EBC Brakes for the Scion IQ: Which Parts Fit

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

EBC makes two front brake pad sets for the 2011-2015 Scion iQ 1.3L: the Redstuff ceramic low-dust pad (DP31295C) for daily driving, and the Yellowstuff pad (DP41295R) for drivers who want a stronger, more aggressive bite. Both replace the front disc pads only. The iQ uses drum brakes in the rear, so there is no EBC rear pad for this car; the rear takes brake shoes.

Below is how the iQ's brakes are laid out, how to tell the two EBC compounds apart, and what else to check while the wheels are off.

How the Scion iQ's Brakes Are Set Up

The iQ is a very small, light car. The 2012 model lists a curb weight of 2,127 lb, a 1.3L four-cylinder rated at 94 hp, and 16-inch wheels. Its brake layout is front disc / rear drum with four-wheel ABS. That split matters when you shop:

• Front axle: a caliper squeezes pads against a rotor. This is where both EBC pad sets go, and where the car does most of its stopping.
• Rear axle: drums with shoes and a wheel cylinder. The parking brake works through the rear shoes. Replacement shoes are in our brake shoes collection.

Because the car is light and the front brakes do most of the work, a pad compound change on the front is the single biggest change you can make to how the iQ feels under braking.

The Two EBC Pads That Fit the iQ

Which One Should You Buy?

For almost every iQ, the EBC Redstuff ceramic low-dust front pad set for the 2011-2015 Scion iQ is the right call. The iQ is a city car that spends its life in stop-and-go traffic, and its wheels are right out at the corners where dust shows. Redstuff was built for exactly that: passenger cars and hatchbacks driven on the street, with clean wheels as a priority.

Choose the EBC Yellowstuff front pads for the Scion iQ 1.3L if you drive the car hard on back roads, carry weight, or want a firmer, more immediate pedal from the first stop. Expect more dust and plan to wash the wheels more often. Neither pad is a track pad for this car.

Symptoms That Mean It Is Time for Front Pads

• Squeal when braking lightly: many pads use a wear indicator tab that contacts the rotor when the friction material is low.
• Grinding: metal backing plate on rotor. Stop driving on it; the rotor is being damaged with every stop.
• Pulsing pedal or steering shake: usually uneven rotor thickness or pad material deposits, not the pads themselves.
• Car pulls to one side: often a sticking caliper slide pin or a stuck piston, which also wears that side's pads faster.
• Brake fluid level dropping: as pads wear, the caliper pistons move out and the reservoir level falls. A low level with thin pads is normal; a low level with thick pads points to a leak.

Look at the pads through the wheel spokes or with the wheel off. If the friction material is close to the backing plate, or one pad is much thinner than its partner, replace the set and find out why.

What to Replace or Check at the Same Time

• Front rotors: new pads should go on a flat, smooth rotor. Measure rotor thickness against the minimum stamped on the rotor or listed in the factory service manual. If it is below spec, scored, or causing pulsation, replace it. See our brake rotors.
• Hardware and slide pins: clean and lubricate the caliper slide pins and replace worn abutment clips. A brake hardware kit is cheap insurance against noise and uneven wear.
• Brake fluid: check fluid condition and level, and use the fluid type printed on the reservoir cap and in the owner's manual.
• Rear drums and shoes: while the car is up, pull a rear drum and check shoe thickness, wheel cylinder seepage, and the self-adjuster. A leaking wheel cylinder contaminates the shoes and upsets braking balance.

How Hard Is the Job on an iQ?

Front pads on the iQ are a straightforward job for someone with basic hand tools and jack stands. The general sequence:

1. Loosen the lug nuts, raise the car, and support it on stands. Never work under a car held only by a jack.
2. Remove the wheel and the caliper guide pin bolts, then swing or lift the caliper off the pads.
3. Remove the old pads and clips. Clean the caliper bracket where the clips seat.
4. Compress the caliper piston slowly, watching the fluid reservoir so it does not overflow.
5. Install new clips and the EBC pads, refit the caliper, and torque the bolts and lug nuts to the values in the factory service manual.
6. Pump the pedal until it is firm before moving the car.
7. Bed in the pads following EBC's instructions, and avoid hard, repeated stops until they have bedded.

Always do both front wheels together so the car brakes evenly. If you are not comfortable with any step, have a shop do the install; you can still supply the parts.

Check for Open Recalls First

Before any brake work, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov or ask a Toyota dealer to confirm there are no open safety recalls on your iQ. Recall repairs are done free by the dealer, and it is worth knowing about them before you have the car apart. Also note any ABS warning light: the iQ has four-wheel ABS, and a lit ABS light after a pad job usually means a wheel speed sensor wire was pulled or damaged and should be inspected.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does EBC make rear brake pads for the Scion iQ?

No. The iQ uses rear drum brakes, so the rear takes brake shoes, not pads. The EBC Redstuff and Yellowstuff sets for the iQ are front only.

Will EBC Redstuff pads keep my wheels cleaner than stock?

That is what Redstuff is designed for. It contains no steel fiber, EBC calls it its lowest-dust pad, and the dust it does make washes off easily.

Is Yellowstuff too aggressive for a daily-driven iQ?

It works on the street from cold and does not need to be warmed up. The tradeoff is more dust. If you mainly commute, Redstuff is the better match.

Do I need new rotors with new EBC pads?

Not always. If the rotors are above minimum thickness, smooth, and not causing pulsation, they can stay. Scored, thin, or warped rotors should be replaced so the new pads bed in properly.

How long does it take to bed in EBC pads?

EBC says Yellowstuff beds in over the first 100-200 miles of street driving, and Redstuff takes about 500-1,000 km to reach full performance. Drive gently and avoid panic stops during that period when you can.

Do these pads fit every Scion iQ?

Both sets are listed for the 2011-2015 Scion iQ with the 1.3L engine, which covers the iQ as sold in the US.

Sources

1. EBC Yellowstuff Fast Street Brake Pads - aramid compound, 400 C (750 F) green fade threshold, 100-200 mile bed-in, not a low-dust pad, no longer recommended for most track use
2. EBC Redstuff Ceramic Brake Pads - ceramic-enhanced aramid compound, zero steel fiber, 0.5 nominal friction, 60-90 percent dust reduction, 500-1,000 km bed-in, not for racing
3. CarsDirect 2012 Scion iQ Specs - front disc / rear drum brakes, 4-wheel ABS, 2,127 lb curb weight, 1.3L 94 hp engine, 16-inch wheels