2000 outback 2.2 automatic with weird brake issues.

 

Car drove across country a few months ago; two weeks later, the brakes started burning. Drives fine for short trips, then the brakes start to get tighter. If I keep driving, they get so tight that I can't push the pedal down or go uphill--not to mention the smell...

 

The e-brake works fine; that's how I've been driving it. Sketchy!

 

The dash brake light is on. I disconnected the ABS unit; that didn't help.

 

Someone mentioned that I might just need to bleed the lines. Any suggestions?

they need to be looked at, this could be a few things.

 

i would guess one of the calipers is sticking, you need to find out which one. one of those laser temp guns are awesome as it'll show you which wheel/hub/rotor is hottest and the problem.

 

pull the wheel and see which caliper is hanging up. more than likely the slides are stuck/seized. they should be cleaned and greased with every brake job but sometimes folks skip that step.

 

at this point you probably have a hosed rotor too with all that overheating and it's expanding and seizing inside the pads maybe?

 

don't let a shop hose you as they'll probably want two new calipers, two new rotors, two sets of pads. you're very likely to get hosed if you take this somewhere.

 

you could also jack the front of the car up and spin each tire to see which one is tight.

Take the car for a short ride and stop every 1/2 mile and check each wheel for heat build up. Just use your hand. If just one wheel is hot, then the problem is that wheel. If all 4 wheels are hot, I would suspect the master cylinder. Plan on replacing all the brake fluid after the problem is found and repaired because by now it is "cooked".

A failing brake hose can do this with pressure build in a particular calpier it serves.

If your brakes are that bad and you have no experience with brake work or hydraulics I would get your car to a mechanic right away.

 

Do not pass GO. Do not collect $200.

 

Using the emergency brake is more than "sketchy" it's dangerous.

 

my 2¢...:-\

Thanks folks. Its all four that are sticking. I'm going to try the master cylinder and lines. Hopefully that will take care of it. I'm tired of dealing with this car.

 

I need to do some work on the e-brake too, now that I've used that so much. I've done brakes, but not the e-brake. Seems pretty simple. Got any tips for that one?

Bench bleed the MC before installing. E-brake shoes, if vehicle has 4WDB, is easy to adjust once the rotor is removed. If you have too much free play in the cable, there is an adjustment behind the E-brake handle. Have to remove the center console to get to it.