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Subaru Outback/Legacy Brakes

102 messages,  Last post on Aug 11, 2011 at 9:39 AM

You are in the Subaru Legacy & Outback Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Legacy, Brakes, Sedan

Messages Page 9 of 11

#74 of 102 Subaru Legacy GX AWD year 2000 brake issue by yonorri

Jan 05, 2009 (9:34 am)

My year 2000 Legacy AWD had a bit of a brake moment this morning, light snow fall on the local roads and when I hit the brakes all they did was whistle at me which was most un-nerving. There are no indications that the ABS is faulty, and when I tried them out on a downward slope a bit further along the road all seemed fine and dandy.
 
Has anyone else had any similar problems? I have browsed the web and have come across ice related abs problems but nothing conclusive.
 
M.

#75 of 102 Re: Subaru Legacy GX AWD year 2000 brake issue [yonorri] by xwesx

Jan 05, 2009 (2:29 pm)

Replying to: yonorri (Jan 05, 2009 9:34 am)
Were there *any* other symptoms? No differences with pedal feel, etc? Did the brakes pulsate at all, indicating that ABS engaged?
 
What were the temperatures at the time? Far colder than normal?
 
I wonder, perhaps, if old brake fluid is the culprit here....

#76 of 102 Re: Subaru Legacy GX AWD year 2000 brake issue [xwesx] by yonorri

Jan 05, 2009 (3:27 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Jan 05, 2009 2:29 pm)
Yes the pedal feel was different, usually the brakes are quite 'spongy' unless the ABS is active, this morning however when this incident occurred there was a really solid feel to them, and no the ABS didn't kick in.
 
The ABS had been working as it had activated when I slowed up turning out of our road on a slight down slope in the snow and the ABS also activated moments afterwards when I tested them on a snow covered downhill slope, also checked again numerous time this evening.
 
The temperature this morning was actually slightly warmer than it has been for the last few days, around freezing, the outside temperature gauge on the Subaru said 0 C.
 
This car is a new one for me, only about 2 months old, so I don't know the state of any of it's fluids, when I've got some spare cash I'll propbably take it to a Subaru dealer for a complete service.

#77 of 102 Re: Subaru Legacy GX AWD year 2000 brake issue [yonorri] by xwesx

Jan 06, 2009 (10:02 am)

Replying to: yonorri (Jan 05, 2009 3:27 pm)
Yes, I would gauge by your description of a "really solid feel" that it is likely a problem with your fluid being old (probably original). Brake fluid is hydroscopic, meaning that it likes to imbibe water, so old fluid will have a higher water content than new. If it has enough water in it, ice can form in the lines, and ice in the right place can cause a line blockage. I experienced this many times on my '96 Outback, but replacing the fluid cleared up the problem immediately. The only problem was finding a place warm enough to change it....
 
Usually, I found that if I let off the brakes, tapped the pedal a few times, then pressed real hard again, it would let loose and go back to normal operation. Quite disconcerting when it happened though. The hand brake comes in... handy... during those moments.

#78 of 102 Re: Subaru Legacy GX AWD year 2000 brake issue [xwesx] by yonorri

Jan 06, 2009 (10:59 am)

Replying to: xwesx (Jan 06, 2009 10:02 am)
Excellent, as you say just need to find somewhere warm, or give it to a man who has somewhere warm to do it!

#79 of 102 05 Legacy - Rotors Keep Warping by kevin13

Feb 06, 2009 (9:50 am)

Have an 05 Legacy GT. Car shaking on braking. Dealer cut rotors under warranty. Happens again 3K miles later. Dealer recuts. Happens again. Dealer replaces under warranty. Now less than 20K miles later, guess what. Happening again. Is it possible that I have some other problem that is causing the rotors to have issues? Any thoughts appreciated.

#80 of 102 Re: 05 Legacy - Rotors Keep Warping [kevin13] by ateixeira

Feb 06, 2009 (10:26 am)

Replying to: kevin13 (Feb 06, 2009 9:50 am)
I thought rotors could only be resurfaced once.
 
I'd just replace them at this point, they're probably too thin anyway.

#81 of 102 Re: 05 Legacy - Rotors Keep Warping [kevin13] by xwesx

Feb 06, 2009 (12:45 pm)

Replying to: kevin13 (Feb 06, 2009 9:50 am)
It may have as much to do with braking habits as with the rotors themselves.
 
However, given the recurrence of the warp, I expect the stock rotors are insufficient for your application. I agree with AJ - you should consider replacing the rotors with something aftermarket that can handle the added heat.

#82 of 102 Brake rotor size on 2.5i Limited Wagon by mwmosser

Apr 20, 2009 (7:26 am)

I am pretty sure my wife's 2005 Legacy 2.5i Limited Wagon needs new brakes. The pedal is shuddering pretty good when she hits the brakes; does the same for me so it's not just her driving. What I don't know is if she only needs new pads or whether she might also need new rotors too. She has almost 50,000 miles on the car, and still original pads/rotors. With the stop-and-go Austin driving I think they're just wearing out faster.
 
Question - my research online shows that this car has 293.5 mm rotors in the front and 289.7mm in the rear. Looks like you can get 255mm rear discs also, but I think the larger ones also fit.are these the right size rotors? My understanding when we got the car was that the Limited model wagon got a bit bigger rotors than the standard 2.5i model. But now I can't find that piece of info anywhere.
 
Thanks -
 
M

#83 of 102 Re: Brake rotor size on 2.5i Limited Wagon [mwmosser] by ateixeira

Apr 21, 2009 (12:31 pm)

Replying to: mwmosser (Apr 20, 2009 7:26 am)
I would measure them to be sure.
 
If the rotors are bigger than most likely the mounting brackets would be different. I doubt they'd be interchangeable.

Messages Page 9 of 11

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