How to Replace Emergency Brakes in a Subaru Outback

The original purpose of emergency brakes was to stop your vehicle in an emergency. Fortunately, the brakes on a Subaru Outback rarely fail, and the emergency brakes are most commonly used to keep the vehicle from moving while parked. The most likely type of failure for emergency brakes is when the brake cable rusts and seizes after it's not used for a long time.

Instructions

1

Determine which type of emergency brakes your Subaru Outback will need. Emergency brakes typically function by activating the regular braking system on the driving wheels. The emergency brakes for the Subaru Outback use the disc brakes on the rear wheels.

2

Raise your vehicle and remove the wheel with a socket wrench. Disconnect the brake caliper assembly without removing the brake lines. Support the brake caliper from the strut with mechanic's wire and remove the brake rotor with a socket wrench.

3

Disconnect the brake shoe return spring from the parking brake assembly and the front brake shoe hold down spring and pin with pliers. Remove the brake strut and its spring. Use a socket wrench to disconnect the adjuster assembly from the parking brake assembly and remove the brake shoe. Remove the rear shoe hold-down spring and pin with pliers.

4

Remove the parking brake cable from the parking brake lever with a socket wrench and raise the retainer with a standard screwdriver. Disconnect the parking lever and washer from the brake shoe with a socket wrench.

5

Install the new brake shoes by reversing the removal procedure. Apply brake grease to the various contact surfaces for the brake shoe rim, back plate packing, parking brake lever, brake shoe wave, anchor pin and brake shoe adjuster assembly.

6

Re-install the brake shoe adjuster assembly securely with the screw in the left side and facing the front of the vehicle. Adjust the tension on the parking brakes.