This seems to be a common misconception among people, including myself at one point, so I want to clear this up and make sure I'm correct. Guys tell me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure I read it in the owner's manual.

 

GL series and Loyale series Subaru brake circuits are NOT split front to rear. The system does have two circuits and they are as follows.

#1 Front Left and Rear Right

#2 Front Right and Rear Left

This was specifically designed this way that in the event of one circuit losing pressure the car would still stop in a controlled fashion.

 

Keith

You're right. I traced all the brake lines this weekend (see another thread......) and I verified the two separate circuits: RF/LR and LF/RR.

 

On top of that, the hill holder only activates on one of those circuits (can't remember which one, but this means it only locks two wheels, not all four).

 

This on my 88 GL 4WD Wagon....

 

-- Mark

Subaru Called this their "Dual diagonal braking systems for safe, sure stopping."

 

Aparently there are two separate braking systems, each with one power-assisted front disc brake and one diagonally opposite rear drum brake. Because each system serves as a back-up for the other, your Subaru has a reserve of stopping power.

 

If that sounds a little like a Subaru advertisement it's because, I took it out of the 1983 brochure:brow:

 

My .02 cents.

Glenn,

82 Hatch, transforming....:temper:

01 Forester, jealous........:madder:

so how does this rear slave cylinder in the braking system play into this? I need to completly rerun brake lines from the rear seats to the rear drums. I removed this slave cylinder mistaking it for the hill holder

 

Any problems with just running lines directly from the lines under the rear seats to the drums?

Most Front-engine front wheel drive cars are set up that way, because if they were set up front to rear like most RWD cars are, if you lost teh fronts, there is so little weight over teh back wheels, you'd stomp the brakes and it would set the car spinning. (So instead, you mash the brakes and change lanes :-P)

So by removing this thing and running lines directly to the rear drums I'll have my braking split 50/50 f/r ?

Originally posted by MorganM

so how does this rear slave cylinder in the braking system play into this? I need to completly rerun brake lines from the rear seats to the rear drums. I removed this slave cylinder mistaking it for the hill holder

 

Any problems with just running lines directly from the lines under the rear seats to the drums?

 

I've ignored my brakes long enough Time to do it!

 

Nobody can give me a straight answer to what this is, what it does, and what will happen if I dont put it all back the way it was.

 

I called mudrat79 and he was about 90% sure he knew what I was describing. Said he would take a look at a parts car when he gets home to verify however and give me a call back.