Ask an expert

My Forester has travelled 163,000 km from new and the brake pads have never been replaced. My local brake dealer told me that the pads will need replacing. There was no proper inspection, just a glance with the wheels on. I think they were shocked that original pads could last so long. I don't want to replace the pads unnecessarily with an inferior aftermarket pad.
My model has wear warning strips built into the pads on the front right and rear discs.
Can I rely on this warning device to tell me when to replace the pads ?, there is no problem with the brakes at all and the rotors look good.

Hi there,
The warning indicators are good if they are on all brake pads and they wear even.
However it is not enough to simply rely on, regular service and inspections with the wheels off is the best way to ensure all the pads get checked and the remaining thickness is recorded as acceptable. You may need to go to a Subaru agent if you want genuine products.