🔧 Outback - Rear Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

You’ll remove the rear wheels, take off the rear calipers and brackets, swap the rotors, and install new brake pads. On your Outback, the parking brake is a small “drum brake” inside the rear rotor, so rotor removal/installation sometimes needs a quick parking-brake adjustment.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2-4 hours

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Work on level ground and use jack stands; never rely on a jack alone.
• 🧤 Wear gloves and safety glasses; brake dust and cleaner are irritating.
• 🔥 Brakes can be hot; let everything cool before starting.
• 🧱 Chock the front wheels and keep the transmission in 1st gear (manual).
• 🅿️ Release the parking brake before removing rear rotors (it locks the rotor).
• 🔩 Do not press the brake pedal with a caliper removed.
• 🔋 Battery disconnect is not required.

---

🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• 19mm socket
• 14mm socket
• 17mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• Torque wrench (10-150 ft-lbs range)
• Flathead screwdriver
• C-clamp brake piston compressor
• Bungee cord
• Wire brush
• Rubber mallet
• 2" paint brush
• Brake parts cleaner spray
• High-temp silicone brake grease
• Anti-seize compound
• Mechanic gloves
• Safety glasses

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Rear brake rotors - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Rear brake hardware kit (pad clips/shims) - Qty: 1
• Brake fluid (DOT 3 or DOT 4) - Qty: 1 quart

---

📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, turn the engine off, and put the transmission in 1st gear.
• Release the parking brake fully (rear rotors won’t come off if it’s applied).
• Chock both front wheels with wheel chocks.
• Crack the rear lug nuts loose with a 19mm socket and breaker bar before lifting.
• Open the hood and check the brake fluid level; when you compress the pistons the level may rise.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and support the rear

• Use a floor jack to lift the rear at the proper jacking point, then set the rear on jack stands.
• Keep the front wheels chocked with wheel chocks.

Step 2: Remove the rear wheels

• Remove the lug nuts using a 19mm socket and ratchet, then remove both rear wheels.

Step 3: Remove the rear caliper (do not let it hang)

• Remove the two caliper slide-pin bolts using a 14mm socket and ratchet.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and support it with a bungee cord.
• Don’t stretch or twist the brake hose.

Step 4: Remove the rear pads and hardware

• Pull the pads out of the bracket by hand; if stuck, use a flathead screwdriver gently.
• Remove the pad clips/hardware from the bracket using a flathead screwdriver.

Step 5: Remove the caliper bracket

• Remove the two bracket bolts using a 17mm socket and breaker bar.
• Set the bracket aside.
• Torque to 80 Nm (59 ft-lbs) on reassembly.

Step 6: Remove the rear rotor (parking brake is inside)

• If the rotor slides off, remove it by hand.
• If it’s stuck, tap around the rotor “hat” with a rubber mallet.
• If it still won’t come off, the parking brake shoes may be adjusted too tight:
  • Use a flathead screwdriver through the access slot to turn the star-wheel adjuster to loosen the shoes (small turns).
  • Try the rotor again.

Step 7: Clean the hub and prep the new rotor

• Clean rust off the hub face using a wire brush.
• Spray the hub area with brake parts cleaner spray and wipe clean.
• Apply a very thin film of anti-seize compound to the hub center (not the wheel studs).
• Clean the new rotor with brake parts cleaner spray to remove packing oil.

Step 8: Install the new rotor and set parking brake drag

• Slide the new rotor onto the hub by hand.
• If the rotor won’t go on easily, loosen the parking brake adjuster slightly using a flathead screwdriver.
• Once installed, adjust so the rotor turns freely with only the faintest shoe contact (no heavy drag) using a flathead screwdriver.

Step 9: Reinstall the caliper bracket

• Reinstall the bracket bolts using a 17mm socket and ratchet, then tighten with a torque wrench.
• Torque to 80 Nm (59 ft-lbs).

Step 10: Install new pad hardware and pads

• Install the new pad clips into the bracket.
• Use high-temp silicone brake grease on the pad “ears” where they slide in the clips (a thin coat).
• Install the new pads into the bracket by hand.
• Keep grease off pad friction surfaces.

Step 11: Compress the rear caliper piston

• Place an old pad against the piston, then use a C-clamp brake piston compressor to slowly push the piston fully back in.
• A brake piston compressor is a clamp tool that pushes the piston back so the thicker new pads fit.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir while compressing; remove excess fluid if it threatens to overflow.

Step 12: Reinstall the caliper

• Set the caliper over the new pads and bracket.
• Install the two slide-pin bolts using a 14mm socket and ratchet, then tighten with a torque wrench.
• Torque to 27 Nm (20 ft-lbs).

Step 13: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall the wheels and hand-thread the lug nuts.
• Lower the vehicle using the floor jack.
• Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern using a torque wrench.
• Torque to 120 Nm (88.5 ft-lbs).

---

✅ After Repair

• Pump the brake pedal 10-15 times until it feels firm (this seats the pistons).
• Check the brake fluid level and top off with DOT 3 or DOT 4 if needed.
• Apply and release the parking brake a few times; confirm it holds the car and releases fully.
• Test drive at low speed first; confirm no grinding, pulling, or vibration.
• Brake pad bedding (recommended): do 6-8 moderate stops from 40 to 10 mph, with cool-down driving between stops.

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $450-$850 (parts + labor)

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

You Save: $270-$500 by doing it yourself!

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

---

🎯 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.