🔧 Forester - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

Replacing the rear brake pads on your Forester is straightforward mechanically, but your Touring uses an electronic parking brake (EPB), so the caliper piston must be retracted the correct way before you push it back.

If you skip EPB service mode, you can damage the EPB motor or caliper. We’ll put the EPB into service/maintenance mode, swap pads (and hardware), then restore everything and test.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on level ground and use jack stands; never rely on a jack alone.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while a caliper is off the rotor.
• ⚠️ Your Forester has an EPB; retract it in service mode before compressing the piston.
• ⚠️ Brake dust is harmful—use brake cleaner, not compressed air.
• ⚠️ Keep grease off pad friction material and the rotor.
• 🔋 Battery disconnect is not required for pad replacement, but keep ignition OFF unless instructed for EPB service 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
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• 14mm socket
• 17mm socket
• Torque wrench (10–200 Nm range)
• Flat trim tool
• Brake caliper piston compression tool
• Bungee cord
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses
• Scan tool with 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) - Qty: 1
• High-temp silicone brake grease - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on a level surface, put the shifter in P, and place wheel chocks in front of the front tires.
• Release the parking brake (EPB) before lifting, then keep the ignition OFF until you’re ready to enter EPB service mode.
• Pop the hood and loosen the brake fluid reservoir cap (do not remove it completely). This helps fluid return when you compress pistons.
• EPB service mode: You will need a scan tool that can command EPB Maintenance/Service Mode.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Confirm you can retract the EPB

• Connect your scan tool with EPB service mode (specialty).
• Use the scan tool function for EPB Maintenance/Service Mode (this retracts the EPB motors so the pistons can be pushed back).
• If you can’t enter service mode, stop here.

Step 2: Loosen lug nuts and lift the rear

• Use a 19mm socket and breaker bar to loosen the rear lug nuts about 1 turn while the wheels are on the ground.
• Lift the rear with the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) and support with jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Remove lug nuts using the 19mm socket and ratchet, then remove both rear wheels.

Step 3: Remove the rear caliper (one side at a time)

• Turn the steering wheel is not needed for the rear; position yourself for clear access.
• Use a 14mm socket and ratchet to remove the two caliper slide pin bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and hang it with a bungee cord (never let it hang by the brake hose).

Step 4: Remove old pads and hardware

• Slide the old pads out of the bracket by hand (use a flat trim tool gently if they’re stuck).
• Remove the stainless pad clips/abutment hardware from the bracket.
• Spray the bracket contact areas with brake cleaner and scrub with a wire brush until clean and smooth.

Step 5: Compress the caliper piston (after EPB service mode)

• Double-check the EPB is still in service/maintenance mode.
• Use the brake caliper piston compression tool to slowly press the piston straight back into the caliper.
• Watch the brake fluid level at the reservoir; if it rises too high, remove a small amount (do not overflow).
• Go slow to avoid seal damage.

Step 6: Install new pad hardware and pads

• Install new abutment clips from the rear brake pad hardware kit into the bracket.
• Apply a thin film of high-temp silicone brake grease where pads touch the clips (metal-to-metal contact points only).
• Slide the new pads into place in the bracket.

Step 7: Reinstall the caliper and torque fasteners

• Place the caliper over the new pads.
• Reinstall the slide pin bolts using the 14mm socket and ratchet.
• Torque to 27 Nm (20 ft-lbs) using a torque wrench.
• If you removed the caliper bracket (only if needed for stuck hardware), reinstall bracket bolts using a 17mm socket and torque wrench, then Torque to 65 Nm (48 ft-lbs).

Step 8: Repeat on the other rear wheel

• Repeat Steps 3–7 on the opposite rear side using the same tools.
• Keep the EPB in service mode until both sides are complete.

Step 9: Reinstall wheels and lower the vehicle

• Reinstall both rear wheels and hand-thread the lug nuts.
• Lower the vehicle off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Torque lug nuts in a star pattern using a 19mm socket and torque wrench: Torque to 120 Nm (89 ft-lbs).

Step 10: Exit EPB service mode and restore pedal feel

• Use the scan tool with EPB service mode (specialty) to exit EPB Maintenance/Service Mode and initialize/close the EPB.
• With ignition ON (engine OFF), press the brake pedal slowly 10–15 times until it feels firm.
• Top off brake fluid only if needed, then tighten the reservoir cap by hand.

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✅ After Repair

• Test the EPB: apply and release it several times and confirm no warning lights remain.
• Do a slow test drive: first at 10–20 km/h, confirm normal braking, no pulling, and no grinding.
• Perform a gentle bed-in: 8–10 moderate stops from ~50 km/h to ~15 km/h, allowing short cool-down between stops.
• Recheck lug nut torque with a torque wrench after 50–100 km.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: ₹6,000–₹14,000 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: ₹2,500–₹7,500 (parts only)

You Save: ₹3,500–₹6,500 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run ₹800–₹2,000/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.0–1.8 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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