🔧 Mustang - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

This job replaces the rear brake pads on your Mustang. The rear calipers use an electronic parking brake, so the parking brake motors must be put into service mode before the calipers are moved.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.5-2.5 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on a flat, solid surface and support your Mustang with jack stands before removing wheels.
• ⚠️ Do not rely on a floor jack alone. A jack can leak down or tip.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while a rear caliper is removed.
• ⚠️ The electronic parking brake must be placed in maintenance mode before pad replacement.
• ⚠️ Keep brake fluid off paint. It can damage painted surfaces quickly.
• ⚠️ Wear safety glasses and gloves. Brake dust and cleaner can irritate skin and eyes.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• 1/2-inch drive breaker bar
• 1/2-inch drive torque wrench
• 21mm impact socket
• 13mm socket
• 15mm wrench
• Ratchet handle
• Disc brake pad spreader tool (specialty)
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Small wire brush
• Brake caliper hanger hook (specialty)
• Brake cleaner spray
• Shop towels
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Rear brake pad hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake lubricant - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🅿️ Park your Mustang on level ground with the transmission in 1st gear.
• 🧱 Place wheel chocks at the front wheels before lifting the rear.
• 🔋 Leave the battery connected. The electronic parking brake needs power for service mode.
• 🧰 A disc brake pad spreader is a simple tool that slowly pushes the caliper piston back into the caliper.
• 🧼 Brake lubricant is a high-temperature grease used only on metal contact points, never on the pad friction material.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Put the Electronic Parking Brake in Maintenance Mode

• Use your foot to hold the accelerator pedal fully down.
• Turn the ignition ON without starting the engine by pressing the start button without the clutch pedal pressed.
• Push and hold the parking brake switch downward in the release position.
• While still holding the accelerator pedal down and parking brake switch down, turn the ignition OFF, then back ON.
• Keep holding until the message center shows parking brake maintenance mode.
• Release the accelerator pedal and parking brake switch.
• Wait for the rear motors to finish moving.

Step 2: Loosen the Rear Wheel Lug Nuts

• Use a 21mm impact socket and 1/2-inch drive breaker bar to loosen each rear wheel lug nut about half a turn.
• Do this before lifting the car so the wheels do not spin.

Step 3: Lift and Support the Rear of the Car

• Use the floor jack at the rear center jacking point to raise your Mustang.
• Place jack stands under the approved rear side pinch weld lift points.
• Lower the car gently onto the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Lightly shake the car by hand to confirm it is stable before working underneath or beside it.

Step 4: Remove the Rear Wheels

• Use the 21mm impact socket and ratchet handle to remove the loosened rear lug nuts.
• Remove both rear wheels and place them flat under the car as an extra safety backup.

Step 5: Remove the Rear Caliper Bolts

• Use a 15mm wrench to hold the caliper slide pin steady if it spins.
• Use a 13mm socket and ratchet handle to remove the upper and lower rear caliper bolts.
• Set the bolts aside in a clean spot.

Step 6: Lift the Caliper Off the Bracket

• Use a flat-blade screwdriver gently between the caliper and outer pad if the caliper feels tight.
• Lift the caliper off the brake pads by hand.
• Use a brake caliper hanger hook to hang the caliper from the suspension.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the brake hose or parking brake wiring.

Step 7: Remove the Old Brake Pads and Hardware

• Pull the inner and outer brake pads out of the caliper bracket by hand.
• Use a flat-blade screwdriver to remove the old pad hardware clips from the bracket.
• Use a small wire brush to clean the bracket areas where the clips sit.
• Use brake cleaner spray and shop towels to remove dust and debris.

Step 8: Install the New Pad Hardware

• Press the new rear brake pad hardware clips into the caliper bracket by hand.
• Use a small amount of brake lubricant on the metal contact points where the pad ears slide.
• Do not put lubricant on the rotor or pad friction surface.

Step 9: Compress the Rear Caliper Piston

• Use the disc brake pad spreader tool to slowly push the caliper piston straight back into the caliper.
• Check the brake fluid reservoir under the hood while compressing the piston.
• If the reservoir gets too full, use shop towels around the cap area to catch any overflow.
• Do not twist the piston. With the electronic parking brake in maintenance mode, it should press straight in.

Step 10: Install the New Rear Brake Pads

• Install the new inner and outer rear brake pads into the caliper bracket by hand.
• Make sure the pads slide smoothly in the new hardware clips.
• Pads should move freely, not rattle loosely.

Step 11: Reinstall the Rear Caliper

• Place the caliper back over the new pads by hand.
• Use the 13mm socket and ratchet handle to install the caliper bolts.
• Use the 15mm wrench to hold the slide pins if needed.
• Tighten the rear caliper bolts to Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs).

Step 12: Repeat on the Other Side

• Repeat Steps 5 through 11 on the opposite rear brake.
• Always replace rear brake pads in pairs, left and right together.

Step 13: Reinstall the Rear Wheels

• Install each rear wheel by hand.
• Use the 21mm impact socket and ratchet handle to snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Do not fully torque the lug nuts while the car is still in the air.

Step 14: Lower the Car and Torque the Lug Nuts

• Use the floor jack to raise the car slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove the jack stands.
• Lower the car until the tires touch the ground.
• Use the 21mm impact socket and 1/2-inch drive torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Tighten the rear wheel lug nuts to Torque to 204 Nm (150 ft-lbs).

Step 15: Exit Electronic Parking Brake Maintenance Mode

• Turn the ignition ON without starting the engine.
• Use your foot to hold the accelerator pedal fully down.
• Pull and hold the parking brake switch upward in the apply position.
• Turn the ignition OFF, then back ON while still holding the accelerator pedal and parking brake switch.
• Keep holding until the message center shows the parking brake has exited maintenance mode.
• Release the pedal and switch.

Step 16: Seat the Brake Pads

• Press the brake pedal slowly several times until it feels firm.
• This moves the caliper pistons back against the new pads.
• Do not drive until the brake pedal feels normal.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Check the brake fluid level and make sure it is between MIN and MAX.
• ✅ Start your Mustang and confirm there are no brake warning messages.
• ✅ Apply and release the parking brake once to confirm normal operation.
• ✅ Test the brakes at low speed in a safe area before normal driving.
• ✅ Bed in the pads with several gentle stops from about 30 mph, allowing cooling time between stops.
• ✅ Avoid hard braking for the first 100-200 miles unless needed for safety.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $250-$450 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $45-$120 (parts only)

You Save: $130-$330 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.0-1.5 hours.

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