🔧 Forester - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

This repair replaces the rear brake pads on your Forester. The rear brakes use an electronic parking brake, so the parking brake motor must be placed into service mode before pushing the caliper piston back in.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.5-2.5 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Do not work on the rear brakes with the electronic parking brake engaged.
• ⚠️ The electronic parking brake must be put into maintenance/service mode before compressing the rear caliper pistons.
• ⚠️ Support your Forester with jack stands. Never rely on a jack alone.
• ⚠️ Brake dust can be harmful. Wear safety glasses and a dust mask, and avoid blowing dust with compressed air.
• ⚠️ Brake fluid damages paint. Keep the reservoir capped and wipe spills immediately.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not normally required, but keep the ignition off except during the parking brake service-mode procedure.

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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
• 19mm lug nut socket
• Ratchet wrench 3/8-inch drive
• 14mm socket
• 17mm wrench
• Torque wrench 10-100 ft-lb range
• Torque wrench 50-150 ft-lb range
• Disc brake pad spreader tool
• C-clamp 6-inch
• Flathead screwdriver medium
• Needle-nose pliers
• Brake caliper hanger hook
• Brake parts cleaning brush
• OBD-II scan tool with electronic parking brake service mode (specialty)
• Brake cleaner spray
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses
• Dust mask

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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 - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper slide pin grease - Qty: 1
• Brake pad anti-squeal lubricant - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park your Forester on level ground.
• Place the transmission in Park and chock the front wheels with wheel chocks.
• Release the electronic parking brake using the parking brake switch.
• Use an OBD-II scan tool with electronic parking brake service mode. This tool talks to the brake computer and retracts the parking brake motors safely.
• Select Electronic Parking Brake > Maintenance Mode / Pad Replacement Mode > Retract on the scan tool before removing the rear calipers.
• If your scan tool gives prompts, follow them exactly and keep the ignition on when instructed.
• After the motors retract, turn the ignition off and keep the key/fob away from the vehicle while working.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen the Rear Wheel Lug Nuts

• Use the 19mm lug nut socket and breaker bar or ratchet wrench to loosen each rear lug nut about half a turn.
• Do this while the tires are still touching the ground so the wheels do not spin.
• Loose first, lift second.

Step 2: Lift and Support the Rear of the Vehicle

• Use the floor jack rated 2-ton minimum at the rear center jacking point or approved rear side lift point.
• Place jack stands rated 2-ton minimum under the approved rear support points.
• Lower your Forester gently onto the jack stands.
• Lightly shake the vehicle by hand to confirm it is stable before working near the wheels.

Step 3: Remove the Rear Wheels

• Use the 19mm lug nut socket to remove the rear lug nuts.
• Remove both rear wheels and set them flat on the ground.
• Keep the lug nuts together so none are lost.

Step 4: Inspect the Brake Setup

• Put on safety glasses, nitrile gloves, and a dust mask.
• Look at the rear caliper, rotor, brake hose, and pad wear.
• Use brake cleaner spray to lightly clean loose dust around the caliper area.
• A caliper is the clamp that squeezes the brake pads against the rotor to stop the vehicle.

Step 5: Remove the Lower Caliper Slide Bolt

• Use a 14mm socket on the lower caliper slide bolt.
• If the slide pin spins, hold the pin steady with a 17mm wrench.
• Remove the lower bolt and set it aside.
• Typical rear caliper slide bolt torque is Torque to 27 Nm (20 ft-lbs) during reassembly.

Step 6: Swing the Caliper Up

• Use a flathead screwdriver medium gently between the caliper and pad to create a little movement.
• Pivot the caliper upward by hand.
• Support the caliper with a brake caliper hanger hook.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the rubber brake hose.

Step 7: Remove the Old Brake Pads and Hardware

• Use your hands or needle-nose pliers to pull the old inner and outer brake pads out of the caliper bracket.
• Use the flathead screwdriver medium to remove the old stainless pad clips from the bracket.
• Pad clips are thin metal pieces that help the pads slide smoothly and quietly.
• Compare the old pads with the new rear brake pad set to confirm the shapes match.

Step 8: Clean the Pad Bracket

• Use the brake parts cleaning brush to clean the areas where the pad clips sit.
• Spray the bracket lightly with brake cleaner spray.
• Do not spray brake cleaner onto painted surfaces.
• Clean brackets prevent stuck pads.

Step 9: Install the New Pad Hardware

• Install the new clips from the rear brake pad hardware kit by hand.
• Make sure each clip snaps fully into the caliper bracket.
• Use needle-nose pliers only if needed to seat a clip gently.

Step 10: Lubricate Contact Points

• Apply a thin layer of brake pad anti-squeal lubricant to the pad ears where they touch the hardware clips.
• Apply a thin layer of brake caliper slide pin grease to the slide pins if they are dry.
• Do not put grease on the pad friction material or rotor face.
• Friction material is the rough braking surface of the pad.

Step 11: Compress the Rear Caliper Piston

• Confirm the electronic parking brake is still in service/retracted mode from the OBD-II scan tool with electronic parking brake service mode.
• Place an old brake pad against the caliper piston.
• Use the disc brake pad spreader tool or C-clamp 6-inch to slowly press the piston straight back into the caliper.
• Go slowly and watch the brake fluid reservoir level under the hood.
• Do not force the piston. If it will not move, stop and recheck parking brake service mode.

Step 12: Install the New Rear Brake Pads

• Slide the new rear brake pad set into the caliper bracket by hand.
• Make sure the pads move smoothly in the clips.
• If they bind, remove them and clean the bracket again with the brake parts cleaning brush.

Step 13: Reinstall the Caliper

• Lower the caliper over the new pads by hand.
• Install the lower caliper slide bolt by hand first to prevent cross-threading.
• Use the 14mm socket to tighten the bolt while holding the slide pin with the 17mm wrench if needed.
• Torque to 27 Nm (20 ft-lbs).

Step 14: Repeat on the Other Rear Side

• Repeat Steps 4 through 13 on the opposite rear brake.
• Always replace rear pads as a pair, left and right together.

Step 15: Reinstall the Rear Wheels

• Place each wheel back onto the hub by hand.
• Install the lug nuts by hand first.
• Use the 19mm lug nut socket to snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Do not fully torque the lug nuts while the vehicle is still in the air.

Step 16: Lower and Torque the Wheels

• Use the floor jack rated 2-ton minimum to lift slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove the jack stands rated 2-ton minimum.
• Lower your Forester until the tires touch the ground.
• Use the torque wrench 50-150 ft-lb range with the 19mm lug nut socket.
• Torque to 120 Nm (89 ft-lbs) in a star pattern.

Step 17: Exit Parking Brake Service Mode

• Turn the ignition on without starting the engine.
• Use the OBD-II scan tool with electronic parking brake service mode.
• Select Electronic Parking Brake > Maintenance Mode / Pad Replacement Mode > Exit / Apply.
• Wait until the scan tool confirms the electronic parking brake has returned to normal operation.

Step 18: Pump the Brake Pedal

• Sit in the driver seat and press the brake pedal slowly 5-10 times.
• The pedal may go low at first, then become firm.
• Do not drive until the pedal feels firm.
• Firm pedal before movement.

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✅ After Repair

• Check the brake fluid level under the hood and make sure it is between MIN and MAX.
• Start the engine and press the brake pedal again to confirm it feels firm.
• Apply and release the electronic parking brake using the switch to confirm normal operation.
• Test drive slowly in a safe area and make several gentle stops.
• Avoid hard braking for the first 200 miles unless needed for safety.
• Listen for grinding, scraping, or clicking. Stop and inspect if anything sounds wrong.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $260-$450 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $55-$140 (parts only)

You Save: $205-$310 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.0-1.5 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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