Brakes and Rotor replacement

robert0803 · **Brakes and Rotor replacement**

Hey Fellas-

I have 1996 V6 Stang and I need to replace the front brakes and rotors.

Is this a very complicated job?

From the looks of it, it seems fairly simple.

Can someone shed some light on this and tell me if I am shooting myself in the foot. Should I take it to a shop OR do it at home with my basic tools??

Let me know.

01mineralgrey6 · 08-13-2004, 02:26 PM

Not really a big job..you do need a special tool for spinning the (i wanna say rear) pistons back in. other than that is pretty straight forward. you could pick up a chiltons/hayes etc. manual and it will tell you what you need and how to do it.

**SpectorV** · 08-13-2004, 04:01 PM

its a very easy job, jack the car up and pull off the front tires, turn the steering wheel all the way to the right and get a 15mm socket along with a ratchet or something that is long enough so that you can break the caliper bolts loose

start on the driver side, the bolts are on the back side of the brake by turning the wheel to the right you can get to them and have some leverage on the driver side to pull down on them to break them loose you barly have enough room between the fender and brake to slide the breaker bar in but it works.

now slide the brake caliper up and off the rotor, you can pop out the brake pads and put in new ones in a couple minutes, just look at how the ones are in there before you take them out for reference.

next slide the rotor off, if it has never been off the car there will be little metal rings on 2 studs that you need to pop off with some needle nose plyers, then the rotor will come right off.

slide the new rotor on and put the brake caliper back on and bolt it back up, tq the bolts to 85-90ftlbs

turn the steeringwheel to the left and repeat on passenger side.

for the back just remove the two bolts behind the caliper and slide it off, same basic way put on new pads and do the rotors the exact same, tq specs on rear are about the same.

SquirrelNutz154 · 08-13-2004, 08:01 PM

What he said.

lowflyn · 08-13-2004, 08:11 PM

It's kinda confusing the first time, but it's alot easier after that. And for putting the new brake pads on, you'll need a C-clamp to push the calipers back in so the pads will go on

**SpectorV** · 08-13-2004, 08:26 PM

i didnt need any sort of clamp i just pushed the pads in and lined it up, some say you do some say you dont i guess it is just a try it and see, do not push the brake petal in while you have the calipers off though

97Stallion · 08-13-2004, 09:46 PM

If you didn't need to collapse the brake's piston, you must have replace the pads pre-mature or something. If I were you Robert, I would ditch your current front brakes and get some dual piston calipers from a 99+ GT or V6. You'll lose about 8 lbs and have better brakes, and if money allows it, get some powerslot rotors and you'll be stopping like a champ.

**SpectorV** · 08-14-2004, 01:23 PM

you can get a set very very cheap and it just takes a little grinding on the spindle to mount the 99 ups flush if any grinding at all some years do some dont need grinding.

Danger Dude · 08-14-2004, 01:29 PM

I have helped with 2 cars that did not need the grinding. Upon installing the 99 calipers on mine I did need to grind a small nub off each ear of the spindle attachment point for the brake to sit flush. I did it with a dremel in about 5 minutes

lowflyn · 08-14-2004, 01:46 PM

I've always had to use a C-clamp...last pads I changed out were my dad's on a 97 ranger. There was nothing but metal left on the pads...so that's not premature lol. I may just do it differently from other people or something. O well. Also, if you change calipers or remove yours you're gonna have to bleed the brake lines. This is very simple, just make sure you have two people, makes it much easier. Just reinstall the caliper, hook brake line back up. Look for the little bleed valve, press in brake petal and bleed it until brake fluid comes out. Repeat this on both sides until nothing but fluid comes out, no more air.

Danger Dude · 01:57 PM


Quote: Originally Posted by lowflyn I've always had to use a C-clamp...last pads I changed out were my dad's on a 97 ranger. There was nothing but metal left on the pads...so that's not premature lol. I may just do it differently from other people or something. O well. Also, if you change calipers or remove yours you're gonna have to bleed the brake lines. This is very simple, just make sure you have two people, makes it much easier. Just reinstall the caliper, hook brake line back up. Look for the little bleed valve, press in brake petal and bleed it until brake fluid comes out. Repeat this on both sides until nothing but fluid comes out, no more air.

Even if you only change the front calipers you stil have to bleed the rear brakes also. I changed my front and you would not believe the air I got out of the rear brakes!!!!

lowflyn · 08-14-2004, 01:56 PM

Forgot about that, yeh. I just didn't see anyone mention bleeding the brakes up top.