1997 Subaru Legacy service brakes, hydraulic problems

“IN COLD WEATHER (ZERO OR BELOW), THE BRAKE PEDAL ON MY 1997 SUBARU LEGACY SEDAN BECOMES HARD, AND WHEN I PUT IT ANY GEAR, FORWARD OR REVERSE, THE IDLE SPEED WILL CAUSE THE CAR TO MOVE AND THE BRAKES WILL NOT STOP THE CAR-I HAVE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. I HAVE LEARNED THAT PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE THE CAR IS AT IDLE IN N OR P WILL USUALLY HELP, AT -20 DEGREES, I HAVE TO LET THE CAR IDLE FOR 5 TO 10 MINUTES AND THEN TRY IT. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON, BUT THAT THERE IS NO EASY FIX FOR THIS. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVERY WINTER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2001. *TR”

“RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HAS FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY ON AT LEAST FOUR OCCASIONS. THE BRAKES HAVE GOTTEN VERY HOT AND COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE A FIRE OR CAUSE THE BRAKES TO LOCK UP. THE DUAL PISTON DESIGN RESULTS IN ONE PISTON DOING MOST OF THE WORK SO THE OTHER PISTON BECOMES STIFF AND DOES NOT RELEASE. WE HAVE HAD THE BRAKES GRAB AND BECOME EXTREMELY HOT TO THE POINT THAT WE ARE NOW ON OUR FOURTH SET OF CALIPERS WITH JUST OVER 36,000 MILES ON THE CAR. OUR MECHANIC ADVISES THIS PROBLEM IS QUITE COMMON ON SUBARU'S FOR AT LEAST THE 1996 THROUGH 1998 MODEL YEARS. WE HAVE HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED THREE TIMES BUT DO NOT HAVE THE OLD PARTS AVAILABLE. *JB”

“THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED WHEN THE WEATHER STARTED TO GET COLD. THE BRAKES SEEM TO FREEZE UP. DEALER HAD TO BLEED THE LINES. HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK *NM”

“VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD AFTER BRAKES ARE APPLIED. VEHICLE JUMPS FORWARD A FEW FEET BEFORE STOPPING COMPLETELY. HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED. LAST INCIDENT RESULTED TO IMPACT WITH ANOTHER CAR IN PARKING LOT. DEALER COULD NOT FIND FAULT ON TWO OCCASIONS. SAYS IT MAY BE DUE TO AIR CONDITIONER COMING ON.*AK”

“7) ALL 4 RIMS HAVE A TENDENCY TO COLLECT ROAD SILT AND WATER INSIDE. THIS IMBALANCES THE CAR AND MAY EXPLAIN SOME OF THE BRAKE PROBLEMS. PERHAPS AIRFLOW UNDER THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE STUDIED. 8) LEFT REAR PASSENGER WINDOW DOES NOT GO UP ALL THE WAY ANY LONGER. 84,000 MILES. 9) PADS AND SPRINGS LOCATED ON FRAME WHERE THE REAR GATE CLOSES AGAINST THE BODY ARE RUSTED TIGHT. 10) DASH LIGHTS FOR HVAC HAVE FAILED AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES. 11) GAS GAUGE DOES NOT DESCEND ACCURATLY.”

“1) ALL 4 RIMS HAVE A TENDENCY TO COLLECT ROAD SILT AND WATER INSIDE. THIS IMBALANCES THE CAR AND MAY EXPLAIN SOME OF THE BRAKE PROBLEMS. PERHAPS AIRFLOW UNDER THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE STUDIED. 2) PADS AND SPRINGS LOCATED ON FRAME WHERE THE REAR GATE CLOSES AGAINST THE BODY ARE RUSTED TIGHT. 3) DASH LIGHTS FOR HVAC HAVE FAILED AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES. 4) GAS GAUGE DOES NOT DESCEND ACCURATLY.”