How to Retract the Brake Caliper Piston for a 1995 Ford Mustang

The 1995 Ford Mustang came equipped with four-wheel disc brakes that provided a much needed improvement in stopping power over the previous "Fox"-bodied Mustangs. The rear calipers on the Mustang are designed with an actuator built in that provides the parking brake function. Retracting the caliper pistons in this car is similar to other four-wheel disc brake vehicles, and the task is well within the skill level of the average Mustang enthusiast. A special caliper piston tool, available at most auto parts stores, is required for this project.

Instructions

Front Brakes

1

Block the rear wheels of the Mustang with wheel chocks. Set parking brake firmly. Loosen the front lug nuts 1/2-turn using a lug wrench. Raise the front of the car with a floor jack and support it on jack stands. Remove the front wheels.

2

Clamp a C-clamp over the outside brake pad and caliper housing. Slide the drain pan under the caliper. Open the bleeder screw on top of the caliper. Compress the piston into the housing by tightening the clamp until it forces the piston into the housing. Close the bleeder screw and remove the C-clamp.

3

Remove the caliper-to-steering knuckle bolts using a 15 mm socket and ratchet. Lift the caliper up and over the brake rotor. Suspend the caliper from the steel brake line mounted to the frame, using a piece of stiff wire. Slide the brake rotors off the hub assembly and have them resurfaced by an auto shop or parts store.

4

Install new brake pads into the caliper bracket attached to the caliper. Slide the brake rotor onto the hub assembly and slide the caliper onto the rotor. Install the caliper-to-steering knuckle bolts and torque them to 95 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench.

5

Reinstall the wheels and torque the lug nuts in a star pattern to 100 foot-pounds. Lift the car off the jack stands and remove the stands. Lower the Mustang to the ground. Pump the brake pedal several times to expand the calipers and clamp the pads against the rotor.

6

Test drive the Mustang and perform six to 10 light stops from 30 mph to a stop, with approximately 30 seconds between stops to allow for cooling. This will burnish the new pads and help prevent brake noise.

Rear Brakes

7

Block the front wheels of the Mustang with wheel chocks. Raise and support the rear of the car with a floor jack and jack stands. Remove the rear wheels.

8

Remove the two 13 mm caliper slide-pin bolts using a 13 mm wrench. Lift the caliper off the rotor and suspend it from the rear steel brake line. Remove the two 15 mm caliper support bracket bolts, using a socket and ratchet. Lay the bracket and brake pads aside. Slide the brake rotor off the hub assembly and have it resurfaced.

9

Compress the caliper piston using the caliper piston tool. Slip the tool between the caliper piston and housing. Rotate the tool's disc-shaped adapter until the two small pins on the adapter engage the indentations in the face of the caliper piston.

10

Simultaneously rotate the outer nut of the tool counterclockwise, and the center shaft of the tool clockwise, using and adjustable wrench and a 15 mm socket and ratchet. Continue to rotate the tool to compress the piston completely into the caliper housing.

11

Slide the rotor onto the hub assembly. Rotate the caliper piston with the caliper piston tool to align the indentations on the piston with the pin on the back of the new brake pad. Slip new pads onto the caliper bracket and bolt the caliper bracket over the brake rotor. Torque the caliper bracket bolts to between 64 and 88 foot-pounds.

12

Slide the caliper over the brake pads and reinstall the slide-pin bolts. Torque the bolts to 26 foot-pounds. Reinstall the wheels and lower the Mustang to the ground. Torque the lug nuts to 100 foot-pounds. Pump the brake pedal and apply parking brake several times to expand the caliper. Test drive the Mustang and burnish the pads.