Brakes

FRONT DISC BRAKES

Disc Brake Pads

Fig. 1: Front caliper assembly-Legacy

Fig. 2: Use a C-clamp to compress the piston into the caliper bore

Fig. 3: Loosen and remove the caliper lower retainer bolt

Fig. 4: Lift the caliper up to access the pads

Fig. 5: Slide the outer pad out ...

Fig. 6: ... and remove the backing plate

Fig. 7: Slide the inner pad out

Fig. 8: Remove the pad retainer clips from the bracket and inspect

1. Remove a small portion of brake fluid from the master cylinder reservoir.
2. Raise and support the vehicle safely on jackstands. Remove the wheel assemblies.
3. Use a C-clamp to compress the piston into the caliper bore.

If your vehicle is equipped with front parking brakes, compress the piston only slightly.

4. Release the parking brake and disconnect the cable from the caliper lever, if equipped.
5. Remove the lock pin bolts from the lower portion of the caliper.
6. Swing the caliper upward to access the pads.
7. Remove the brake disc pads, noting the position of the backing plates and retainer clips.

If equipped with parking brake, use a suitable tool to rotate the piston back into the caliper bore.

To install:

8. Inspect the brake rotor, calipers and retaining components. Correct as necessary.
9. Install the new pads into the calipers, being sure all shims and clips are in their original positions.
10. Swing the calipers down into position and install the lock pin bolts. Tighten the lock pin bolt to the following specifications:
    1. Justy: 16-23 ft. lbs. (22-31 Nm).
    2. Coupe, Sedan, XT, Loyale, Wagon and Brat: 33-40 ft. lbs. (44-54 Nm).
    3. Legacy and Impreza: 25-33 ft. lbs. (34-44 Nm).
    4. SVX: 25-33 ft. lbs. (34-44 Nm).
11. Reconnect the parking brake cable, if equipped, and fill the master cylinder reservoir.
12. Install the wheel assembly. Bleed the brakes as required and lower the vehicle. Road test the vehicle.

Brake pads should be inspected once a year or at 6,000 miles (9,600 km) intervals, whichever occurs first. Check both ends of the outboard pad, looking in at each end of the caliper; then check the lining thickness of the inboard pad, looking down through the inspection hole. On riveted pads, the lining should be more than ¹/₃₂ in. (0.8mm) thick above the rivet (so that the lining is thicker than the metal backing in most cases) in order to prevent the rivet from scoring the rotor. On bonded brake pads, a minimum lining thickness of ¹/₃₂ in. (0.8mm) above the backing plate should be used to determine necessary replacement intervals. Keep in mind that any applicable state inspection standards that are more stringent take precedence. All four front pads MUST be replaced as a set if one shows excessive wear.

END OF SECTION