2004 Outback VDC Front Passenger Break Stuck?

[Oneluv111]

I just bought a 2004 Outback Legacy VDC.

The front passenger break, for the most part just stays engaged.

It does let up sometimes.

All other wheels function correctly.

It's just burning break pads up.

 

Anyone know why??

[golucky66]

Common issues that would cause this

A) Frozen or stuck caliper pins

B ) Pads don't have proper clearance in the metal clips because there is rust under the clips and/or the clips are old/rusted.

 

Less common

A) Caliper piston is bad and not allowing the piston to move freely and causing it to stay pushed out even when there is minimal hydraulic pressure.

 

Rare but possible

A) Brake hose has a kink or due to excess moisture in the brake fluid it could be rusting from the inside and causing pressure to not be relieved as quickly as it should at that wheel.

Edited October 7, 2016 by golucky66

[gbhrps]

Oneluv111,

 

The car is 12 years old, and most likely has never had its brake fluid flushed (recommended every 4 years) and fresh fluid put back in. Brake fluid absorbs water = rust inside the caliper bore and on the caliper piston = equals the piston doesn't relax/move back inside the caliper when you take your foot off the brake pedal.

 

It is possible to remove the caliper, pop out the piston, clean it with 0000/fine steel wool to remove the corrosion, and provided its not pitted, reinstall it. Most shops simply replace the caliper. Check your Brake fluid reservoir. If the fluid isn't clear, but amber/ almost black there's the most likely cause of your problem. But it could be that the pads and the slide pins are rusted in place.

 

Your brakes should be dismantled, cleaned and lubricated (pad ends and slide pins only) at least once a year, and the fluid changed every 48 months. Some manufacturers suggest every two years.

[idosubaru]

This is so easy, common, and basic - slow down and just check the slide pins.  I see this all the time. 

 

They routinely seize for two reason:

1. rust/corrossion/lack of grease.  clean and regrease with SilGlyde or equivelanent.  if they're really rusty they'll need hammered out or really bad ones need torches to be removed or you'll just have to buy a new/used bracket/pins. 

 

2.  04's have slide pin bushings, if you use generic, common brake caliper grease on the slide pins those bushings swell and stick in the pin bores.  this hangs the pads, seen it multiple times.

I now throw away every Subaru pin bushing i can - they're absolutely pointless and useless...except they're an additional failure point that causes issues.

 

alternately - replace them with new bushings and use sil glyde - or other high grade caliper lubricant, that stuff won't swell the bushings.