Follow along as I refresh our Subaru Outback rear brakes with new Bosch pads and OE premium replacement rotors from Brembo. Our 2012 Subaru Outback is the 3.6R model (bigger engine option). This video should be relevant for 2010-2014 3.6 engine Outback and Legacy models, and perhaps later 3.6 cars, check that parts are compatible for your Subaru year and model before ordering. Rear brake replacement on your 2.5 model Outback will follow the same process but use different replacement parts. Do check your master cylinder brake fluid level at the end, I forgot to capture this step, and top off with DOT 3 fluid if needed.
The brake wear indicator “squealer” on our rear pads had broke off and we didn’t catch it before the pads were pretty much completely gone on one side. This may be the first time the rear pads have ever been changed, and rather than having the old rotors machined, I am replacing both.
0:00 Wheel removal and intro
0:17 Removing caliper and caliper bracket
3:07 Removing the old rotor
4:21 New parts (pads & rotors)
4:49 Cleaning new rotor and installing
5:37 Caliper bracket - removing old pads, lubricating slider pins
6:50 Installing new brake pads
7:03 Compressing caliper piston with C-clamp
8:37 Installing caliper bracket with new pads
9:25 Installing caliper
10:05 Finishing up
Parts used:
Bosch Rear Brake Pads amzn.to/3wJE4z
Brembo OE Premium rotor amzn.to/3Rm90O7 (buy 2)
Permatex Brake Lube amzn.to/3jz4VYk
Brake Parts Cleaner amzn.to/3GmAQ88
Rust Penetrant Spray amzn.to/3Ed8fQK
Tools used:
Ratchet
Torque Wrench
Breaker Bar amzn.to/3dFg1aN
Sockets: 19mm, 14mm
10mm Wrench (bleeder screw)
Brake Bleeder Bottle amzn.to/2ZtpgHC
Rubber Mallet amzn.to/3yefQwL
Large “C” clamp amzn.to/3rT3F7p
Jack/Jack Stand
Blue Shop Towels
Torque specs:
Caliper Brakets (14mm bolts): 48.9 ft/lbs.
Calipers to slider pins (14mm bolts) 20 ft/lbs.
Wheels (19mm lug nuts) 90 ft/lbs.
Paying a dealership or independent shop to replace brake pads and rotors is expensive, investing in the tools needed to do these jobs yourself will save you thousands of dollars over the years.
This video is for reference, and aims to share the level of effort needed to perform this work and the tools and parts I used. Get help or take your car to a competent mechanic if you are not familiar with or have the necessary skills and tools to do the job safely.