Best brake pads for a 2016 Forester… any recommendations

Subaru Forums Subaru Forester
1

Got a quote from a shop that was way too high, so I’m doing the brakes myself. Done it on other cars, just not this one.

  1. Looking for decent pads that won’t break the bank—wife just needs them for a short daily drive.
  2. Any Forester-specific things I should know before I start?
2

Pretty straightforward. I like Beck Arnley—fits well and doesn’t give me issues. Subaru brakes can be picky sometimes.

3

Aeron said:
Pretty straightforward. I like Beck Arnley—fits well and doesn’t give me issues. Subaru brakes can be picky sometimes.

Is it just me, or do some aftermarket pads always need a little grinding to fit right? Every set I get from AutoZone has at least one pad with oversized tabs. Had to take a grinder to my last set just to get the wear gauge pad to fit.

4

@Bowie
RockAuto pads and rotors have worked great for me—no grinding needed.

A couple things to keep in mind:

  • Clean and grease the caliper pins properly.
  • Grease the pad clips where needed.
  • If the new pads don’t fit past the piston, put an old pad against the piston and use a screwdriver as a lever to compress it. Works like a charm.
5

Super easy job. Just make sure to hold your tongue to the left—4th gen Forester trick. Tons of videos out there, but basic steps are the same as most disc brakes.

Big things:

  • Don’t rip the caliper pin boots.
  • Clean off all the gunk.
  • Grease the anti-rattle clips properly.
  • Follow the diagrams that come with your parts.

OEM parts are solid, but they’re getting pricey these days.

6

@Dolph
“Pin booties”… that’s adorable.

7

Mitchelle said:
@Dolph
“Pin booties”… that’s adorable.

For car parts, they’re kinda cute.

8

@Dolph
Good to know, thanks!

9

Just put Power Stop CRK6762 pads on my 2018—no complaints.

Most brake job videos don’t focus enough on the caliper pins. Always good to have extras around because you’ll need them eventually. RockAuto carries replacement slide pins and boots that should fit your 2016.

10

@Bowie
Appreciate it!

11

@Bowie
PowerStop rotors and pads have been solid on my ‘21.

12

O’Reilly’s BrakeBest Select is decent and comes with a lifetime warranty. If the pads wear down to 0.75mm, you get a free replacement. I’ve swapped mine out three times under the warranty.

13

If you’ve done brakes before, nothing new here. Just grab some ceramic pads and you’re good.

14

Brakes and cheap don’t go together. Tires and brakes are the most important parts of the car. Don’t skimp.

15

Heath said:
Brakes and cheap don’t go together. Tires and brakes are the most important parts of the car. Don’t skimp.

Been broke my whole life. Finding the balance between affordable and reliable is a lifelong struggle. Appreciate the advice.

16

Go to RockAuto and look for Raybestos in the ‘Daily Driver’ section.

R-Line is good, Element3 is better.