webo Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 Hi guys recently my impreza has developed a hard brake pedal which becomes harder within 1-2 pumps of it when the engine is running. Im not sure where to start looking with it happening so quickly aswell. There was no signs of them getting worse before hand. I have considered bleeding them but would have thought it was more a component failure with it suddenly going from a good feeling pedal to quite hard. Any advise is taken on board thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gambit Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 Are you not moving when you do it like stationary then you pump the pedal ? If so it will make the pedal go hard to press until you start to move and go around a corner or two Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webo Posted February 13, 2014 Author Share Posted February 13, 2014 It happens stationary and whilst moving if im about to turn a corner and press pedal once then again straight after to slow a bit more it gets harder. Its realy strange ive never come across a fault like this. The brakes seem to be working but with the pedal goin hard its more effort to get them working. If you understand what i mean lol!! Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay762 Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 first place I would check is your pistons, its time consuming but an easy job, take each caliper off in turn and pump the brakes, each piston should extend if it doesn't push the extended piston back in and block off with a piece of wood then pump the brakes again with the aim of freeing the piston, once free clean off any debris and push back into the caliper once clean - I managed to doe this with fingers in my hatch so no specific tools were needed other than a rag and some auto sol to polish (although some may argue this is too abrasive for the finish on brake pistons) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay762 Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 A quick mark one eyeball on brake fluid level and brake pad wear may indicate you are pressing full travel using all your fluid (due to pad wear ) and then just pressing the brake master cylinder piston against the back of the master cylinder housing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webo Posted February 13, 2014 Author Share Posted February 13, 2014 Ok great never thought of that i will have a look at the weekend and see what is going on. The car has only done 35k and is 4 years old so hopefully wont be that but you never know. Thanks. Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webo Posted February 13, 2014 Author Share Posted February 13, 2014 Checked the level today and its bob on so will go for the full pad and caliper inspection at the weekend and see how it goes cheers. Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gambit Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 I agree pistones would be next to check can be a real pain on scoobs and doesn't take long for them to have a melt down and not work right :( I know I have one on my N/S doing the same thing :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webo Posted February 17, 2014 Author Share Posted February 17, 2014 I have just realised i still have warranty on the car so will be takin it up to stan palmer subaru, carlisle next thursday as a rake of faults have started to occur 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gambit Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 :( not good mate but if it's under warranty best to get them sorted now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webo Posted February 17, 2014 Author Share Posted February 17, 2014 Definatly fingers crossed all will be sorted sooner rather than later Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gambit Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 I'm sure it will be depends how big the faults are I guess just more annoying than anything :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webo Posted February 17, 2014 Author Share Posted February 17, 2014 I know with such small mileage, running problems and brake problems its very annoying but hey ho all will be right in the end Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gambit Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Thats it you have the benefit of still be able to use the warranty just have to lose her for a few days :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webo Posted February 17, 2014 Author Share Posted February 17, 2014 I know i dont let anyone drive my car let alone leave it with someone for a day or two aahhh!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay762 Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Hope it all gets sorted - it is disappointing for such a low mileage car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gambit Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 I know i dont let anyone drive my car let alone leave it with someone for a day or two aahhh!!! Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk I know that feeling all too well :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webo Posted March 16, 2014 Author Share Posted March 16, 2014 So the car has been to subaru for repairs. Brake pedal feels worse than ever being realy hard and the guys there said its the best brake pedal they have ever felt. The rattling engine when cold is still rattling and with more black smoke coming out the exhaust than before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay762 Posted March 16, 2014 Share Posted March 16, 2014 When I first had my hatch I felt the brakes were wooden in comparison to a lot of cars I had driven, I checked all the pistons were free flushed the fluid through with fresh 5.1, they were great at stopping the car but were just different in feel - there was a lot of additional pipework for the antilock and traction control that I had not seen before in a braking system so in the end I put it down to being the modern disconnection with the brakes themselves. did the dealer have an opinion wrt the cold rattle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webo Posted March 16, 2014 Author Share Posted March 16, 2014 Thats quite a good word to use....the brakes do feel wooden under foot like u say the brakes are stopping but dont feel like there asissted with having to push on the pedal alot more than normal. The annoying thing is that they werent like this when i bought the car so something has caused this fault. As for the cold rattle. Apparently all glow plugs etc are working correctly so they reset the injectors to the fuel pump and reprogrammed them with the latest software. Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay762 Posted March 16, 2014 Share Posted March 16, 2014 did the dealer check all the pistons were free? not quite sure I understand how checking the injectors and glow plugs will address a rattle when the engine is cold unless they suspect a low fuelling issue which is causing a lumpy idle and when the engine warms up this is recognised by the ecu and the map is changed to give a different fuelling. could you make a vid of the rattle when cold - it may help? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webo Posted March 16, 2014 Author Share Posted March 16, 2014 Yeah the pistons were fine they said it was just the sliders. I will try and record the rattle and post it soon. Its hard to describe in words haha. Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gambit Posted March 16, 2014 Share Posted March 16, 2014 Bit of copper grease or some new sliders might help. :) But at least it wasn't anything big :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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