I take it's pretty obvious one the rear pistons have fully retracted?

Front pistons need a c-clamp to compress them, correct?

 

Regarding the spring clips. I couldn't find anywhere that sold them separtely. I tried my local NAPA and autozone. I plan on wire brushing the clips to clean them then greasing them. Any objections?

 

one more thing, i just took the caliper off, and the rotor looked to be held on by some sort of thing washer that held it tight to the hub, do I need this? one did not come up with the new rotors i bought

 

That's what I meant.

 

that is pretty pricey. I bought this kit from amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Astro-Pneumati...0901364&sr=1-1

 

That's exactly what I did but now I get a squeak from the rear under moderate braking.
Pulled 'em back apart and greased them up - was nice and quiet for about 15 minutes and then squeaky again.
Ah well, they're Hawk HPS pads which I've heard tend to be squeaky anyways.
NAPA online sells the spring clip kits for about $12.

The little washer thingie on one of the wheel studs is used at the factory to keep the rotor on during assembly. No problem taking it off and discarding.
Some would even say it's advisable to do so (I did).

 

That washer should be removed and was used at the factory to hold the rotor on while the car was being made.....some people have had issues with them being left on with aftermarket rims.

 

Those keep the rotors on the hubs before the
calipers are installed on the assembly line.
No need to replace and if you have aftermarket
rims with no void in the mounting surface for
the clips, then they HAVE to be removed for the
rim to seat flat against the hub/rotor assembly.

Stealership. The pads should have had them included.
Grease is not the thing to be using haphazzardly on
brake components to reduce squeeking. There are
specific products that can be used to quiet brake squeeling.
Grease just attracts brake dust and over time the calipers
wont be sliding on the pins properly and you will have all
sorts of 'new' undesired noises that occure at other times
besides braking....

Correct , just a C-Clamp to compress the front pistons.
I always just compress them before removing the calipers
with a big screwdriver, but thats just me and my old ways...

Cant believe no one has sent you over to The Ford Gararge

 

well I've got the 4 wheels done and they seem to be in good shape. However, when i go to put on the parking brake, I noticed that car "gives" a little when i give it gas. The parking brake is definetly doing something, but it's not holding the car tight.

I guess I need to adjust the parking brake cable? Where can that be found on the mustang? is it difficult to do?