🔧 Outback - Rear Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

You’ll remove the rear wheels, take off the rear brake calipers, replace the pads and rotors, then put everything back together and perform a safe test. On your Outback, the rear brakes are tied to the electronic parking brake (EPB), so you must put the EPB into “maintenance/service mode” before you push the caliper pistons back.

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

Assumption: Torque specs can vary by build; verify if you have Subaru service info.

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Support the Outback with jack stands; never rely on a floor jack alone.
• ⚠️ Use wheel chocks at the front wheels; you’ll be releasing/servicing the rear EPB.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal with a caliper removed; the piston can pop out and leak fluid.
• ⚠️ Avoid breathing brake dust; use brake cleaner and wear a dust mask.
• ⚠️ EPB safety: put the EPB into maintenance/service mode before retracting pistons.

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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
• Breaker bar (1/2" drive)
• Torque wrench (1/2" drive, 20-150 ft-lbs range)
• 14mm socket
• 17mm socket
• Ratchet (3/8" drive)
• Torque wrench (3/8" drive, 5-80 ft-lbs range)
• Flat trim/pry tool
• Caliper piston compression tool (specialty)
• Bungee cord
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner spray
• Shop rags
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses
• Dust mask
• 8mm x 1.25 bolts (2-pack)
• Small hammer

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Rear brake rotors - Qty: 2
• Rear brake hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper grease (silicone) - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1
• Threadlocker (medium strength) - Qty: 1
• Brake fluid (DOT 3 or DOT 4) - Qty: 1 quart

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🅿️ Park on level ground, set transmission to P, and keep the steering straight.
• 🧱 Chock both front wheels with wheel chocks.
• 🔓 Loosen rear lug nuts 1/2 turn using a 19mm socket and breaker bar before lifting.
• 🧠 EPB “maintenance/service mode” (recommended):
  • Use a scan tool with EPB service function (specialty) to command Rear EPB > Maintenance/Service Mode.
  • If you don’t have a scan tool, do not force the piston; damage to the EPB mechanism can occur.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and secure the rear

• Use a floor jack to lift the rear at the approved rear jacking point.
• Set the Outback onto jack stands under solid rear support points.
• Give the vehicle a gentle shake to confirm it’s stable.

Step 2: Remove both rear wheels

• Remove lug nuts using a 19mm socket and ratchet.
• Remove both rear wheels so you can replace pads/rotors as a matched pair.

Step 3: Put the EPB into maintenance/service mode

• Use a scan tool with EPB service function (specialty) and select EPB > Maintenance/Service Mode.
• Wait until the scan tool confirms the EPB motors are retracted.
• This prevents EPB damage during piston compression.

Step 4: Remove the rear brake caliper

• Use a 14mm socket and ratchet to remove the two caliper slide bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket.
• Hang the caliper with a bungee cord; do not let it hang by the brake hose.

Step 5: Remove the old pads and hardware

• Remove the inner and outer brake pads by hand or with a flat trim/pry tool if they’re stuck.
• Remove the pad abutment clips (hardware) from the bracket.
• Clean the bracket pad lands using a wire brush and brake cleaner spray.

Step 6: Remove the caliper bracket

• Use a 17mm socket and breaker bar to remove the two caliper bracket bolts.
• Set the bracket aside.
• These bolts are tight; use steady force.

Step 7: Remove the old rotor

• Spray the hub/rotor hat area with brake cleaner spray and wipe with shop rags.
• If the rotor is stuck, thread two 8mm x 1.25 bolts into the rotor “jacking” holes and tighten evenly with a ratchet until the rotor pops loose.
• If needed, tap the rotor hat lightly with a small hammer to break rust free.

Step 8: Prep the hub and install the new rotor

• Clean the hub face with a wire brush so the rotor sits flat.
• Clean the new rotor surfaces with brake cleaner spray and shop rags (removes protective oil).
• Install the new rotor onto the hub.

Step 9: Reinstall the caliper bracket

• Position the bracket and start bolts by hand.
• Use a 17mm socket and torque wrench (1/2" drive) to tighten bracket bolts.
• Torque to 90 Nm (66 ft-lbs)
• Apply a small amount of threadlocker (medium strength) to clean bolt threads if your bolts are not pre-coated.

Step 10: Install new hardware and pads

• Install new abutment clips from the rear brake hardware kit.
• Apply a thin film of brake caliper grease (silicone) to the pad “ears” where they slide on the clips.
• Install the new inner and outer pads into the bracket.
• Don’t grease the pad friction material.

Step 11: Compress the caliper piston

• Check the brake fluid level (under hood) and make sure it won’t overflow when pistons retract.
• Use a caliper piston compression tool (specialty) to slowly push the piston straight back into the caliper.
• A “piston compressor” is a tool that presses the piston back evenly so the new thicker pads fit.

Step 12: Reinstall the caliper

• Place the caliper over the new pads.
• Install slide bolts using a 14mm socket and torque wrench (3/8" drive).
• Torque to 27 Nm (20 ft-lbs)

Step 13: Repeat on the other rear side

• Repeat Steps 4 through 12 on the other rear wheel.
• Replace pads and rotors as a pair to keep braking even.

Step 14: Exit EPB maintenance/service mode

• Use the scan tool with EPB service function (specialty) to command EPB > Exit Maintenance/Service Mode.
• Confirm the EPB applies and releases normally before driving.

Step 15: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Install wheels and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Lower the Outback to the ground using the floor jack.
• Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern with a torque wrench (1/2" drive).
• Torque to 120 Nm (89 ft-lbs)

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✅ After Repair

• 🦶 With the engine OFF, pump the brake pedal 10-15 times until it feels firm.
• 🧴 Check brake fluid level and top off with DOT 3 or DOT 4 only if needed.
• 🅿️ Test EPB apply/release in your driveway before moving.
• 🚗 Road test at low speed first; confirm no grinding, pulling, or warning lights.
• 🔥 Pad bedding (recommended): make 6-10 medium stops from 30 mph to 5 mph, with cool-down driving between stops.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $160-$380 (parts only)

You Save: $290-$470 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?

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