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Breaks intermittently seizing up


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AutoSam
New User

Jun 20, 2023, 6:08 PM

Post #1 of 3 (2408 views)
Breaks intermittently seizing up Sign In

I’ve got a big problem and since my mechanic can’t replicate the issue, he can’t figure it out. The brakes appear to be intermittently seizing up on my 2005 Subaru Forrester stick shift. This car is in great shape otherwise with not a lot of miles. Here are the details….

1. It has happened 3 times over the course of a couple of months of regular driving in my very small town. Everything is a short distance away so no long distance driving and I drive it just a few times a week, not daily.

2. The only commonality to any of instances is that I stepped on the brakes just beforehand. Obviously to get moving again, I’ll put the car in first and I can barely get it to move forward. I’m talking maybe two miles an hour and that is a struggle. Trying to move into second just stalls the car. It’s like I am standing on the brakes.

3. Once the car cools down, it’s back to normal. No problems.

4. I checked the heat coming from the rims after the first time it happened and the front driver side was steaming hot. I also put my foot behind the break pedal and it did kind of pop. That seemed to do the trick and I was able to drive the car home with no problems. Took the car to my mechanic and he replaced the caliper, bled the brake lines and checked the break system over and found no other obvious problems.

5. The car was fine for a while, but like I said it is intermittent and the car seized again yesterday after driving just 5.5 miles. Putting my foot behind the pedal hasn’t helped other than during the first incident. This time, I don’t have one rim that is hotter than any other. After speaking with my mechanic, he said that there wouldn’t be a point in bringing it back in unless I had more information that would help point him in the right direction. I understand his position since he might be needlessly replacing perfectly good parts for no reason plus there isn’t a sure fire way to replicate the problem.

6. On a side note, I can hear a slight whining from the back end (what I think is a rubbing sound). Sounds sort of like playing a note on a flute, but as quietly as possible if that makes sense. This whine was there before the caliper replacement, then disappeared but has returned as of yesterday.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jun 20, 2023, 7:21 PM

Post #2 of 3 (2397 views)
Re: Breaks intermittently seizing up Sign In

The first step to resolving this is determining exactly which wheels are locking. That will help to isolate where to look for the source of the problem.

You will have to be able to duplicate the problem or you will be changing parts for no reason.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Jun 21, 2023, 12:39 AM

Post #3 of 3 (2371 views)
Re: Breaks intermittently seizing up Sign In

Hide and seek intermittent is always a pest to find. The low use at a time might be the clue?

Other and not sure if parking brake is/was still front wheels on this actuated thru caliper?

Just the thought of a design like that bugs me is asking for trouble front wheels do enough already, add low use or no use of that brake more trouble - is on par with hide and seek problems, Tom







 
 
 






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