Brake Pad replacement

[WillGT]

Hey guys, I just had my oil changed at my subaru shop and they recommended that my rear brake pads be replaced. The quote they gave me isn't too bad, but I also remembered that last January I bought some Duralast gold pads front and rear for my last Baja. I used the fronts but never did the rear. Do I have the pads to do the rears.
There is a great guide over on the Outback forums on how to do this, which I followed last time
http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/99- ... ng-11.html

Last time I bled my brakes, but with this Baja I had the 120,000 mile service about 5500 miles ago, so I really don't see the need to bleed again. Anyone have tips on how to replace the pads with out bleeding? Im going to have to clamp the calipers a bit to open them back up, which means I might have to put some fluid back in

[hocrest]

Open the bleeder screw slightly, then use a large C clamp and one of the old pads to compress the piston. Once compressed close the bleeder screw.

You'll need to top off the reservoir then.

[offroadohio]

That about hit the nail on the head. There is no reason why with just a pad change you should have to rebleed the system.

I never even open the bleeder, but I have heard of people claiming it will back wash the master cylinder and could cuase it to fail, but in 20 years I've never had an issue

[hocrest]

I've never had a problem keeping the bleeders closed and pushing the fluid back either. But, last year I started doing it this way as a way to get rid of the heat cycled fluid. Sort of a mini-flush with every change of pads. You can also take a look at the fluid that is coming out and do a complete flush if it looks too nasty.

It also makes it easier to compress the pistons when the valve is open.

[WillGT]

Ive heard the opposite.
The first time I did a brake pad replacement I opened the fluid reservoir and then c clamped the calipers, the excess fluid comes out the reservoir. Now I have heard that doing this way could induce air into the system as opposed to just bleed a little bit out the bleeder