86 4wd Gl Hatch Brake issue

subaru5614 · 11-16-2012, 04:47 PM

Ok...About to give up on the old girl but trying here before I throw in the towel.

I have a brake locking up issue. After about 5 minutes of driving the brakes will gradually start to apply. Within 2 miles they are braking so much I cannot maintain speed. When I stop all four corners have heat from the brakes being on. The pedal is VERY firm when they are locked because obviously they are applied and have nowhere to go to compress more. Cable for the hill holder has been disconnected to rule that out. It was connected before but it should only apply two brakes right?...and all 4 get hot.

I put a master cylinder on it last year because of a soft pedal. It helped. I ordered a new master and tore it all apart to put in and Autozone has the wrong Fenco brand master on file so I got the wrong part.

Now....should I order a master and a booster? If its not those two things...what could it be. Best place to order parts? I want to do Autozone because of lifetime warranty and I can just go to the corner to get my cores refunded but I can't find the right part number. I have an M52316 and that's not it.

Suggestions and any help. This is my daily driver (by choice not necessity) and I really want it back up for ski season. It makes me sick to see her sit! I just put new exhaust on before the brakes and I want to enjoy it!

Help please!?
Rob
Maple Valley, WA

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TurboneX · 11-17-2012, 02:42 PM

I would go with Rockauto.com. I have yet to get a wrong part from them and if you do, they will get you the correct one right away.
This is a issue I've never heard of. Make sure the hill holder lever isnt moving by itself somehow, maybe wire it up so it doesnt move. Is it leaking brake fluid?
Why did you disconnect it?

subaru5614 · 11-19-2012, 02:40 PM

I didn't see any fluid leaks but there is evidence of leakage at some point below the pushrod that comes out of the booster into the master cylinder. The paint is bubbled away but who knows how longs that's been like that!?

It was doing the brake locky uppy thingy before I disconnected the hill holder. I disconnected it just to rule it out. If I can get it to not lock anymore I would reconnect it but I just wanted one less thing to blame for the issues.

TurboneX · 11-24-2012, 12:26 PM

When it locks up does the brake pedal feel like its sticking?

subaru5614 · 11-27-2012, 02:09 PM

ehhh....not really....the pedal becomes hard.

Normal braking it gradually engages and the brakes apply harder obviously.

When the brakes are locking the pedal skips the initial braking feel....when it hits the already engaged brakes it feels very firm. It makes sense because something is clearly not disengaging. The locking gets progressive worse until the car is not drivable. letting it sit for a moderate timeframe will allow them to disengage and youre good for another couple miles.

Its a pain in my rear i know that.

TurboneX · 11-28-2012, 11:33 AM

Try disconnecting the brake cables at the calipers. You need to move the lever to slip off the end, kind of a pita to do. This will rule out any issues with that part. I cant see how there can be hyd pressure applied without you using the brakes, so I'm assuming mechanical.

subaru5614 · 11-28-2012, 11:54 AM

I hadnt thought about the ebrake.....thats just the front wheels on this car correct? Can't look right now as I am at work.

TurboneX · 11-29-2012, 11:41 AM

Yeah, its just for the front wheels.

11-16-2012, 04:47 PM	#1
subaru5614 Scooby Newbie Member#: 159072 Join Date: Sep 2007	86 4wd Gl Hatch Brake issue Ok...About to give up on the old girl but trying here before I throw in the towel. I have a brake locking up issue. After about 5 minutes of driving the brakes will gradually start to apply. Within 2 miles they are braking so much I cannot maintain speed. When I stop all four corners have heat from the brakes being on. The pedal is VERY firm when they are locked because obviously they are applied and have nowhere to go to compress more. Cable for the hill holder has been disconnected to rule that out. It was connected before but it should only apply two brakes right?...and all 4 get hot. I put a master cylinder on it last year because of a soft pedal. It helped. I ordered a new master and tore it all apart to put in and Autozone has the wrong Fenco brand master on file so I got the wrong part. Now....should I order a master and a booster? If its not those two things...what could it be. Best place to order parts? I want to do Autozone because of lifetime warranty and I can just go to the corner to get my cores refunded but I can't find the right part number. I have an M52316 and that's not it. Suggestions and any help. This is my daily driver (by choice not necessity) and I really want it back up for ski season. It makes me sick to see her sit! I just put new exhaust on before the brakes and I want to enjoy it! Help please!? Rob Maple Valley, WA * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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11-17-2012, 02:42 PM	#2
TurboneX Scooby Specialist Member#: 21676 Join Date: Jul 2002 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: A tad off center Vehicle: Brat RX,02Foz84Coupe Black	I would go with Rockauto.com. I have yet to get a wrong part from them and if you do, they will get you the correct one right away. This is a issue I've never heard of. Make sure the hill holder lever isnt moving by itself somehow, maybe wire it up so it doesnt move. Is it leaking brake fluid? Why did you disconnect it?

11-19-2012, 02:40 PM	#3
subaru5614 Scooby Newbie Member#: 159072 Join Date: Sep 2007	I didn't see any fluid leaks but there is evidence of leakage at some point below the pushrod that comes out of the booster into the master cylinder. The paint is bubbled away but who knows how longs that's been like that!? It was doing the brake locky uppy thingy before I disconnected the hill holder. I disconnected it just to rule it out. If I can get it to not lock anymore I would reconnect it but I just wanted one less thing to blame for the issues.

11-24-2012, 12:26 PM	#4
TurboneX Scooby Specialist Member#: 21676 Join Date: Jul 2002 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: A tad off center Vehicle: Brat RX,02Foz84Coupe Black	When it locks up does the brake pedal feel like its sticking?

11-27-2012, 02:09 PM	#5
subaru5614 Scooby Newbie Member#: 159072 Join Date: Sep 2007	ehhh....not really....the pedal becomes hard. Normal braking it gradually engages and the brakes apply harder obviously. When the brakes are locking the pedal skips the initial braking feel....when it hits the already engaged brakes it feels very firm. It makes sense because something is clearly not disengaging. The locking gets progressive worse until the car is not drivable. letting it sit for a moderate timeframe will allow them to disengage and youre good for another couple miles. Its a pain in my rear i know that.

11-28-2012, 11:33 AM	#6
TurboneX Scooby Specialist Member#: 21676 Join Date: Jul 2002 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: A tad off center Vehicle: Brat RX,02Foz84Coupe Black	Try disconnecting the brake cables at the calipers. You need to move the lever to slip off the end, kind of a pita to do. This will rule out any issues with that part. I cant see how there can be hyd pressure applied without you using the brakes, so I'm assuming mechanical.

11-28-2012, 11:54 AM	#7
subaru5614 Scooby Newbie Member#: 159072 Join Date: Sep 2007	I hadnt thought about the ebrake.....thats just the front wheels on this car correct? Can't look right now as I am at work.

11-29-2012, 11:41 AM	#8
TurboneX Scooby Specialist Member#: 21676 Join Date: Jul 2002 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: A tad off center Vehicle: Brat RX,02Foz84Coupe Black	Yeah, its just for the front wheels.