Squishy Brakes?

[Ezdno]

Well, my Wagon seems to either a lot of play or something is up. I had the shoes checked a 90% up front, 70% in the rear. The fluid is full. But it seems that I have to push a very long way to get some pressure, now I read that there was some kinda of fix from subaru for the 02-03's but until tomorrow I wont know if I am eligible or if that is even the problem.

I have no stopping issues the thing stops fine, but its almost as if it loses pressure while I have my foot on the brake.

Maybe thats the problem, this car doesn't like stopping.

Anyone have any ideas?

[MikeK]

Originally Posted by Ezdno

Anyone have any ideas?

Sounds like you need to bleed your brakes. You probably have an air bubble in the system somewhere.

[MattR]

If anyone knows squishy brakes, it's Mike K.

[Ezdno]

I actually thought of that too, I guess I will start there and see what else I come up with. I need to print a carfax on this car, see what items come up as well.

[Dean]

Brake bleed is first. Most of us are experts as we do it before, after and/or during almost every event.

The warrenty issue is really only aplicable under ABS conditions.

[Ezdno]

Well either I will do it this weekend or have someone do it for me. I will still call subaru and ask about the abc ecu replacement.

[Dean]

You might consider checking out The last Brake fluid thread and don't forget the order is weird on Subarus. RF LR LF RR. I also reccomend having all 4 wheels in the air so the calipers are mostly level, not tilted.

[sperry]

Originally Posted by Ezdno

Well either I will do it this weekend or have someone do it for me. I will still call subaru and ask about the abc ecu replacement.

IIRC only sedans were covered in the recall... but you should call Subaru just to be sure.

[MikeK]

Originally Posted by Dean

don't forget the order is weird on Subarus. RF LR RR, LF.

I could have sworn it was RF LR LF RR. I remember doing the entire left side of my car in one go. I think Eric or Matt wrote it down somewhere after the trackmasters RFR event when we all had to bleed brakes.

[sperry]

Originally Posted by MikeK

I could have sworn it was RF LR LF RR. I remember doing the entire left side of my car in one go. I think Eric or Matt wrote it down somewhere after the trackmasters RFR event when we all had to bleed brakes.

I think that's whats written on my post-it note on the side of the air compressor in my garage... but that's for the SVX. It may be different on the Imprezas, but I didn't think it was.

Someone needs to look it up from like 10 different sources and figure out what it is once and for all.

[Dean]

Mike is right, I typoed. RF, LR, LF, RR. Fixed... It's right on my post-it note that I didn't look at.

[qksubi]

BLEEEEEDDEM!!!

[dknv]

Originally Posted by sperry

IIRC only sedans were covered in the recall... but you should call Subaru just to be sure.

If it was only sedans, that would suck (I'm sympathizing for current wagon owners) because it used to happen intermittently to my wagon too. But that recall problem on mine wasn't what I'd call a squishy feel.

[cody]

Wagons are covered as well. I had mine done a few weeks ago. All 02-03 WRX's are covered.

Ezdeno, I need to bleed my brakes too as they have been squishy ever since last weekend's track day. Let me know if you would like to get together for a bleed session this weekend. It's a 2 man job, but it's easy.

Anybody know if where I can find a can of ATE 200 Gold before this weekend? I have a can of blue, but I'd like to alternate.

[Ezdno]

Originally Posted by sperry

IIRC only sedans were covered in the recall... but you should call Subaru just to be sure.

The good news is that I called subaru today, and they scheduled me for the replacement, she said the courtesy replacement...not a recall, she made that clear, was for all sedans and wagons within a vin range. I have scheduled for Friday morning...thats the good news, bad news is I will have to leave it there for a couple of hours, which means I have to walk a few blocks to work, but hey, I have some databases to update, and what the hell they pay me well to do it.

Should I still bleed them before I take it in, or do you think they will bleed them when they replace the ecu unit?

[Ezdno]

Originally Posted by cody

Ezdno, I need to bleed my brakes too as they have been squishy ever since last weekend's track day. Let me know if you would like to get together for a bleed session this weekend. It's a 2 man job, but it's easy.

Yea I would be happy to get together for a bleed session...that sounds so transylvanian.. where and when, what should I bring.

Did they bleed them when they replaced the chip?

[Kevin M]

No bleeding involved in the ABS recall fix.

[cody]

^^^What Kevin (BANSUVS) said.

It's funny, Subaru of America only pays the dealership for .4 hours of labor or somthing, but the guy that did mine took over an hour. Luckily I can take long lunches and nobody notices. Apparently my car was the first the technician had performed this on.

[Ezdno]

Well in case you didn't see it in the other thread, I had to have my master cylinder replaced today, and with that the new fluid and brake bleed was done, still need to drop the car at Lithia tomorrow for the chip replacement. Apparently the last owner of the car knew it needed to be fixed but instead he painted black paint over the dash light.

Any idea how to take the gauges out so I can get that crap off?

[Kevin M]

Dash light? That's got nothing to do with the ECU recall thingy. That just reflashes the software in the ABS ECU to change how it behaves on loose surfaces. If a light was on, he probably was low on brake fluid... which may explain the bad MC.

[M3n2c3]

Originally Posted by Ezdno

Well in case you didn't see it in the other thread, I had to have my master cylinder replaced today, and with that the new fluid and brake bleed was done, still need to drop the car at Lithia tomorrow for the chip replacement. Apparently the last owner of the car knew it needed to be fixed but instead he painted black paint over the dash light.

Any idea how to take the gauges out so I can get that crap off?

I know this is less constructive, but are you able to find him and punch him?

[cody]

Ez, here's a DIY on how to take your gauge cluster apart.
http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/sho...=gauge+cluster

[Ezdno]

Cool thanks, I am curious if perhaps a bulb just burned thru the gauge and they tried to cover it up, unless some one can tell me what light would be above the temp gauge? Is it the check engine light? I might take that out tomorrow and just see.