How to Replace the Brake Pads on a 1996 Subaru Outback

The 1996 Subaru Outback came in two different body designs. There was the Subaru Impreza Outback and the more common Subaru Legacy Outback. Despite the different body designs, all Subarus manufactured in 1996 employed a very standardized procedure to replace front (and rear when applicable) brake pads. These all-wheel drive vehicles featured front disc brake pads, but could either come equipped with rear drum brakes (which use brake shoes and drums) or rear disc brakes (which use brake pads and rotors).

Instructions

Park the Outback on a level surface and then place a tire wedge behind one rear tire (for front pads replacement) or in front of one of the front tires (for rear pads replacement). Apply the parking brake only if you're replacing the front brake pads.

Open the hood and using a brake fluid siphon, remove 1/3 of the brake fluid from the master cylinder. Dispose of the old fluid in accordance with EPA regulations of your town and then replace the cap to the master cylinder.

Loosen the wheel lug nuts on the two tires of the axle you're replacing the brake pads on. Use the lug nut wrench to crack the lug nuts loose no more than half a turn away from the rim.

Lift one side of the Outback at a time using a car jack and then place a jack stand under the frame rail (front) or pinch/rocker panel (rear). Lower the jack so the Outback is safely supported on the jack stand and then repeat for the opposite side.

Completely remove the lug nuts and then remove the wheels.

Place the large C-clamp over the caliper and pad assembly so the screw part of the clamp is resting against the outside pad plate. Tighten the clamp until the caliper piston is fully seated inside the caliper bore housing.

Remove the lower caliper retaining bolt with the ratchet and a metric socket (most often a 14 mm socket).

Pivot the caliper upward away from the caliper mount and brake pads and then use the two foot length of durable twine to tie the pivoted caliper housing to the coil spring or shock. This will keep the caliper out of your way while removing and replacing the brake pads.

Remove the outside and inside brake pads from the caliper mount. Use the straightedge screwdriver to force them out of the mount if necessary. Use the screwdriver to remove the upper and lower pad mounting clips and then clean off the brake dust and rust from the clips using the stiff wire brush and then replace them into the caliper mount.

Remove the new pads from the packaging and, if necessary, apply the stick-on brake shims to the pad's plates. Stick-on shims use a cut-out inner wrapper that needs to be removed before sticking them onto the plates of the pads. Higher quality brake pads may feature riveted (or "staked") shims already affixed to the plates.

Apply an even coat of anti-squeal brake pad compound or spray to the plates and shims.

Apply an even coat of silicone brake grease to the upper and lowers tabs on the pads that mate against the mounting clips and then insert the pads into the caliper mount.

Untie the twine and allow the caliper to pivot downward over the pads and caliper mount assembly. Replace the lower caliper retaining bolt and tighten it with the torque ratchet and a socket to 30-foot pounds (for front bolts) or 17-foot pounds (for rear bolts).

Repeat the brake pads replacement for the opposite wheel and then replace the wheels and the lug nuts. Use the lug nut wrench to tighten the lug nuts so they are flush to the wheel hubs. Employ a crisscross pattern when tightening the nuts with the lug nut wrench.

Lower the Outback to the ground using the jack and removing one jack stand at a time. Release the parking brake if applicable.

Apply the brake pedal in a pumping action to reset the caliper pistons. When the pedal feels firm, check the brake fluid level in the master cylinder and top it off to the full line with brake fluid only. Remove the tire wedge and then drive the Outback for proper braking response.