How to Replace the Front Disk Brake Pads on a 97 Thunderbird

Changing the front brake pads on your 1997 Ford Thunderbird is a good home project. It will save you a large repair bill and is a good basic project for the home mechanic or do-it-yourselfer. The pads are readily available at any auto parts store and the tools required to do the work are basic hand tools that you probably already have in your toolbox. Take your time and pay close attention to details, and in no time you will have new brake pads on the front of your car.

Instructions

1

Loosen the lug nuts on the front of your Thunderbird with a lug wrench. Position a jack under the car and raise it until the tires are off the ground. Slide a set of jack stands under the front suspension to support the car and remove the front wheels.

2

Locate the alignment pins on the front of the brake caliper and remove them with an Allen wrench. Set the pins aside for now.

3

Lift the caliper off the rotor and remove the outboard brake pad from the caliper. It just pulls straight out of the caliper. Remove the inboard pad by pushing it into the center of the caliper and snapping the retaining clip on the back of it out of the caliper piston. Discard the old pads.

4

Place a large C-clamp on the caliper so the fixed portion of the clamp is on the rear of the caliper body and the screw is in the piston. Turn the clamp, pushing the piston into the caliper until it stops. Remove the clamp and set it aside.

5

Position the new inboard pad into the caliper and slide it back until it snaps into the caliper piston. Slide the new outboard pad into the caliper and snap the spring retainers on the caliper.

6

Position the caliper on the rotor and install the alignment pins. Tighten the pins with an Allen wrench, then move to the opposite side of the car and repeat the process.

7

Install the wheels on the car, followed by the lug nuts, then tighten them with a lug wrench. Lift the front of the car off the jack stands, remove the stands from under the car and set the car back on its wheels. Tighten the lug nuts now that there is weight on the front end of the car.