soopsoop Posted August 7, 2015 Share Posted August 7, 2015 i have owned three subarus from a 1988 dl wagon to a 07 impreza and they have all had funky brakes in a panic stop the pedal feels nice and firm but they don't stop the car for crap one of my subarus, i hit the brakes and the wheels stopped , but the car slide even with abs i had to put it in reverse to avoid the deer and that was on dry pavement at 30 mph! how can these be modified to work better? do i need bigger brakes or better tires? or new brake lines? they are firm right down to the floor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster2 Posted August 7, 2015 Share Posted August 7, 2015 Since the car slides even with abs, I suspect the tires. Are they worn, or old?? Old tires develop hard rubber that will slide better then grip. Since you have a good hard firm pedal, don't suspect a problem with the brake lines, or air in the system. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 Lucky Texan Posted August 7, 2015 Share Posted August 7, 2015 tires stop your car - brakes stop the wheel from turning. if the tires were sliding (no traction), reverse wouldn't help (no traction). the answer to better braking ALWAYS begins with - run stickier tires. after that (and assuming good brake system maintenance) you can experiment with upgraded pads (StopTech Street Performance are affordable and will bite when cold), and maybe things like master cyl braces and new/SS brake lines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 Most brakes are designed to work well in cold temperatures, which means they will NOT work well once they get HOT. If you're a heavy braker, you need a more performance oriented pad and rotor set that work at higher than normal temperatures, and you need stickier tires. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 tires. if you're sliding in snow - the tires are cheap, low tread, or old. Is it due for cleaning, regreasing the slides and replacing any that are questionable? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soopsoop Posted August 8, 2015 Author Share Posted August 8, 2015 ok that makes sense brakes stop the wheels and tires stop the car. the car i had was a 91 legacy with brand new brakes and struts and tires. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 Lucky Texan Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 (edited) one of the more experienced guys here may know if Subarus in the early 90s were known to have poor brake equipment. But, brakes systems have many little areas that can cause performance issues - that is, there are a lot of maintenance steps and inspection opportunities that can be overlooked. we weren't there and I won't say you didn't have a bad experience, but , as said above, there can be sticking calipers, cheap pads, overheated pads, air in the fluid, boiled fluid, leaking master cylinder seals, rusted/leaking hard lines, ballooning rubber lines, cracked brackets, broken bolts, etc. If you don't mind more brake dust, try the Stoptech S P pads I mentioned. I run them on my WRX. make sure ALL other areas of fluid and equipment maintenance is good. Read about 'bedding in' procedures. Some people who do a lot of easy braking around town, then require maximum performance on rare occasions (like heading to the track once or twice a year) will benefit from a bed in routine right before the event. Edited August 9, 2015 by 1 Lucky Texan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lstevens76 Posted August 9, 2015 Share Posted August 9, 2015 First, Subaru brakes feel funky until you get adjusted to them. I consistently drive a Dodge Durango, Ford Ranger, Ford Windstar, and Dodge Grand Caravan along with my Subaru. I've also previously driven Hondas and many other cars. The pedal on Subaru's simply don't have the same back pressure as other makes/models, but this does not mean they aren't working well or correctly. Another thing is ABS Brakes do not feel or react like non-abs brakes and if you aren't used to ABS that's an adjustment as well. And you possibly have rear drums. If they are out of adjustment it can cause slower braking and other odd problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soopsoop Posted August 10, 2015 Author Share Posted August 10, 2015 all the subs i have had only feel firm when the pedal is almost to the floor and that is with new brakes and tires. the only time i have rear ended a car is in a subaru ,i had plenty of stopping distance but the brakes only work on the bottom inch or so of travel,i think it is a design flaw,like i said new brake parts and new tires Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lstevens76 Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 Sorry, but that is your driving technique or something is wrong in the brakes. On my '90 Legacy I had, the '96 OBS, and my '00 OBS the brakes start working when the pedal is depressed maybe 1/4 down, but the pedal doesn't feel like it unless your used to it. If I go all the way down as far as you are talking the ABS kicks in, no reason for that to happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 Lucky Texan Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 (edited) don't soobs have an extra pair of rubber lines in the system? maybe there's just a little extra ballooning? edit - if the hoses are old, degraded Edited August 12, 2015 by 1 Lucky Texan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Only one rubber hose at each wheel. If your pedal drops more than half travel under hard braking you have air in the system or the rear drums are not adjusted properly (if equipped). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soopsoop Posted August 12, 2015 Author Share Posted August 12, 2015 i have heard of the hoses being bad from age. they swell alittle and reduce the volumetric efficency of the brakes. now that i think about it that was the only thing i didn't change. lesson learned,change the soft brake lines at least once everycouple of years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 Lucky Texan Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 they last a long time, but not forever. 2 years is too often for a daily driver. track, offroad car maybe...... but , what?, 8-10 years for the rest of us - sooner if in harsh conditions? or upgrade to stainless braided (goodridge, StopTech - make sure they are DOT approved) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soopsoop Posted September 14, 2015 Author Share Posted September 14, 2015 i am rebuildind the front brakes on a 88 dl wagon,everything from the hoses out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 you posted in the new gen forum but are working on a 1988 dl? in general you haven't told us what you have already done but general brake problems should go something like this: 1. change the fluid 2. clean, regrease caliper slides 3. replace any rusty/corroded/compromised slides 4. replace brake pad hardware 5. make sure pads fit properly - not too tight - they often need filed down i have heard of the hoses being bad from age. they swell alittle and reduce the volumetric efficency of the brakes. now that i think about it that was the only thing i didn't change. lesson learned,change the soft brake lines at least once everycouple of years. that's really only true of other manufacturers, not Subaru's. i've seen internally collapsed and failed hoses even on relatively new vehicles - eventhough I almost never work on anything except Subarus - but I have never seen that on a Subaru, the OEM hoses typically last the life of the vehicle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soopsoop Posted January 22, 2016 Author Share Posted January 22, 2016 the first posting was about a 91 legacy that car was totaled in a wreck(woman on a cell phone hit the front of my car). the 88 is about a freebe car i just got. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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