Just did the front brakes on my son's 98 Impreza. We are not getting much braking force at the front wheels. We bled the brakerm bit we did not see any air bubbles. The calipers were difficult to reinstall with the new pad, even with the pistons fully compressed. I have done brakes on this car before and have never had a problem, not with installation and not with poor braking. What could it be?
Cheap pads ?
In reply to iceracer:
Nope. I am talking like NO braking force. The calipers appear to be moving ok. We are trying to bed them in. We started to get some braking improvement until they started to fade. I am thinking it is a caliper problem.
Fade while bedding, calipers move but no brakes. OK
In reply to iceracer:
I am serious. I see the calipers moving. We can slam thje brakes to the floor and the ar rolls for quite some distance. After awhile, we can smell the brakes and the stopping distances increaese. I am thinking the calipers are moving, buty not applying much force. The dragging brakes during the extended stops are heating up the pads.
Do you have a better explanation (other than cheap brakesm, which they are not).
right amount of fluid also?
to me it seems like it could be caused by not having enough pressure transmitted, so that when you slam the brakes, it only applies lightly, with no real clamping force. OR something else blocking the pressure, like the line into the caliper?
thats the only thing I can think of right now.
In reply to corytate:
Filled with new fluid. I am thinking there are problems with the calipers. The pads were also very thick. Even with the piston compressed all the way, it was VERY difficult to get the caliper back on, I have never had that problem before.
Do the slides move at all?
One of the slides has to be out of sack preventing full movement.
pull the pads ... get a cheap set from the local parts store see how they do ... ( making sure they are a bit thinner than the ones you have )
Rotors flat? Are the new pads only touching on the unworn perimeter of the friction surface?
In reply to Streetwiseguy:
You in the prize!. I pulled the wheels ands sure enough, the new pads are a tiny bit wider and are riding on the edge of a ridge of rust on the hub side of the pad. I know what to do now.
Thx everyone!
You've already bought the parts this time around.....but next time, if you have 16 inch wheels. Buy 2002 wrx calipers with brackets, and wrx rotors. Direct swap. Caliper is the same just on a larger bracket to accommodate the larger rotor. Inexpensive upgrade.
sachilles wrote: Buy 2002 wrx calipers with brackets, and wrx rotors. Direct swap. Caliper is the same just on a larger bracket to accommodate the larger rotor. Inexpensive upgrade.
Why? So he can have questionably better stopping on the street? He'd be better served by buying good pads. Even if he was doing lapping days with the car, it's not even a WRX, I'm pretty sure the stock brakes will handle it!
In reply to HiTempguy:
Stock brakes with good pads have always made the car stop well, including autocrossing. I am just going to replace the rotors. If the caliper is too difficult to get off with the new pad, I will try to bet them in. The ridge causing the problem is mostly rust and much of it has already worn off making a noticeable improvement.
HiTempguy wrote:sachilles wrote: Buy 2002 wrx calipers with brackets, and wrx rotors. Direct swap. Caliper is the same just on a larger bracket to accommodate the larger rotor. Inexpensive upgrade.Why? So he can have questionably better stopping on the street? He'd be better served by buying good pads. Even if he was doing lapping days with the car, it's not even a WRX, I'm pretty sure the stock brakes will handle it!
A better pad will create more stopping power, which is good, but will also generate more heat. On the street, not a huge deal. For other events, the heat will become a problem with brake fade, and bearing life. If one is buying the parts to replace things, it makes sense to do the upgrade. If the parts aren't needed, don't bother. I don't see it as a significant improvement in brake force, but it does do wonders for cooling.
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