1997 Mercury Sable Brake Service (ONLINE REPAIR MANUALS)

On models with anti-lock brakes, the brake hydraulic system must be depressurized before disconnecting any hydraulic lines or fittings. Depressurize the system by pumping the brake pedal a minimum of 25 times with the ignition in the Off position.

Except Aspire, Contour, Escort, Mystique, Probe, Tracer, ZX2 & 1997-98 Mustang Cobra,

Removal

• Remove brake fluid until reservoir is half full.
• On Town Car and 1997-98 Continental, turn air suspension service switch (if equipped) to Off.
• On all models, raise and support front of vehicle, then remove wheel and tire assembly.
• Remove two calip...

Pressure bleeding is recommended for all hydraulic brake systems. Ensure all dirt and contaminants are removed from master cylinder area prior to removing reservoir cap.

To prevent air from the pressure tank getting into the lines, do not shake the tank while air is being added to the tank or after it has been pressurized. Set the tank in the required location, bring the air hose to the tank, and do not move it during the bleeding operation. The tank should be kept at least one-third full.

On vehicles equipped with disc brakes and master cylinders without proportioners or press...

Parking Brake

Cougar, Crown Victoria, Grand Marquis, Thunderbird, Town Car

• Apply parking brake control fully with 100 lbs. foot pedal effort, then release brake control.
• Place transmission in Neutral, then raise and support vehicle.
• With parking brake control in Off position, grasp tensioner around housing. Using an hook tool place end into rounded end of clip between clip and housing. Unlock clip by pulling downward with tool and support tensioner.
• The tensioner spring will take up cable slack and preload cables, while holding tensioner, lock clip by pushing up on bottom of clip. If cli...

This system operates on the same principles as conventional front and rear split systems using primary and secondary master cylinders moving simultaneously to exert hydraulic pressure on their respective systems, Fig. .

The hydraulic brake lines on this system, however, have been diagonally split front to rear (left front to right rear and right front to left rear) in place of separate lines to the front and rear wheels.

In the event of a system failure this would cause the remaining good system to do all the braking on one front wheel and the opposite rear wheel, thus maintaining 50%...

Cougar, Sable, Taurus, Thunderbird & 1997-98 Continental, Mark VIII & Mustang

Sliding caliper rear disc brakes are used on these models, Fig. . The caliper is basically the same as the larger front wheel caliper. However, a parking brake mechanism and a larger inner brake shoe anti-rattle spring have been added.

The parking brake lever, located at the rear of the caliper, is actuated by a cable system similar to rear drum brake applications. When the parking brake is applied, the cable rotates the lever and operating shaft, driving the caliper piston and brake shoe assembly against t...

Master Cylinder Overhaul

Disassemble

• Clean outside of master cylinder thoroughly. Drain brake fluid from master cylinder.
• Remove stop bolt and pressure control valves, if equipped.
• Using a screwdriver, carefully pry up on reservoir and remove it from master cylinder body.
• Remove fluid control valve, if equipped.
• Depress primary piston and remove snap ring from retaining groove at open end of bore.
• Remove primary and secondary piston assemblies from master cylinder. If secondary piston does not come out, apply air pressure to secondary outlet port to remove.

Inspection

When disassembled...