I have my 2002 mustang gt. I just replaced the front brake pads and rotors. When re compressing the pistons I found that they were really stuck and I had some trouble getting them in, but I got em. But driving it around the next day I found that it felt like the brakes were still partially on even tho I wasn't pressing the pedal, like when I went out my foot down in 5th it didn't accelerate and just stayed the same speed, and when I went to start moving at a light the car has some trouble getting going. What could be wrong and how could I fix? Feels like the brakes are stuck and holding the car but how do I check? Thanks

 

Pistons can get stuck in the bores of the calipers on these cars. Once that happens, you are talking either a rebuild or a replace, as they won't retract.

You could have a caliper pin that isn't lubricated or whatever, and that will stick the caliper as well.

Rebuild the caliper (example!):

 

I had a sticky piston on my passenger rear caliper in my 95. I unscrewed the piston, emptied the caliper of fluid, and replaced the piston with a new one. Works fine now. My slider bolts also seized from lack of re-lubrication. Apparently another common issue. Something you could check out.

 

yep my slider pins were all corroded also.

 

On my '03 GT, I did the brakes, and then took it on out and it wouldnt coast, and it wouldnt run down my somewhat sloped driveway.
I had the same problem you had, with the pistons being hard to compress.

So, I put the front up on jack stands, and tried to spin both front wheels, and no way. I could move them by hand, but they wouldnt spin freely. I ended up replacing the calipers, the soft hoses, rotors, and added new ceramic pads.

Come to find out, the calipers are aluminum, and the pistons are "phenolic", which is a fancy way of saying plastic...If I ever do another brake job, it will be to add the Baer big brake kit, and get rid of very poor Ford components.

But that was a 1 1/2 years ago, and they are still performing flawlessly.

 

On the newer Mustang with anti lock brakes don't you have to bleed the brakes as you are pushing in the piston instead of letting the fluid go back to the master cylinder? My others cars are like that?

 

Nope. Just shove 'em in with a brake pad and a c clamp or whatever does the job.

Acually, Ford recommends a c clamp... Go figure.

 

Replaced the front callipers and the car performs great. Along with the new pads and rotors the cars brakes feel better then they ever have before. Little bit of a pricy matanence even tho I did it myself. Still feels great to be back up and running!