2010-2013 Kia Forte Brake Job Guide: Symptoms, Costs and the Right Parts

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

A full brake job on a 2010-2013 Kia Forte means new front pads and, usually, front rotors, with the rear pads and rotors checked and replaced as their own axle job when they wear out. Kia sold this generation in the US with four-wheel disc brakes, ABS, brake assist and stability control as standard, so the work is straightforward pad-and-rotor service on both ends. The front axle does most of the stopping and wears out first; the rear typically lasts noticeably longer.

How the Forte brake system is laid out

Kia's launch material for the 2010 Forte sedan lists four-wheel disc brakes with an Antilock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BAS) as standard, along with Electronic Stability Control and traction control. The 2011 press kit, which added the Forte 5-door, repeats the same four-wheel disc, ABS, EBD and BAS package across the lineup.

There are two engines in this generation, and that matters when you order parts:

Kia describes the SX as getting a sport-tuned suspension and larger front brakes than the 2.0L cars. That means front rotors and pads for an SX are not always the same part as an LX or EX. Always order by trim and engine, not just year, and compare the old rotor to the new one before you install it.

The owner's manual for this generation also covers rear drum brakes "if equipped," because Kia wrote it for several markets. On a US Forte you should find rear calipers and rotors, but take ten seconds to look through the rear wheel before you order rear parts. A drum rear needs brake shoes from our brake shoes collection, not pads.

Symptoms your Forte is due for brakes

• High-pitched squeal while driving or braking. Kia's manual explains that the disc brake pads carry wear indicators that make a high-pitched warning sound when the pads are worn and new pads are required. It may come and go, or happen every time you press the pedal.
• Grinding or scraping. Past the squealer stage, the pad backing plate can contact the rotor. At that point the rotor is almost always scored and should be replaced with the pads.
• Pulsing pedal or steering-wheel shake when stopping. This usually points to uneven rotor thickness (often called warped rotors) or pad material deposits on the rotor face.
• Pulling to one side. A sticking caliper slide pin or a seized piston can make one wheel drag. Look for one wheel that is much hotter or dustier than the other after a drive.
• Soft or low pedal, or the brake warning light on. The Forte shares one warning light for the parking brake and low brake fluid. If it stays on with the parking brake released, check the fluid level right away.

The manual also notes that some light squeal on the first few stops, in certain weather and driving conditions, is normal and does not mean the brakes are worn. A squeal that stays after the brakes are warm is the one to act on.

Front vs rear: what wears first and why

Like nearly every front-wheel-drive compact, the Forte shifts weight forward when you brake, and EBD balances braking force between the axles so the front does most of the work. The result is that front pads and rotors wear faster than rears. Your actual interval depends heavily on driving style, stop-and-go traffic and hills, so inspect rather than go by mileage alone.

Kia's scheduled maintenance calls for inspecting the pads for excessive wear, the rotors for runout and wear, and the calipers for fluid leakage at regular intervals, plus checking brake hoses and lines for chafing, cracks and leaks. That inspection is your cue for which axle actually needs work.

• Front job: pads, rotors, hardware clips, and a clean and lube of the caliper slide pins. This is the most common brake job on the car.
• Rear job: pads and rotors on the rear axle. The Forte uses a lever-and-cable parking brake that works at the rear wheels, so check that it holds and releases fully after the job.

What to replace together

Doing the job once and doing it right comes down to replacing the parts that wear as a set:

• Pads and rotors per axle. Always replace pads in axle sets (both sides). If the rotors are scored, below the minimum thickness cast into them, or causing pulsation, replace them at the same time. Fresh brake rotors with new pads give the pads a flat, clean surface to bed into.
• Hardware. Abutment clips and anti-rattle springs lose tension and corrode. A brake hardware kit costs little and prevents the rattles and uneven pad wear that come from sticky clips.
• Calipers when needed. A caliper with a torn boot, a leaking piston seal or a seized slide should be replaced in pairs across the axle. See our brake calipers if yours fail inspection.
• Brake fluid. Kia specifies hydraulic brake fluid meeting DOT 3 or DOT 4. After pushing the caliper pistons back, make sure the reservoir level stays between the MIN and MAX marks, and flush the fluid if it is dark or has been in the car for years.

For pads, ceramic compounds are a good match for a daily-driven Forte: quiet, low dust and easy on rotors. Browse ceramic brake pads or the full brake pads collection and filter by your trim.

How hard is a Forte brake job?

For a home mechanic with basic tools, a front pad and rotor job on the Forte is one of the more approachable brake jobs out there. The general sequence is:

1. Loosen the lug nuts, raise the car on a jack, and support it on jack stands.
2. Remove the wheel, then the caliper guide bolts, and lift the caliper off the pads.
3. Remove the pads and hardware, then the caliper bracket to free the rotor.
4. Clean the hub face of rust so the new rotor sits flat, then install the rotor, bracket, new hardware and pads.
5. Compress the piston, reinstall the caliper, and torque every fastener to the value in the factory service manual.
6. Pump the pedal until it is firm before moving the car, check the fluid level, and bed in the new pads per the pad maker's instructions.

Rotor retaining screws can seize on older cars; an impact driver helps. The rear axle adds the parking brake to think about, so if you have never done a rear disc job with a cable parking brake, have the procedure for your exact trim in hand before you start.

What drives the cost

The biggest factors are whether you replace pads only or pads and rotors, whether you do one axle or both, and whether you pay for labor. Pads only on one axle is the least expensive job. Pads and rotors on both axles, plus a fluid service, is the most complete. Replacing calipers adds parts cost but is often needed on older, salt-belt cars. Doing it yourself removes the labor portion entirely.

Open recalls to check before you work on the brakes

Three NHTSA recalls touch the braking system on this generation. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov or with a Kia dealer; recall repairs are free.

• 23V-652 (Kia SC284), 2010-2013 Forte and Forte Koup: the ABS Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short that can cause an engine compartment fire, parked or driving. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the repair is done; dealers replace the HECU fuse.
• 17V-773 (Kia SC158), 2012-2014 Forte and Forte Koup: the brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate, leaving the brake light switch plunger extended so the brake lights stay on and the shifter may leave Park without the pedal pressed. Dealers replace the stopper pad.
• 13V-114 (Kia SC098), certain 2010 Forte: the stop lamp switch may malfunction, so brake lights may not come on, and it can affect cruise cancel, push-button start, the shift interlock and the ESC light. Dealers replace the switch.

If your brake lights stay on or the shifter moves without the pedal pressed, check the 17V-773 and 13V-114 recalls before buying parts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the 2010-2013 Kia Forte have rear disc brakes?

Kia's US press material lists four-wheel disc brakes as standard on the LX, EX and SX. The owner's manual also mentions rear drums "if equipped" because it covers other markets, so confirm by looking through the rear wheel before ordering.

Are Forte SX brakes the same as LX and EX?

Not at the front. Kia gave the 2.4L SX larger front brakes than the 2.0L LX and EX, so front rotors and pads can differ. Order parts by trim and engine.

What brake fluid does a 2010-2013 Forte use?

Kia's owner's manual calls for hydraulic brake fluid meeting DOT 3 or DOT 4 specification.

Do I have to replace rotors every time I change pads?

No, but replace them if they are scored, below the minimum thickness stamped on the rotor, or causing a pulsing pedal. On high-mileage cars, pads and rotors together usually give the best result.

Why does my Forte squeal only on the first few stops?

Kia notes that brief squeal in some weather and driving conditions is normal. A steady high-pitched squeal that continues once the brakes are warm is the pad wear indicator telling you it is time for pads.

Sources

1. Kia Media: All-New 2010 Kia Forte Compact Sedan - standard four-wheel discs, ABS, EBD, BAS, ESC; trims and engines; SX larger front brakes
2. Kia Media: 2011 Kia Forte and All-New Forte 5-Door - four-wheel disc brake package carried into 2011 and the 5-door
3. 2012 Kia Forte Owner's Manual - DOT 3 or DOT 4 fluid, pad wear indicator, drum rear if equipped, inspection items, parking brake and fluid warning light
4. NHTSA recall data: 2011 Kia Forte - recall 23V-652 ABS HECU fire risk and remedy
5. NHTSA recall 17V-773 document - brake pedal stopper pad recall on 2012-2014 Forte
6. NHTSA recall data: 2010 Kia Forte - recall 13V-114 stop lamp switch