🔧 Forester - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

Your Forester’s rear brake pads wear down over time and need replacement to keep braking strong and quiet. Because your Forester uses an electronic parking brake (EPB), you must put the EPB into “maintenance mode” before pushing the rear pistons back.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.5-3.0 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Support the vehicle on jack stands; never rely on a jack alone.
• ⚠️ Electronic Parking Brake: put EPB into maintenance mode before retracting pistons, or you can damage the calipers/EPB system.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal with a caliper removed; the piston can pop out.
• ⚠️ Brake dust is harmful; use brake cleaner, not compressed air.
• ⚠️ Keep brake fluid off paint; it damages finishes.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not required, but keep ignition OFF unless instructed for EPB mode.

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🔧 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
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• 1/2" drive torque wrench (20–150 ft-lbs range)
• 14mm socket
• 17mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 3/8" drive torque wrench (10–80 ft-lbs range)
• Flathead screwdriver
• Brake caliper hanger hook
• Brake caliper piston compressor tool
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner spray
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses

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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 (clips/shims) - Qty: 1
• Brake grease (silicone/ceramic) - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, put the shifter in Park, and chock the front wheels.
• Release the parking brake (EPB) before lifting the vehicle.
• Confirm you have a way to enter EPB maintenance mode. If you have a scan tool that supports Subaru EPB service mode, use it (recommended).

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen lug nuts and lift the rear

• Use a 19mm socket and breaker bar to loosen the rear lug nuts 1/2 turn (don’t remove yet).
• Use a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) to lift the rear at the approved rear jack point, then set the vehicle on jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Remove the rear wheels using the 19mm socket.

Step 2: Put the EPB into maintenance mode

• If you have a capable scan tool: connect it and command Electronic Parking Brake > Maintenance/Service Mode (wording varies by tool). Use the scan tool prompts to retract the EPB.
• If you do not have a scan tool: stop here and tell me what scan tool you have (if any). For your Forester, retracting the EPB the wrong way can damage the caliper.
• EPB maintenance mode retracts the parking brake motor.

Step 3: Remove the rear caliper (pad access)

• Turn the steering wheel straight and work on one side at a time.
• Use a 14mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet to remove the two caliper slide bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and hang it using a brake caliper hanger hook. Do not let it hang by the hose.

Step 4: Remove old pads and hardware

• Pull the pads out of the bracket by hand. If stuck, gently pry with a flathead screwdriver.
• Remove the pad abutment clips (hardware) from the bracket.
• Use a wire brush and brake cleaner spray to clean the bracket’s pad “rails” where the clips sit.

Step 5: Retract the caliper piston

• Check brake fluid level before compressing. If it’s near MAX, be ready to remove a little fluid (don’t overflow).
• Use a brake caliper piston compressor tool to push the piston straight back slowly until it bottoms out.
• Go slow to avoid fluid overflow.

Step 6: Install new hardware and pads

• Install new abutment clips from the hardware kit into the bracket by hand (they should snap in).
• Apply a thin layer of brake grease (silicone/ceramic) to the pad ears where they slide on the clips (do not get grease on the pad friction surface).
• Install the inner and outer pads into the bracket.

Step 7: Reinstall caliper and torque fasteners

• Set the caliper back over the new pads.
• Install the caliper slide bolts using a 14mm socket.
• Torque to 27 Nm (20 ft-lbs) using a 3/8" drive torque wrench (10–80 ft-lbs range).
• If you removed the caliper bracket (only if needed for rotor service): reinstall bracket bolts using a 17mm socket and 1/2" drive torque wrench, Torque to 65 Nm (48 ft-lbs).

Step 8: Repeat on the other rear wheel

• Repeat Steps 3–7 on the other rear side.

Step 9: Exit EPB maintenance mode

• Use your scan tool to command Electronic Parking Brake > Exit Maintenance/Service Mode and let it re-initialize.
• Confirm the EPB applies and releases normally after the procedure.

Step 10: Reinstall wheels and lower the vehicle

• Install wheels and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Lower the vehicle using the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Torque lug nuts in a star pattern using a 1/2" drive torque wrench: Torque to 120 Nm (89 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• With the vehicle on the ground, pump the brake pedal slowly 10–15 times until it feels firm.
• Check the brake fluid level and top off only if needed.
• Test the EPB apply/release in your driveway.
• Do a careful test drive: low speed stops first, then normal stops.
• Pad break-in: avoid hard stops for the first 150–200 miles when possible.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $300-$550 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $70-$200 (parts only)

You Save: $230-$350 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5-3.0 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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