Some day I'll buy myself a shop manual...then I'd be able to answer this question myself.

 

2000 outback wagon

 

I'm in the midst of replacing my front brakes, much less frustrating than dealing with my catalytic converters. The part I need to know the name of is the part that the brake pads fit into. The caliper bolts to this part via 2 spring or hydraulic thingies (technical term, I'm sure). One of the thingies is frozen in place and, well, my car stops really well now. Sadly, it doesn't accelerate well since the brakes in the front right corner are always engaged.

 

It will be much easier to go to the parts store (Napa? Dealer?) tomorrow and buy it if I know what to call it.

 

Thanks for the help, again.

The big thing that the brake line screws into is called the caliper, this you can get at the auto store. The two things the little bolts screw into are called caliper pins, I dont know if the auto store sells these you may have to get them from the dealer. You should be able to remove these caliper pins and clean them and reuse them. The other big part the caliper bolts onto is called the caliper bracket, it is bolted on with two 17 mm bolts.

Edited June 6, 200916 yr by tcspeer

It's the caliper bracket. I knew it had a name. It's one of the caliper pins and that bugger is seized! I looked like I'd be able to unscrew it but it didn't budge. Maybe I'll go give it another try before heading to the dealer tomorrow morning.

 

Happily, the parts counter opens at 7am.

 

Anytricks to getting a stuck cliper pin out?

I've had some really tight ones before.

I use my 1/2 drive ratchet and a soft blow hammer.

Lefty loosey, righty tighty

Heat, penetrant oil, and patience??? It is amazing what a week of patience can accomplish.

 

If not that virtuous, it looks like some rebuilt calipers come with the bracket and pins.

I can get the pin to spin, but not move in or out. By spin I mean take a wrench and by really putting my back into it, I can get it grudgingly turn. Used a good amount of PB Blaster to loosen it up. Not sure if it's the PB or the wrench that's loosened it up. I'll bring the whole assembley with me and maybe some nice mechanic at the shop will rip that bugger out of there for me...one can hope.

Dealership's website was wrong. The parts department is not open at 7, or 8 for that matter. I ended up getting a whole caliper assembly from Napa and just using the bracket. I now have a fresh caliper just sitting in my garage.

 

Everything works great now. It's amazing how much difficulty 1 little pin can cause.

Good thing too. That caliper bracket is 75 bucks from the dealer. And it is a special order!

 

Packed calipers from NAPA and others come with it.