i am not very familiar with this type of car but front brakes do about 60-70% of your braking thus requiring a larger pad, so logic suggests that your front brakes are larger then your rear brakes
Front pads on almost any vehicle are larger.
mercury mariner
Change wheel bearing on 2006 mercury mariner
9mm hex socket bit
I needed a Hex 9MM worked great
A car what has front disc and rear drum brakes have front brake pads and rear brake shoes.
It will be necessary to remove the front license plate and bracket. Remove license plate from bracket. Using a 3/16" drill bit, drill out the two pop rivets that hold the bracket to the bumper. This is from a a bull bar installation guide for a 2008 Ford Escape/2008 Mercury Mariner.
1995 Mercury Cougar does not have front wheel brake shoes. It has disc brakes and therefore disc brake pads. Copy & paste this link into your browser. http://www.advanceautoparts.com/english/youcan/html/ccr/ccr20021101db.html
Front caliper: 9mm hex socket (special), Rear: T-45 Torx.
For the 1999 cougar they have 2 different size brake rotors it sounds like you need the 276mm size
The easiest way is with a "C" clamp.
Go to dealer...and they will change them to early.
On a 1999 Mercury Sable : In the fuse panel by the brake pedal : ( # 17 is a 30 amp fuse for the front wiper / washer )