Help! My husband's 98 Forester has 115,000 miles on it and has developed a strange pull/vibration/shudder when we turn a corner. It seems to be coming from the rear, although I can feel it in the floor, and only happens when we brake to turn (right or left), then accelerate to come out of the turn. If we coast through the turn and then accelerate, there's no problem.

 

We've taken it to two mechanics so far. Our regular guy thought it was the rotors, and sent us to the dealer for replacement. They did that, and recommended we replace the front brake pads and rear brake shoes as well. We took it back to our regular mechanic, who replaced the front pads, "deglazed" the rotors and put anti-squeal on as well.

 

(By way of disclaimer, we are Subaru owners and fans but nowhere near experts, so I'm telling you what the mechanic told us and wrote on our service record.)

 

Reading through some posts on similar topics, it seems as though it could be a couple of things. The rotors could have been done incorrectly; the rear brake shoes should be replaced, and maybe we need to get an alignment as well. After all the fixes, our mechanic said that the car has "always" ridden this way. Ha! We bought the Forester expecting to get a quarter-million miles out of it, and we've always taken good care of it. I would really, really appreciate suggestions! Thanks.

My 99 Forester had similar symptoms (shuddering on brakeing) and I had a local shop do a brake job. Still shuddered enough to irritate me so I bit the bullet and bought new rotors, pads, and rear brake shoes, and drums. The new rear drums did not fit so I didn't use them, but it is fine now. Killed a Saturday doing brakes and struts on the front, and did the rear the next weekend.

It sometimes seems hard to get a really good brake job.

Is it a manual or automatic? That kinda sounds like torque-bind.

Is it a manual or automatic? That kinda sounds like torque-bind.

It's an automatic--the LS version, I believe. What is torque-bind (it sounds awful).

not brakeing? If it is only under brakeing that should be a clue. Since mine is a 5 speed I have never experienced torque bind.