🔧 Impreza - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

Your Impreza’s rear brake pads wear down over time and need replacement to keep stopping power strong and prevent rotor damage. The job is straightforward, but you must handle the parking brake system correctly and torque everything properly.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.5-3 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Support the car with jack stands; never rely on a jack.
• ⚠️ Let brakes cool fully; hot parts can burn you.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal with the caliper removed.
• ⚠️ Do not hang the caliper by the brake hose; support it with a hook.
• ⚠️ If your Impreza has an electronic parking brake (EPB), it must be put in service/maintenance mode before pushing the piston back.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not required for pad replacement, but keep the key away from the car if it has push-button start to prevent EPB activation.

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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)
• Wheel chocks
• 21mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• Torque wrench (20–150 ft-lbs range)
• 14mm socket
• 14mm wrench
• 17mm socket
• Flat trim tool
• C-clamp brake piston compressor
• Bungee cord or caliper hook
• Brake cleaner spray
• Small wire brush
• Small turkey baster or fluid syringe
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses
• Scan tool with Subaru EPB service mode (specialty)

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Rear brake pad hardware kit (abutment clips/shims) - Qty: 1
• Silicone brake grease - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1
• DOT 3 brake fluid - Qty: 1 (small top-off)

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, put the shifter in Park, and chock the front wheels.
• Loosen the rear wheel lug nuts slightly using a 21mm socket and breaker bar before lifting.
• Open the hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir. If it’s near “MAX,” remove a little fluid with a fluid syringe (fluid rises when you push pistons back).
• If you have an electronic parking brake (EPB), plan to put it into service/maintenance mode before you remove the calipers.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and secure the rear of the car

• Use a floor jack to lift the rear at the approved rear jack point.
• Set the car onto jack stands and confirm it’s stable before working.
• Remove both rear wheels using a 21mm socket and ratchet.

Step 2: Put the parking brake in the correct mode

• If your Impreza has an EPB switch (electronic parking brake): Use a scan tool with Subaru EPB service mode (specialty) and run the EPB “Pad Replacement/Maintenance Mode” function to retract the motors. This prevents caliper damage.
• If your Impreza has a hand/foot parking brake lever/pedal (cable type): Make sure the parking brake is fully released before continuing.

Step 3: Remove the rear caliper (the clamp that squeezes the pads)

• Turn the steering wheel is not needed for rears; just position yourself for access.
• Locate the two rear caliper slide pin bolts on the back of the caliper.
• Use a 14mm socket to remove the caliper slide pin bolts. If the pin spins, hold it with a 14mm wrench.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and hang it using a caliper hook or bungee cord.

Step 4: Remove old pads and hardware

• Slide the old pads out by hand. Use a flat trim tool if they’re stuck.
• Remove the pad clips/shims (hardware) from the bracket.
• Spray the bracket contact areas with brake cleaner spray and scrub with a small wire brush.

Step 5: Compress the caliper piston

• Check brake fluid level again before compressing.
• Place an old pad against the piston and use a C-clamp brake piston compressor to slowly push the piston straight back into the caliper.
• If the piston will not compress easily: stop and re-check EPB service mode (for EPB-equipped cars).

Step 6: Install new hardware and pads

• Install new abutment clips from the hardware kit onto the bracket by hand.
• Apply a thin film of silicone brake grease where the pad “ears” slide on the clips. Do not get grease on pad friction material.
• Install the new pads into the bracket in the same orientation as the old ones.

Step 7: Reinstall the caliper and torque bolts

• Lower the caliper over the new pads.
• Reinstall the slide pin bolts using a 14mm socket and ratchet.
• Torque to 27 Nm (20 ft-lbs) using a torque wrench.

Step 8: Repeat on the other rear wheel

• Repeat Steps 3–7 on the other side. Replace pads in pairs.

Step 9: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Install both rear wheels hand-tight.
• Lower the car off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Torque the lug nuts in a star pattern using a 21mm socket and torque wrench: Torque to 120 Nm (89 ft-lbs).

Step 10: Restore parking brake operation (EPB only)

• If EPB-equipped, use the scan tool with Subaru EPB service mode (specialty) to exit maintenance mode and command the EPB to initialize.

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✅ After Repair

• Pump the brake pedal 10–15 times until it feels firm before driving.
• Check brake fluid level and top off with DOT 3 brake fluid if needed.
• With the car in a safe area, do a slow test drive and confirm normal braking and no warning lights.
• Bed-in the pads: make 6–8 moderate stops from ~30 mph to ~5 mph, with cool-down driving between stops.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: ₹8,000-₹18,000 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: ₹2,500-₹7,500 (parts only)

You Save: ₹5,500-₹10,500 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5-2.0 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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