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What Could Be Causing Slight Front Brake Drag?


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99 OB was sitting for almost a year. have driven it about 250 miles. 40 miles at a time on the hwy.

 

when I park I feel the front disks and they are too hot to touch. I don't feel any noticeable drag at any speed. have taken foot off throttle at 10-20 mph and don't hear anything or it doesn't slow down faster than normal.

 

but this does not seem normal. haven't filled the gas tank yet to see if fuel economy has suffered.

 

already checked the fluid which is fine and the lines.

 

what kind of checks can I do? is this common after sitting for awhile?

 

thanks.

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I've seen that happen befire , the inner hose wall collapses letting pressure in but not out. Best way to test this is to push on the brakes, let off and crack the bleeder. If the hose is at fault there will be some pressure left in the caliper and it will push brake fluid out the bleeder when cracked. Brake hoses should be inspected and replaced if they are showing signs of age/cracking espicialy if the car sat for an extended period of time.

Could try driving a short way and brake hard a few times, then see if the drag is gone. I've been able to do that a few times

Edited by mikaleda
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roadsubiedog,

 

A 1999 is now 20 years old, and I'm willing to bet that your problem may well be that the piston in the caliper is likely corroded, causing the sticking.

 

In the salt coated winter roads where I live in Southern Ontario, I see this a lot in the older cars I repair. The fix is to pop the piston out using an air gun (if the caliper is off the car), and clean up the piston and the caliper bore with 0000 steel wool and flush with lots of fresh brake fluid.

 

Then check the piston and caliper bore for any rust pitting or scratches. If there are any, replace the caliper. If not, reuse it. Check the seals and dust cover as well.

 

To get the piston back in, check out YouTube videos, particularly the one where a mechanic shows how to use an air gun the spread the dust seal over the piston. Really trick, and works like a charm. Good Luck!

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Is it 2019 already?!

 

16 years is still pretty old for a car. Add some rust time from sitting for so long, the brake fluid in those calipers Is probably just nasty and full of water, which causes the calipers to rust inside. The slide pins are also a major source of brake problems, as was mentioned earlier. You might be better off to just put some rebuilt calipers on it with new slide pins.

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Is it 2019 already?!

 

16 years is still pretty old for a car. Add some rust time from sitting for so long, the brake fluid in those calipers Is probably just nasty and full of water, which causes the calipers to rust inside. The slide pins are also a major source of brake problems, as was mentioned earlier. You might be better off to just put some rebuilt calipers on it with new slide pins.

I wouldn't change out the calipers unless they are problematic. Ive had a lot of issues with aftermarket calipers. Flushing the brake fluid wouldn't be a bad idea though Edited by mikaleda
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why are you feeling the front wheels?  can you smell them or something?

 

if both sides are the same temperature - maybe it's normal? 

 

if it's not normal and being both sides, it's almost certainly the slide pins need cleaned and regreased.  they would be the most likely culprits to have a double failure so to speak since they are so common.  anything else I'd only expect one failure.  clean and replace.  f the pins are atrocious, replace them if you can't get them clean. 

caliper pistons do seize but doubtful to be both.

 

I'm sure it happens but Subaru's have far less hose collapses than other manufacturers, i've never seen it on Subarus (but have other manufacturers) nor is it often seen in forums.  two would be highly unlikely unless the thing sat with chemically tainted sewage in the brake lines for years. lol

Edited by grossgary
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