🔧 Impreza - Front Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

You’ll remove the front wheels, swap the brake pads and rotors, then reassemble and torque everything correctly. This restores braking performance and prevents vibration/pulsation caused by worn pads or warped rotors.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2-3 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Support the car on jack stands—never rely on a floor jack.
• 🛑 Brake dust is harmful—wear N95 mask and avoid blowing dust with air.
• 🛑 Brakes get very hot—work on a cool car.
• 🛑 Do not let the caliper hang by the brake hose; use a caliper hanger hook (a hook/strap that holds the caliper up).
• 🛑 Keep grease off pad/rotor friction surfaces.
• 🛑 Battery disconnect is not required.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum, pair)
• Wheel chocks
• 19mm socket
• Breaker bar (1/2")
• Torque wrench (10-200 Nm range)
• 14mm socket
• 17mm socket
• Ratchet (3/8" or 1/2")
• 6" extension (3/8" drive)
• Flathead screwdriver (medium)
• Caliper piston compression tool (specialty)
• Caliper hanger hook (specialty)
• Wire brush (small)
• Rubber mallet
• M8 x 1.25 bolts (pair, 25-40mm long)
• Brake cleaner spray
• Shop towels
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses
• N95 dust mask

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Front brake rotors - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Front brake hardware kit (clips/shims) - Qty: 1
• Brake lubricant (silicone/ceramic) - Qty: 1
• Brake fluid (DOT 3) - Qty: 1 bottle

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, shift to P, and set the parking brake.
• Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• Loosen the front wheel lug nuts 1/2 turn using a 19mm socket and breaker bar before lifting.
• Open the hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir; do not remove the cap yet, just know where it is.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift the front and remove the wheels

• Lift the front with a floor jack at the front center jacking point.
• Set the car onto jack stands placed at the proper front support points.
• Remove lug nuts using a 19mm socket and ratchet, then remove both front wheels.

Step 2: Remove the caliper (do not stretch the hose)

• Turn the steering wheel to give yourself more room at the side you’re working on.
• Remove the 2 caliper slide-pin bolts using a 14mm socket and ratchet.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and hang it using a caliper hanger hook.
• Never let the caliper hang.

Step 3: Remove the pads and hardware

• Slide the pads out of the bracket by hand; use a flathead screwdriver gently if stuck.
• Remove the pad hardware clips from the bracket.
• Clean the bracket pad “tracks” using a wire brush and brake cleaner spray.

Step 4: Remove the caliper bracket

• Remove the 2 caliper bracket bolts using a 17mm socket, breaker bar, and ratchet.
• Set the bracket aside on a towel.
• On reassembly: Torque to 80 Nm (59 ft-lbs).

Step 5: Remove the old rotor

• If the rotor is stuck, thread the M8 x 1.25 bolts into the rotor’s jacking holes evenly (a few turns each) until the rotor pushes off.
• If needed, tap the rotor hat with a rubber mallet to free rust.
• Clean the hub face with a wire brush and wipe with brake cleaner spray.

Step 6: Install the new rotor

• Clean both sides of the new rotor with brake cleaner spray and shop towels.
• Install the rotor onto the hub.
• To hold it straight while you work, thread on 1-2 lug nuts backward by hand (use the existing lug nuts).

Step 7: Reinstall the bracket and new hardware

• Install the new hardware clips onto the bracket.
• Reinstall the bracket bolts using a 17mm socket and ratchet.
• Torque to 80 Nm (59 ft-lbs) using a torque wrench.
• Apply a thin film of brake lubricant where the pad ears slide on the clips.

Step 8: Compress the caliper piston

• Check the brake fluid reservoir level under the hood; if it’s near “MAX,” remove a little fluid with a clean towel (so it doesn’t overflow).
• Compress the caliper piston slowly using a caliper piston compression tool until it seats fully.
• Go slow to avoid reservoir overflow.

Step 9: Install the new pads and reinstall the caliper

• Install the new inner and outer pads into the bracket.
• Apply a small amount of brake lubricant to pad backing contact points (not on pad friction material).
• Set the caliper over the new pads and install the slide-pin bolts using a 14mm socket.
• Torque to 27 Nm (20 ft-lbs) using a torque wrench.

Step 10: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall the wheels and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Lower the car off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern using a torque wrench: Torque to 120 Nm (89 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• With the engine off, press the brake pedal 10-15 times until it feels firm.
• Check brake fluid level and top off with DOT 3 if needed.
• Start the engine and confirm the pedal feels normal and the car does not creep with firm brake applied.
• Do a careful test drive at low speed first; listen for grinding or pulling.
• Pad bed-in (break-in): do 6-8 medium stops from 40 mph to 10 mph, letting brakes cool a minute between stops.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $450-$750 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $180-$350 (parts only)

You Save: $270-$400 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 2-3 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.