Baymtnman

Well, well, well..... Guess who just called. The dealership who did the original brake job at 11,200 miles and who also suggested that the brake pad pattern wear was normal just confirmed that they will do a "complete brake job" with no cost to us. Sounds nice-but I have to call to figure out how they will solve the abnormal wear. I doubt that they will replace the calipers-especially the particularly nasty passenger front. But I wonder if just working on the slider mechanism will mitigate both the wear and taper problems. I assume the slider mechanism controls asymmetrical wear between outboard and inboard pads. How does caliper malfunction cause taper wear??? Basic question-how does the pad release off the rotor when the foot pulls off the pedal.

I would check the electrical leads to the ignition switch. It would seem that the incoming leads would have power at all times-and those on the outgoing would only have power after the switch was engaged. If you see power on the outgoing regardless of the key position-the culprit just jumped out. However, if the outgoing leads show fine, then the issue is a cross-over below the switch. Seems to me though it would be the switch. I doubt the alternator could cause power to pass through the switch regardless of switch position.

Yes, Strakes, I did check into the TSB on the brakes. From 2001-2004 there was a selected TSB on certain VINs for excessive wear on pads (though they couched the problem as due to rusting). It did indicate that the dealer should remove 0.1 inches to eliminate the rust on th backplate of the pad, thus freeing the pad. Check this website: http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=2421 This website was better than the NHTSA's Office of Defect Investigation.

Shaymar, How did you align the shift mechanism so the problem would not re-appear?? Did brute force further misalign the shift mechanism?

Seven Sisters, the dealer is K&O at 925 Canton Street (east side of Akron). It is not the $64 pads, the rotors are now damaged. The dealer cost is $780, assuming the calipers themselves are fine. The sliding mechanism may be hanging up, but that does not mitigate the taper wear pattern. And for all four to have the same problem is somewhat confusing. I could understand one caliper, but all four???!!!.

How does one get the oil filter off without a mess?? Ever time I pull the thing. the oil comes poring out, over my hand, down my arm and before I can do anything, the oil has dropped a bit on the floor!!! The only part of the job I hate. Keith

I just had the coolant added in an 00 Legacy with only 22,300 miles. My reasoning was simplistic. If the sealant caused downstream problems (i.e. heater core, etc.) that will become evident across a broad array of users. And thus you have a class action, as opposed to a limited set of users. The additional warranty was my main motivator. In this way, if we endure longer term problems, and can document the cause as being the sealant, we have a solid case in all our collective favor. Keith

Sanjay, I was in Ohio (so you need not worry about local California dealers), and the pads are in Ohio, as if I need to pursue legal options, I need the evidence there. Besides, a non-dealer mechanic is preparing a letter that the dealer is misrepresenting the facts. As far as slider pins are concerned, that may be possible, but with the taper combination, the calipers have to go. You can contact me at keith_gale@hotmail.com for off-line communication. I am in Ski Patrol and unable to meet on weekends, but am interested in meeting interesting people.

Dealer replaced pads and rotor for all four wheels of a 2000 Subaru Legacy at 11,200 miles on a warranty basis. Reason for early wear was determined by Subaru due to my mother's limited driving and the rotors had rust patterns. Almost exactly the same amount of miles (now at 22,300), I pulled the pads and they show the following wear pattern: Measured by me from the shoulder of the working material on the pad to the top surface of the pad using plastic micrometer: Wheel Front (New=10.0mm) Rear (New=10.0mm) Driver Side Front: Inboard 1.2 mm Outboard 7.0mm Rear: Inboard 6.2mm Outboard 1.1mm Passenger Side Front: Inboard 1.5mm Outboard 8.0mm Rear: Inboard 5.5mm Outboard 2.5mm Dealer inspected pads while on the car and indicated that this was a normal wear pattern, even though I questioned the inboard pad wear pattern. Further, the front pads show a markedly taper. To scare me off, the dealer said they just had another customer with the same pattern, and they also concluded it was a "normal" pattern. This suggests to me that the initial culprit of the original early wear was due to the caliper not functioning properly, not my mother's driving pattern. Local non-dealer brake specialists agree with my position. With the same driving pattern, the rotors show no indication of rust, so I am doubtful of the original claim. She drives about 50miles/week or about 2500 miles/year, I drive the remainder when I come home for long trips. I have contacted the Subaru Dealer Representative. What should my strategy be with these guys. I wish to have the entire system replaced and paid for by the dealer (not Subaru), as I suspect the dealer is attempting to cover up their original incompetence.