination hand wrench) to 25 foot-lbs. with a torque wrench and socket.

13

Reattach the parking brake end to the caliper housing, secure the retaining clip and then reattach the retaining screw to the rear brake hose assembly to the bracket on the rear shock.

14

Repeat the pad replacement procedure on the other side of the rear brakes before replacing the tires and wheel nuts on the Taurus. Tighten the nuts flush to the hub.

15

Raise the Taurus with the car jack again just high enough to extract the jack stands (one side at a time), then slowly lower the vehicle to the ground. Torque the rear wheel nuts in a offset star-like pattern to 100 foot-lbs. with the torque wrench and a socket.

16

Pump the foot brake pedal several times to seat the rear pistons and pads until the pedal has a firm feel to it (make sure the master cylinder cover is tight on the reservoir first).

17

Check the level of the brake fluid in the master cylinder, and top it off with new brake fluid only before test-driving the Taurus.