2006-2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse Brake Job Guide: Symptoms, Costs and the Right Parts

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

A full brake job on a 2006-2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse means pads and rotors at all four corners, because this generation uses disc brakes front and rear. The front parts are the same on every trim, but the rear is not: the 2.4L four-cylinder cars use a small solid rear rotor while the 3.8L V6 cars use a larger vented one, so the most common ordering mistake is buying rear parts for the wrong engine. If your car is a 2006-2009 four-cylinder, there is also a brake-related safety recall worth checking before you start.

How the brakes on the 2006-2012 Eclipse are laid out

The fourth-generation Eclipse coupe and Eclipse Spyder convertible share much of their brake hardware with the Galant of the same era. Here is what the rotor catalog data shows for this generation:

Two practical takeaways. First, the front rotor is the same part whether you drive a GS or a GT, so front pads and rotors are straightforward to order. Second, the rear is split by engine, and the V6 rear rotor is both larger and twice as thick. A four-cylinder rear rotor will not fit a GT and vice versa, and the rear pads differ with it. Confirm the engine from the VIN or the trim badge before ordering anything for the rear axle.

The minimum thickness numbers matter most on the four-cylinder rear. With only 2 mm between new and discard on a 10 mm solid rotor, a set that has been through one or two pad changes is often already at or near the limit. Measure with a micrometer before deciding to reuse rotors.

Symptoms that your Eclipse is due for a brake job

• Squealing or scraping. A high-pitched squeal under light braking usually means the pad wear tab is touching the rotor. Grinding means the friction material is gone and the backing plate is cutting into the rotor, which turns a pad job into a pad and rotor job.
• Pulsation in the pedal or steering wheel. On this car it usually comes from the front rotors, which do most of the stopping. Thickness variation from uneven pad deposits or a rotor worn thin is the usual cause.
• Long or soft pedal. A pedal that travels further than it used to can mean air or moisture in the fluid, a leak, or on 2006-2009 four-cylinder cars, the ABS hydraulic unit problem covered below. Do not assume new pads will fix a soft pedal.
• Pulling to one side. Usually a sticking caliper slide pin or piston on one side, or contaminated pads.
• Rear pads worn unevenly. Seized rear slide pins or a dragging parking brake can wear one rear pad far faster than the other. Check the rears every time you do the fronts.

The 2006-2009 four-cylinder ABS recall (SR-15-004)

Mitsubishi recalled certain 2006-2009 Eclipse four-cylinder coupes built April 20, 2005 through February 13, 2009, and 2007-2009 Eclipse Spyder four-cylinder cars built December 23, 2005 through February 13, 2009. According to the Mitsubishi bulletin filed with NHTSA, corrosion can form on the internal valves of the ABS hydraulic unit from a reaction between the brake fluid and the valve surface treatment. If a valve seizes during ABS activation, pedal stroke increases and braking performance can drop.

The dealer remedy is to flush the system with DOT 4 fluid, test the ABS unit valves with a scan tool, and replace the unit if it fails. The bulletin also has dealers change the fluid reference on the car and in the owner's manual from DOT 3 to DOT 4. That has two consequences for a DIY brake job:

• Run the VIN through the NHTSA recall lookup or ask a Mitsubishi dealer before you start. An open recall is repaired free.
• On these cars, bleed and top off with DOT 4 fluid, not DOT 3, even if an old reservoir cap still says DOT 3.

The V6 cars are not listed in this campaign, but fresh fluid of the grade marked on your reservoir is good practice on any car this age.

What to replace together

For a complete job that does not come back in a few thousand miles, plan on these parts per axle:

• Pads and rotors as a set. Machining is rarely worth it here: the four-cylinder rear rotor has almost no cut margin, and the fronts are commonly near minimum by the time the pads are done. Browse replacement brake rotors and ceramic brake pads, or matched pad and rotor sets from Power Stop.
• Hardware. New abutment clips and anti-rattle springs keep the pads sliding freely and quietly. A brake hardware kit is inexpensive insurance.
• Slide pins and boots. Clean and re-grease with a silicone-based brake grease; replace any torn boots.
• Calipers if needed. A caliper with a torn piston boot, a leaking seal or a piston that will not retract should be replaced in pairs across the axle. See brake calipers.
• Fluid. A full flush is the right move if the fluid is dark or its age is unknown.

How hard is the job, and what drives the cost

The fronts are an easy DIY job for anyone with a jack, stands and basic hand tools: remove the caliper, remove the bracket, swap the rotor, push the piston back, install new pads and hardware, and reassemble. Torque the caliper bracket bolts, caliper bolts and lug nuts to the values in the factory service manual rather than guessing.

The rears take more attention because the rear calipers work with the parking brake. Check the service manual for your car on how the rear piston retracts and how the parking brake is adjusted, and confirm the parking brake holds and releases fully afterward. If the piston will not retract or the parking brake feels wrong after the job, stop and sort it out before driving.

What moves the price of an Eclipse brake job:

• Pads only vs pads and rotors. Rotors add parts cost but little extra labor once the caliper is already off.
• One axle vs both. Many owners only need fronts; rears usually last longer but should be measured.
• Engine. The V6 rear rotor is larger and vented, so rear parts for a GT generally cost more than the four-cylinder equivalents.
• Extras found along the way. Seized slide pins, a stuck caliper, or a needed fluid flush add parts and time.
• Shop labor vs DIY. Labor is often the larger share of a shop bill for a pad and rotor job on this car.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the front brakes the same on the Eclipse GS and GT?

Yes. Catalog data for this generation lists the same 294 mm vented front rotor for the 2.4L and 3.8L cars, including the Spyder. The difference is at the rear.

Why don't GT rear rotors fit a GS?

The four-cylinder cars use a 261 mm solid rear rotor, while the V6 GT uses a 284 mm vented rear rotor that is twice as thick. The calipers and pads are sized to match, so the parts are not interchangeable.

What brake fluid does a 2006-2012 Eclipse need?

Use what is marked on your reservoir cap and in your owner's manual. On 2006-2009 four-cylinder cars covered by recall SR-15-004, Mitsubishi changed the requirement to DOT 4, so use DOT 4 on those cars.

Can I resurface my Eclipse rotors?

Only if they will stay above minimum thickness after machining. The four-cylinder rear rotor is 10 mm new with an 8 mm minimum, so there is very little to cut. Replacement is usually the better choice.

Do Galant brake parts fit the Eclipse?

Some do. The front rotor and the four-cylinder rear rotor are also listed for Galant models of the same period, but fitment varies by year and engine, so always match the part to your exact Eclipse year and engine.

My pedal is soft after new pads. What happened?

Pump the pedal several times after any pad change to seat the pistons. If it stays soft, suspect air in the lines, a leak, or on 2006-2009 four-cylinder cars the ABS unit condition from the recall. Have it checked before driving.

Sources

1. Mitsubishi Safety Recall Bulletin SR-15-004 (NHTSA) - affected 2006-2009 Eclipse and Spyder four-cylinder build dates, ABS valve corrosion defect, DOT 4 flush remedy and DOT 3 to DOT 4 fluid change
2. EBC RK7290 front rotor specifications - 294 mm vented front rotor, 26 mm new, 24 mm minimum, fitment across 2006-2012 Eclipse and Galant trims
3. EBC RK7291 rear rotor specifications - 261 mm solid rear rotor, 10 mm new, 8 mm minimum, four-cylinder Eclipse fitment
4. EBC RK7468 rear rotor specifications - 284 mm vented rear rotor, 20 mm new, 18.4 mm minimum, 3.8L V6 Eclipse GT fitment