How to Change the Rear Brake Pads on a Subaru Outback

Brake pads are an important part of your Subaru Outback's braking system. They are the replaceable friction pads that pinch the brake disc or drum when the brakes are applied. You should replace the brake pads before they wear beyond a quarter inch or risk damaging your Outback's brake discs.

Things You'll Need

• Blocks
• Car jack
• Lug nut wrench
• Turkey baster
• Heavy duty plastic container
• Allen head, star head or 6-point socket wrench
• Small bungee cord or wire hanger
• New brake pads
• Molykote M7439 or equivalent
• Molykote AS-880N or equivalent
• Brake fluid

Instructions

Remove the old Brake Pads

1. Park your car on a level surface. If you have a stick shift car make sure the car is in gear. Place blocks in front of the front tires so the car does not move while you are working on it.

2. Open the hood of your car. Disconnect the negative battery cable.

3. While under the hood, locate the master cylinder. If necessary, remove brake fluid until the level in the container is less than half full. A turkey baster is a good tool for this. Put the brake fluid in the plastic container and dispose of it the way you dispose of motor oil.

4. Raise the rear end of your car with your car jack. Remove the rear tire or wheel assembly.

5. Use the socket wrench to remove the caliper mounting bolts. Slide the caliper off of the disc rotor and hang it in the wheel well with a small bungee cord or wire hanger. Don't let the caliper hang from the brake hose.

6. Remove the brake pads from the caliper.

Install the new Brake Pads

1. Apply a thin coat of MolyKote M7439 to the brake pad clips. Also apply Molykote AS-880N to the brake pad surface that comes in contact with the shims.

2. Insert the brake pads into the caliper. Replace the caliper on the disc rotor. Insert and tighten the caliper mounting bolts.

3. Replace the tire wheel assembly. Lower the car to the ground.

4. Reconnect the negative battery cable.

5. Pump the brake pedal a few times to seat the brake pads. Do this before trying to move your car.

6. Add fluid to the master cylinder container to replace any you removed before you removed the old brake pads.

7. Season the brake pads by making only gentle stops when you are driving for the first week after you install the new brake pads. Try not to do any hard stopping when you are seasoning the brakes.

Tips & Warnings

• The master cylinder is a metal cylinder located in front of the steering wheel on the metal firewall that separates the engine from the body of the car. On top of the cylinder there is a plastic container that holds brake fluid for the system. When you work on the brakes you adjust the level of fluid so that the container is less than half-full.

• The caliper is the arc-shaped, cast iron piece attached to the brake rotor. It is usually on the upper-rear of the brake rotor. Caliper bolts are located on the back side of the caliper. Use penetrating oil to loosen the bolts if necessary.

• Be careful using brake fluid. It is an eye irritant and is hazardous if swallowed. Always wash your hands thoroughly after you have been handling brake fluid. If brake fluid does get in your eyes, immediately use clear, running water to flush your eyes for 15 minutes. If your eyes are still irritated after you rinse them or if you swallow any brake fluid, get medical assistance immediately.

• Be careful when you are handling used brake parts. The dust and dirt on the brake parts may contain asbestos fibers that can be hazardous to your health if they are inhaled.

• When you clean brake parts, always use a damp cloth, not compressed air, wire brushes, scouring pads or anything else that could move the dust and dirt particles around. Throw away any cleaning cloths that you use and swept up dirt and dust in a sealed, impermeable container. For more information, visit the library or go online to view the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines and procedures for handling or throwing away anything that might contain asbestos fibers.