Stupid Brakes

[HighwayUFO]

Well, I finally had to replace my rear brake pads and came across a few problems.

Problem 1: During the replacing of the pads, I made the nice discovery that my driver rear caliper is stuck. The pads look very new and the rotor looks unused, so I left it be being that I couldn't unstick the caliper. On the passenger rear, I got the pads in but now sounds like there is a metallic noise as though the rotor is slightly warped and slightly brushing on one small portion of the rotor.

Since the install, my brake light comes on all the time. I've bled the brakes and everything and am wondering if it could be that the one caliper isn't making any contact and thus a warning is sent to the ECU, or whatever determines what makes the light come on.

Problem 2: Every once in a while since the install of the brake pads, a really loud grinding noise comes from the brakes on the supposed siezed caliper.

It won't be a problem to get new brakes, but I really don't want to spend money if what I have is still good, with the exception of the finicky siezed caliper. The car brakes fine, but just has a few bugs to work out.

Also, When bleeding the brakes I discovered that the SVX brakes run in a diagonal pattern, meaning that when the driver front brakes are bled the passenger rear brakes need to be bled as well and vice versa.

Please help figure out this sometimes noisy problem.

Thanks again,
Keith

[ensteele]

When you bleed the brakes, there is a sequence that you need to do. I don't remember what it is, but you can do a search and find out what it is.

I would get the caliper that is not working fixed. Then you can get things working properly. Good luck

[HighwayUFO]

That is my plan come Saturday, and I will check on the bleeding sequence right now. Oh, by the way, the Pearlie looks good.

Keith

[Mr. Pockets]

Originally posted by civic_slayer
Well, I finally had to replace my rear brake pads and came across a few problems.

Problem 1: During the replacing of the pads, I made the nice discovery that my driver rear caliper is stuck. The pads look very new and the rotor looks unused, so I left it be being that I couldn't unstick the caliper. On the passenger rear, I got the pads in but now sounds like there is a metallic noise as though the rotor is slightly warped and slightly brushing on one small portion of the rotor.

Since the install, my brake light comes on all the time. I've bled the brakes and everything and am wondering if it could be that the one caliper isn't making any contact and thus a warning is sent to the ECU, or whatever determines what makes the light come on.

That doesn't make any sense because there are no sensors to detect such an issue.

Originally posted by civic_slayer
Problem 2: Every once in a while since the install of the brake pads, a really loud grinding noise comes from the brakes on the supposed siezed caliper.

It won't be a problem to get new brakes, but I really don't want to spend money if what I have is still good, with the exception of the finicky siezed caliper. The car brakes fine, but just has a few bugs to work out.

Also, When bleeding the brakes I discovered that the SVX brakes run in a diagonal pattern, meaning that when the driver front brakes are bled the passenger rear brakes need to be bled as well and vice versa.

Please help figure out this sometimes noisy problem.

Thanks again,
Keith

As for the seized caliper, that's a recurring problem on nearly every Suaru I've owned. The calipers are a sliding type, and you have to make absolutely, positively certain that the slides and boots are clean and well-greased with caliper grease. You may have to remove the slides and clean them with a fine-grit sandpaper to remove corrosion.

[dcarrb]

The BRAKE light indicates low brake fluid in the master cylinder, and does double-duty to show when the parking brake is set. Try unplugging and reconnecting the wiring to the sending unit on the base of the master cylinder.


dcb

[SVXer95]

Look in my locker for brake info.

[mohrds]

Originally posted by Mr. Pockets
As for the seized caliper, that's a recurring problem on nearly every Suaru I've owned. The calipers are a sliding type, and you have to make absolutely, positively certain that the slides and boots are clean and well-greased with caliper grease. You may have to remove the slides and clean them with a fine-grit sandpaper to remove corrosion.

Caliper grease???

You mean the Crisco shortening I used isn't going to work??



Doug

[SVXer95]

Originally posted by mohrds


Caliper grease???

You mean the Crisco shortening I used isn't going to work??



Doug

Planning on baked brakes for dessert??

[svxistentialist]

Originally posted by civic_slayer

Since the install, my brake light comes on all the time. I've bled the brakes and everything and am wondering if it could be that the one caliper isn't making any contact and thus a warning is sent to the ECU, or whatever determines what makes the light come on.

Keith

Keith, in the past I have had the brake light come on [I assume you mean the one on the dash?] for no good reason, usually after new pads or something affecting the level.

I find mine needs the reservoir full right up to avoid this. Careful overfilling though, that rubber bulb thing displaces fluid and you don't need that nasty stuff all over everything.

My guess is the white plastic float device {which causes the light to come on if the fluid level is too low} can get pushed sideways when closing the lid. Then it is not free to rise to the upper level, and as a result, the light comes on.

Open it [the reservoir] top up a little if necessary, and ensure that float device is not pushed out of line by the lid on closing.

Joe