🔧 Outback - Rear Brake Pad & Rotor Replacement

This repair replaces the rear brake pads and rear brake rotors on your Outback. The rear calipers use an electronic parking brake, so the parking brake must be placed into service mode before the calipers are removed.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2-3 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Do not remove the rear calipers until the electronic parking brake is fully retracted.
• ⚠️ Use jack stands every time. Never work under or beside a vehicle supported only by a jack.
• ⚠️ Wear safety glasses and gloves. Brake dust and rust flakes can fall while you work.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while the rear caliper is removed.
• ⚠️ Do not twist or stretch the rubber brake hose.
• ⚠️ Brake fluid can damage paint. Wipe spills immediately.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not required, but keep the ignition off after EPB service mode is entered.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• OBD2 scan tool with electronic parking brake service mode (specialty)
• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• 19mm lug nut socket
• 1/2-inch drive breaker bar
• 1/2-inch drive torque wrench
• 3/8-inch drive ratchet
• 14mm socket
• 17mm socket
• Caliper piston compression tool
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Rubber mallet
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner spray
• Shop towels
• Bungee cord
• Disposable 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 rotors - Qty: 2
• Rear brake hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake lubricant - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner spray - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park your Outback on a flat, solid surface.
• Place the transmission in Park.
• Leave the electronic parking brake released before starting service mode.
• Place wheel chocks in front of the front tires.
• Use an OBD2 scan tool with electronic parking brake service mode. This tool tells the parking brake motors to retract so the rear calipers can be serviced safely.
• If your scan tool has Subaru menus, choose: Subaru > Outback > Parking Brake > Maintenance Mode / Brake Pad Replacement Mode > Start.
• After service mode completes, turn the ignition off and keep the key away from the vehicle.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Enter electronic parking brake service mode

• Use the OBD2 scan tool with electronic parking brake service mode.
• Connect it to the diagnostic port under the driver-side lower dash.
• With the ignition on and engine off, select: Subaru > Outback > Parking Brake > Maintenance Mode / Brake Pad Replacement Mode > Start.
• Wait until the tool confirms the rear parking brake has retracted.
• Turn the ignition off after the scan tool says the operation is complete.
• Listen for both rear motors.

Step 2: Loosen the rear lug nuts

• Use the 19mm lug nut socket and 1/2-inch drive breaker bar.
• Loosen each rear wheel lug nut about half a turn while the tires are still on the ground.
• Do not remove the lug nuts yet.

Step 3: Raise and support the rear of the vehicle

• Use the floor jack rated 3-ton minimum to lift the rear of your Outback at the rear center jacking point.
• Place jack stands rated 3-ton minimum under the rear side support points.
• Slowly lower the vehicle onto the jack stands.
• Gently shake the vehicle by hand to confirm it is stable.

Step 4: Remove the rear wheels

• Use the 19mm lug nut socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to remove the loosened lug nuts.
• Remove both rear wheels and place them flat under the side of the vehicle as an extra safety backup.

Step 5: Remove the rear caliper

• Use the 14mm socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to remove the two rear caliper slide pin bolts.
• Slide the caliper off the pads and rotor.
• Use a bungee cord to hang the caliper from the suspension spring or control arm.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the brake hose.
• Support the caliper immediately.

Step 6: Remove the old brake pads and hardware

• Use the flat-blade screwdriver to gently pry the old brake pads out of the caliper bracket.
• Remove the old stainless pad clips from the bracket by hand or with the flat-blade screwdriver.
• These clips are the brake hardware. They let the pads slide smoothly.

Step 7: Remove the caliper bracket

• Use the 17mm socket and 1/2-inch drive breaker bar to remove the two rear caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the caliper bracket from the knuckle.
• Set the bracket on a clean work surface.

Step 8: Remove the old rotor

• Pull the rear rotor straight off the hub by hand.
• If it is stuck, tap the rotor hat area with the rubber mallet.
• Do not hit the wheel studs.
• If the rotor still will not move, confirm the electronic parking brake is released and the parking brake shoes are not holding the rotor.

Step 9: Clean the hub and bracket

• Use the wire brush to clean rust from the wheel hub face.
• Use the brake cleaner spray and shop towels to wipe the hub clean.
• Use the wire brush to clean the pad contact areas on the caliper bracket.
• The hub face must be clean so the new rotor sits flat.
• Rust here causes brake vibration.

Step 10: Install the new rotor

• Use the brake cleaner spray and shop towels to clean both sides of the new rotor.
• Slide the new rotor onto the wheel studs.
• Install one lug nut by hand to hold the rotor flat against the hub while you work.

Step 11: Reinstall the caliper bracket

• Position the caliper bracket over the rotor.
• Use the 17mm socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to start both caliper bracket bolts by hand.
• Use the 1/2-inch drive torque wrench and 17mm socket to tighten the bracket bolts.
• Torque to 88 Nm (65 ft-lbs).

Step 12: Install new brake hardware and pads

• Press the new brake hardware clips into the caliper bracket by hand.
• Apply a thin layer of brake lubricant to the pad contact points on the hardware.
• Do not put lubricant on the pad friction material or rotor surface.
• Slide the new brake pads into the bracket by hand.
• The pads should move smoothly with light hand pressure.

Step 13: Compress the rear caliper piston

• Use the caliper piston compression tool to slowly push the piston straight back into the caliper.
• A caliper piston compression tool spreads pressure evenly so the piston does not cock sideways.
• Move slowly. This pushes brake fluid back toward the master cylinder.
• If the piston will not move, stop and recheck that EPB service mode was completed.

Step 14: Reinstall the rear caliper

• Place the caliper over the new pads and rotor.
• Use the 14mm socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to start the two slide pin bolts by hand.
• Use the 1/2-inch drive torque wrench and 14mm socket to tighten the slide pin bolts.
• Torque to 27 Nm (20 ft-lbs).

Step 15: Repeat on the other rear side

• Use the same tools and steps on the opposite rear brake.
• Always replace rear brake pads and rotors in pairs.
• Compare both sides before reinstalling the wheels.

Step 16: Reinstall the rear wheels

• Remove the temporary lug nut holding each rotor.
• Install the wheels onto the hubs.
• Use the 19mm lug nut socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.

Step 17: Lower the vehicle and torque the lug nuts

• Use the floor jack rated 3-ton minimum to lift the vehicle slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove the jack stands rated 3-ton minimum.
• Lower the vehicle until the tires touch the ground.
• Use the 1/2-inch drive torque wrench and 19mm lug nut socket to tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Torque to 120 Nm (89 ft-lbs).

Step 18: Exit electronic parking brake service mode

• Use the OBD2 scan tool with electronic parking brake service mode.
• Turn the ignition on with the engine off.
• Select: Subaru > Outback > Parking Brake > Maintenance Mode / Brake Pad Replacement Mode > End.
• Wait until the scan tool confirms normal electronic parking brake operation is restored.
• Apply and release the parking brake once to confirm it works normally.

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✅ After Repair

• Press the brake pedal several times before moving the vehicle. The pedal should become firm.
• Check the brake fluid level in the reservoir and top off only if needed with the correct brake fluid listed on the reservoir cap.
• Start the engine and confirm the brake warning light and parking brake warning light turn off normally.
• Test the brakes at low speed in a safe area before driving in traffic.
• Bed in the new pads and rotors with several gentle stops from 30-40 mph, allowing cooling time between stops.
• Avoid hard braking for the first 200 miles unless it is an emergency.
• Recheck lug nut torque after the first short drive: Torque to 120 Nm (89 ft-lbs).

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $450-$750 (parts + labor)

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

You Save: $270-$400 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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