How to Replace the Front Brake Pads for a 2001 Mercury Villager
The 2001 Mercury Villager has disc brakes in the front. Disc brakes are self-adjusting and provide shorter braking distances and better brake-response time than drum-brake systems. While the disc brake pads do outlast brake shoes, they will eventually wear out, necessitating replacement. Additionally, you can expect the front brakes to wear out about twice as fast as the rears. Anyone with basic auto-repair experience can replace the front brake pads on a 2001 Mercury Villager in about two hours.
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Things You'll Need
- Lug wrench
- 2 wheel chocks
- Floor jack
- 2 jack stands
- Drain pan
- Brake cleaner
- Socket set
- Caliper tool
- Torque wrench
Instructions
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1
Pry off the front hub caps with the pointed end of your lug wrench to expose the lug nuts. Loosen the lug nuts by turning them counterclockwise until they're finger tight.
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2
Set the wheel chocks against the front and back of the left-rear wheel. Elevate the Villager's front end with the floor jack. Support the front end on jack stands.
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3
Pull the front lug nuts and wheels off the minivan to expose the front disc brakes.
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4
Slide the drain pan under the Villager's left-front brake assembly. Wash the rotor and caliper thoroughly with brake cleaner to remove the brake dust.
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5
Unbolt the Villager's left-front brake caliper with a socket set. Pick the caliper up and move it out of the mount by hand.
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6
Remove the brake pads from the caliper by hand and discard them. Wash the caliper's interior with brake cleaner. Lubricate the caliper slide pins with white lithium grease.
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7
Compress the brake pistons back into the caliper with the caliper tool. Insert the new brake pads by hand.
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8
Slide the caliper back into the mount by hand. Bolt it in with the socket set.
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9
Move over to the right front and repeat Steps 4 through 8. Put the Villager's front wheels and lug nuts back on manually.
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10
Lower the Villager off the jack stands with the floor jack. Tighten the lug nuts to 85 foot-pounds, using the torque wrench. Reinstall the hub caps by hand.
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References
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Comments
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I recently purchased a 2000 Mercury Villager and the brakes make a whirling noise(I think it's the brakes) as I'm riding down the road that stops when I apply the brakes. Could you please tell me what you think is the problem. I think it's a brake problem, but the brakes stop the van perfectly. Perhaps something is out of alinement and is rubbing while I'm driving. Any suggestions
