These instructions apply to the Alfa Romeo Giulia Mk1 (952) 2016-Present.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
The Alfa Romeo Giulia (952, 2016–Present) uses an electric parking brake (EPB) in which the rear caliper doubles as the parking-brake clamp on the 2.0 petrol and 2.2 diesel cars — a motor and spindle drive the piston in and out. To fit new rear pads you must wind those motors fully open first — Alfa calls it Brake Service Mode. The good news for Giulia owners is that the mode is built into the infotainment system, so you do not need a wiTECH or multiECU tester for a routine pad change.
Putting the Giulia 952 into Brake Service Mode
Service mode retracts both rear EPB actuators so the pistons can be pressed back. Set the mode before stripping the caliper. Park level, chock the front wheels, and keep a charger on the 12V battery — a fluid/voltage drop mid-job is the usual cause of fault codes.
- Sit in the car, ignition ON (engine off), transmission in P, foot brake released.
- Confirm the EPB is released and the brake warning light is out.
- On the infotainment screen open the settings menu, go to Passive Safety (or the brakes/service section) and select Brake Service Mode; confirm the prompt.
- Wait for the on-screen confirmation that the parking brake has retracted — you will hear the rear motors wind back. (On the Quadrifoglio the rear caliper is separate, so service mode is only needed for a disc change, not a straight pad swap.)
- Remove the rear wheels and the calipers.
With the actuators open, press each rear piston straight back with a spreader. The 952 rear piston presses in — do not rotate it.
Critical warning: never force the pistons by hand
Do not lever, clamp or hammer a rear piston back while the EPB is still clamped. The motor and gear spindle sit behind the piston; forcing it against a parked actuator strips the gears or shears the spindle — a new caliper, not a repair. Always retract the EPB electronically via service mode first. It is also wise to disconnect the negative battery lead while the caliper is off and pump the brakes before reconnecting — otherwise the system can read a fluid loss on first pedal press and log faults.
Exiting service mode and bedding in
With new pads in and wheels on, exit Brake Service Mode in the infotainment menu. Then put the car in accessory position (engine off), depress the brake and toggle the EPB switch — that normally releases the brake and re-arms it. Cycle the EPB on and off twice stationary, then drive at low speed and brake gently 10–15 times to seat the pads, avoiding hard stops for the first 150–200 miles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need wiTECH or multiECU for Giulia rear pads? No, not for a routine pad change — Brake Service Mode is in the infotainment menu. A scan tool is only needed to clear a logged fault or reset a brake warning after the job.
My Giulia is a Quadrifoglio — do I still enter service mode? For a pad-only change, no: the QV uses a separate parking-brake caliper, so the main rear caliper isn’t clamped by the EPB. You do need service mode for a rear disc change.
Where exactly is Brake Service Mode in the menu? Under the infotainment settings, in the Passive Safety / brakes section. Names vary slightly by software version.
Why did I get fault codes after changing the pads? Most often the battery was reconnected without pumping the brakes first, so the system saw a fluid loss. Disconnect the battery during the job and pump the pedal before reconnecting.
The e-brake is stuck in service mode — how do I release it? Exit the mode on the screen, then with ignition on and brake pressed, toggle the EPB switch. If it stays stuck, a flat battery is the usual culprit — charge and retry.
If a brake or EPB warning lamp stays on after the job, read the stored fault first — you can look up Alfa Romeo EPB and ABS codes on autodtcs.com before assuming the caliper is at fault.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Alfa Romeo. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.