I have a 06 legacy and replaced the pads today. Both inside black shims were rusting, they have a plastic coating over them and it was coming up in the centers. I cleaned them up and put the new pads on, I will have to replace them, should have got new ones with the pads. How urgent is it to replace them??, they dont seem like they will rust away anytime soon. thanks

i think shims means the ones that ride on the caliper piston or backing plate of the pads right? i wouldn't worry about those too much. i probably wouldn't even replace them until the next brake change.

 

if it's the clips that hold the pads in place on the caliper bracket then i'd replace them for sure as soon as possible. any build up there can cause the pad to hang.

there are 2 that are between the piston and the pad, both clip to the pad. the rusted ones contact the pad, the ones that contact the piston are stainless looking and are ok.