Brakes are the single most imperative part of your Ford Mustang. It is critical for your own and everyone else's personal safety to make sure your brakes and pads work properly. Changing your brake pads isn't anything to be scared about, unless you don't know the difference between a Phillips head and a flat head screw driver.  Then we would recommend you bring your car to a mechanic to change the pads.  Changing your own brake pads is a nice way to save a few bucks for your next upgrade for your Ford Mustang.

If you have never changed your own brake pads before make sure to take the time to familiarize yourself with the brake system before you start working on replacing your pads. Also work on one side at a time. This way, if you mess up you can reference the other side.

If you buy the cheap, generic pads to install on your Ford Mustang they may wear out quickly.  Even though you may be spending less money now, you will ultimately be spending more time and money in the long run.  The more expensive pads last longer and are less prone to leaving your front wheels covered in unsightly black dust.

Changing the Brake Pads:

1. First you will want to engage the parking brake and put something behind the rear tires so that the car cannot move.

2. Next, raise the car with a jack and secure it on jack stands.

3. Then loosen the lug nuts around the wheel.

4. Remove the lug nuts and the wheel.

5. Now you can see the brake calipers holding the brake pads in place against the rotor. There are two brake pads per wheel that squeeze the rotor. Use a C-clamp to compress the caliper piston into the caliper housing. This will make it possible to remove the caliper assembly and create enough space for the increased pads width of the new brake pads.

6. Unbolt the caliper mounting bolts and pull the caliper back from the rotor. Be careful not to bend or break the brake hose. Sometimes the caliper mounting bolts require you to use a torx or star bit instead of a normal socket. Plan ahead and make sure you have the right tools for the job to save yourself a trip back to the parts store before your brakes are disassembled.

7. Remove the brake pads from the caliper. Examine the brake pads for unusual or uneven wear. If only one brake pad is worn down or the brake pads are worn down on an angle it could be signs of problems that need to be addressed immediately.

8. Next, examine the condition of the rotors. If they have deep grooves, or if your Ford Mustang shudders when you hit the brake, then you will need to get the rotors turned or replaced.

9. Then install the new brake pads in the caliper. Usually, it's best to place the inner brake pad first, then the outer brake pad second. You may have to depress the piston fully into the caliper housing in order to provide enough space for the new brake pads.

10. Once the pads are properly seated in the caliper, put the caliper back on the rotor and bolt it firmly in place.

11. If everything is correct, you may put the wheel back on, hand tighten the lug nuts, and lower the car to the ground. Finish tightening the lug nuts in a star pattern so that they are even.

12. Finally and most importantly, test your brakes before taking your car into traffic.  Stop and start a few times just to make sure your new pads are installed properly.

Mustangtopia offers Hawk Performance brake pads to help you with your installation needs.