2001 Forester front brake issue (sticking off???)

[ST]

Hi,

I put new brake pads on the front brakes of my wife's Forester and now
I have a weird problem. After about a week, the front brakes felt as
if they were not working. Taking it out for a test drive, I slammed
the brake pedal as hard as I could (emergency stop) and the front
brakes kicked in and worked fine. For about a week they seemed OK then
suddenly they were gone again.

At this point I disassembled them, and inspected everything (looking
for contamination or something obviously wrong). Found nothing wrong
and took a long test drive using the brakes a lot. The fronts just
didn't seem to be doing much though the brake pedal felt fine (not
squishy). Decided to do the emergency stop trick again and the front
brakes kicked in again. Now they seem fine but I am assuming in about
a week (100 miles or so) they will fade away again.

Has anyone encountered this, or have a clue? Almost feels like a
caliper sticking, though it would have to be both since the car never
pulls to a side. This makes me think it is something in the hydraulics
that feed both wheels (ABS system, proportioning valve or master
cylinder).

Any thoughts or suggestions greatly appreciated.

Scott

 

[Kurt Krueger]

Hi,

I put new brake pads on the front brakes of my wife's Forester and now
I have a weird problem. After about a week, the front brakes felt as
if they were not working. Taking it out for a test drive, I slammed
the brake pedal as hard as I could (emergency stop) and the front
brakes kicked in and worked fine. For about a week they seemed OK then
suddenly they were gone again.

I have no idea how Subaru runs their brake system, but on GM pickups
there's a funky control box that doesn't apply the rear brakes until
the fronts engage. Keeps the back from locking up. Any thing like
that in the Subaru system? In your case it would be just the opposite.

 

[Edward Hayes]

Did you flush the brake fluid after installing the new pads? Did you
lubricate the guide pins? If the guide pins are sticking, it would
account for your problem.

 

[Dmitriy]

What Ed said.

Make sure you bleed the brakes... it sounds like there might be air in
the lines.

Also, take off the caliper and make sure the guide pins (the two
bolt-like things w/ rubber boots that the caliper bolts onto) move in
and out freely.

 

[ST]

I lubricated the slides on the pads themselves, and checked the caliper
pins (they were free sliding and lubricated).

I did not bleed the brakes, didn't think I needed to do so since I did
not open the hydraulic system and the pedal was firm. However it is
easy to do and I was going to try that.

Just seems odd that either both sides have the exact same problem (such
as binding) or there is a common hydraulic problem (which could be
air).

I will bleed them and post my findings. Please keep any more
suggestions coming - I greatly appreciate it for this has me stumped.
Brakes were perfectly A-OK prior to changing pads and now this.

Thanks,

Scott

 

[ST]

I lubricated the slides on the pads themselves, and checked the caliper
pins (they were free sliding and lubricated).

I did not bleed the brakes, didn't think I needed to do so since I did
not open the hydraulic system and the pedal was firm. However it is
easy to do and I was going to try that.

Just seems odd that either both sides have the exact same problem (such
as binding) or there is a common hydraulic problem (which could be
air).

I will bleed them and post my findings. Please keep any more
suggestions coming - I greatly appreciate it for this has me stumped.
Brakes were perfectly A-OK prior to changing pads and now this.

Thanks,

Scott