Brakes...

[Caz]

Hey y'all, I'm back for more know how and stuffs.

Alright, since the mechanics in this town cannot be trusted, I'm coming
here to see if anyone here would know a little more about brakes in
older Subies.

As you all know, I have an 86 Subie GL; I have disc (disk? heh) brakes.

Because it is an older model and I can't afford a newer car, a lot of
mechanics in this town know NOTHING about my subie. It's become quite
annoying. I'm generally a do-it-yourself-er, but I have no way of
lifting my car, and this is a first for me to own one.

Generally, disc and shoe replacement is an easy task (from my past
experience), but it seems that most mechanics in town seem to not know
a damned thing about my car. They're very unsure about older things,
for instance the front rotors and the calipers. Almost every place that
I have been to states that they "Don't know". Is this generally the
case? Everyone seems to feel that removing the brakes will cause the
Armageddon.

OH NOES

Anyhoo, is this generally a misconception that happens with older
subies? I've had the brakes on my car for about three years (good ol'
subie!) without ANY problems (of course, I don't drive that much).

 

[strchild]

Well, I had an '89 GL Turbo with discs up front, with the emergency parking
brakes attatched to the front brakes as well, and I was able to replace the
pads no prob. Same as any other disc brakes I've ever worked on, but I've
only ever worked on Subaru disc brakes, and I don't see what the problem
would be, and I would not be surprized if Subaru used the same brakes on my
car as they did yours. Why change a thing arbitrarily? Get your wheel off
safely, remove one of the caliper bolts, rotate up the caliper, remove the
lid from the brake fluid reservoir, remove old pads and backings (whatever
the thin metal plates are called) from the caliper, clean the brake areas as
necessary, use anti-squeak (just seems like colored spray glue to me) on the
new pads, push the brake caliper piston back into the brake caliper, and
finally reverse the process you just performed by inserting new pads, etc.,
once the anti-squeak has had a chance to set up of course(read directions on
can).

Don't ask me about rotor maintenance though I'm sure it's the same general
principal as any other disc brake system. Last time I priced them for my
'89 they were about $22 so I really wasn't worried about grinding or sanding
the old ones. My local mechanic would have machined the old ones for $11
apiece, so long as they had enough material he said.

If it's been a while, bleeding the system may be a good idea? Again,
consult the more learned.

~Brian

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Hey y'all, I'm back for more know how and stuffs.

Alright, since the mechanics in this town cannot be trusted, I'm coming
here to see if anyone here would know a little more about brakes in
older Subies.

As you all know, I have an 86 Subie GL; I have disc (disk? heh) brakes.

Because it is an older model and I can't afford a newer car, a lot of
mechanics in this town know NOTHING about my subie. It's become quite
annoying. I'm generally a do-it-yourself-er, but I have no way of
lifting my car, and this is a first for me to own one.

Generally, disc and shoe replacement is an easy task (from my past
experience), but it seems that most mechanics in town seem to not know
a damned thing about my car. They're very unsure about older things,
for instance the front rotors and the calipers. Almost every place that
I have been to states that they "Don't know". Is this generally the
case? Everyone seems to feel that removing the brakes will cause the
Armageddon.

OH NOES

Anyhoo, is this generally a misconception that happens with older
subies? I've had the brakes on my car for about three years (good ol'
subie!) without ANY problems (of course, I don't drive that much).

I think you already got good advice - and some subes do require the
piston to be 'screwed' into the caliper.
There are 2-3 other avenues to try also. You could post your city here
and at www.ultimatesubaru.org to see if someone can recommend a mechanic
familiar with soobs (or even an individual that might come over and
guide you though the process in exchange for a six pack....)
Try to fins a book at the library or online that covers your car.
Chiltons, haynes - I dunno, maybe Peterson was still in business back then.

Good luck

Carl

 

[Jim Stewart]

Hey y'all, I'm back for more know how and stuffs.

Alright, since the mechanics in this town cannot be trusted, I'm coming
here to see if anyone here would know a little more about brakes in
older Subies.

As you all know, I have an 86 Subie GL; I have disc (disk? heh) brakes.

Because it is an older model and I can't afford a newer car, a lot of
mechanics in this town know NOTHING about my subie. It's become quite
annoying. I'm generally a do-it-yourself-er, but I have no way of
lifting my car, and this is a first for me to own one.

Generally, disc and shoe replacement is an easy task (from my past
experience), but it seems that most mechanics in town seem to not know
a damned thing about my car. They're very unsure about older things,
for instance the front rotors and the calipers. Almost every place that
I have been to states that they "Don't know". Is this generally the
case? Everyone seems to feel that removing the brakes will cause the
Armageddon.

OH NOES

Anyhoo, is this generally a misconception that happens with older
subies? I've had the brakes on my car for about three years (good ol'
subie!) without ANY problems (of course, I don't drive that much).

What's there to know? Every disk brake
I've ever looked at looked pretty much
like the others. Any mechanic worth a
damn should be able to look at it and
fix it. I thought most shops kept service
manuals as well.