Hi Everyone.

I am tired. My 2018 Outback was in the garage for three days and I am doing the work, and I am too old for this BS. I replaced both rear CV axles, both hubs, both rotors and the brake pads. The goal was to correct a grinding sound in the rear. One brake pad was worn to the steel, but otherwise would be quite. I think the noise is from worn bearings after 98,000 miles.

As a tangent - I could NOT remove the hubs from the knuckles on the car, and eventually removed the knuckles entirely and took them to a machine shop to be separated. It took them over an hour on each knuckle to part them - paid $240. Once the knuckles were removed, replacing the axles was a no brainer. The frozen hubs cost me a lot of time on the hoist.

When the repairs were complete, the parking brake was locked, and the Outback would not go forward or backward. I friend was near (long story) who had experience in this, and we removed both rear tires, removed two small bolts, and removed the 'motor gear unit', exposing a star pattern stub. He turned this and released the parking brake pressure, and on the hoist, both rear wheels spun freely. I drove home, but unfortunately all the nasty indicator lights on the dashboard were on, including "Brake", and "Park" indicator lights.

I got home - car drove fine if you didn't look at the dashboard.

I unplugged the negative battery terminal and left it overnight. After a good 16 hours I started the car. It would drive forward and back, and the Brake light was not illuminated. I thought 'good', we are making progress. While the Brake indicator light was off, many other systems such as Eye Sight were NOT engaged, and all those warning lights are ON.

I pulled up on the electronic brake handle, which had been off (not illuminated or the brake set), and pulled it up to set the electronic brake. It set the brake, making the Outback immobile, and now it will NOT reset to release the parking brake.

In summary of the current situation: New brakes, pads, bearings and CV axles. Outback electronic emergency / parking brake engaged, and the car is immobile. Neutral battery terminal off. When driven to house from garage, all the major systems were disengaged, but the car drove normally. I didn't try it, but I am sure cruise control would not engage with all these indicator lights on.

So, how can I correct this ? At this point it looms a pretty significant problem, hopefully one of you mechanics can help.

I do have an OBD reader and can reset some codes. I have not looked at that yet.

What do you think smart people? I need the car now and am at a loss.

Thanks, Craig.

PS: I am saving you a lot of reading by skipping over significant parts of this story line. What I did write is accurate and to the point.

 

Edited May 26, 2025May 26 by craigmcd

I feel your pain.  2006 is the newest I will go.  Yes, I'd start with the codes.

I vaguely remember a youtube video about having to hook a computer up to the car and set something before installing the brakes.  I'll see if I can find it again...

 

Edited May 26, 2025May 26 by nvu

Oh boy, I didn't see that coming. I have done a lot of brake jobs in my life and never ran into this before. Definitely not DYI friendly.

I’ve done front and rear brakes on my ‘15, ‘17 and my sons ‘17 Legacy’s and I’ve never had any issues afterwards. Maybe an Outback thing. On these 3, I replaced pads and rotors.

I purchased a Gearwrench scanner tool (GWSMARTBT) for $145. It promises to reset the Electronic Brake System. After that I should be able to clear the codes and dismiss all the warning lights on the instrument cluster. If not, then I will have to remove the EBS gear units, loosen the parking brake tension, and drive the car to a Subaru mechanic with the professional scanner.  Worst brake job ever.

 

Edited May 27, 2025May 27 by craigmcd

I've replaced the brake-pads (front & rear) on my 2017 Forester. And with no problems.

But my Forester has the old-style hand-brake lever - no electronic brake gizmos.

I don't know for sure but suspect eyesight equipped vehicles need this step.  I heard it's a nightmare to replace windshield glass with an eyesight system and it needs some special alignment and setup again.  Not something any windshield shop can do. 

Both ‘17 Legacy’s have eyesight and all 3 have electronic parking brakes. 

Would love to hear from anyone who did rear brakes on 2018+

Want to know how far up Shitz Creek I'll be heading before starting out if this ordeal can be expected (or avoided.)

Why GD got out IMHO.  I miss that knowledge.  CCR and Shawn as well.

 I sure do love my Old Gens...

Yes, anything with an electronic parking brake (Subaru or otherwise) needs to have the system reset with new pads. The parking brake actuator is a stepper motor, and it needs to relearn where "home" is again.

 

Just like turning the piston in on an EA82 front, or the self adjusters on a drum brake car, but electronically. I have a couple mid level ($100-200) scan tools that have an option for EPB relearn. I don't have any cars that need it, so I can't say how well it actually works. If you're doing any repair/diagnostic on a CAN OBD car yourself, you need a scan tool that can interface with other modules on the car.

On 5/28/2025 at 3:04 PM, nvu said:

I don't know for sure but suspect eyesight equipped vehicles need this step.  I heard it's a nightmare to replace windshield glass with an eyesight system and it needs some special alignment and setup again.  Not something any windshield shop can do. 

Yes. There is a calibration procedure for the Eyesight cameras. I think many glass companies can do it themselves (or maybe most of them just send it without calibrating....), but we do get them coming into the shop just for the calibration.