Excessive brake pedal travel.

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IronMonkeyL255
Fourth Gear
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Joined: Sat Aug 09, 2003 5:02 pm
Location: Woodruff, SC

Excessive brake pedal travel.

Post by IronMonkeyL255 »

I just recently bought a '91 Legacy Sport Sedan. Overall, I am very pleased with it, except the fact that it takes quite a bit of pedal play before the brakes grab. I tried messing with the pedal a bit to get it to pick up a little quicker, but that didn't do the trick.

It has new pads, rotors, front lines, the brakes have been bled through with new fluid, and generally well taken care of. The pads have had plenty of time to seat themselves, so I doubt that's the problem.

Anyone have any suggestions? This is really disturbing.
Disclaimer: If anything I post is inaccurate, please correct me. I do not wish to add to the misinformation floating around on the internet.

That being said, everything I post is accurate to the best of my knowledge.

Rio Red '91 Legacy SS
NuwanD
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Post by NuwanD »

if this is your first subaru it may just be you were use to a car with a much stiffer initial travel on its brake pedal.... otherwise i'd suggest driving another subaru and comparing... if it is still mushy i'd be looking at the master cylinder (assuming everything you mentioned is in working order)

:)
Nuwan
1992 Open Class Legacy Turbo
2004 Forester XT
2000 Impreza 2.5RSC (Supercharged)
1990 Rover Mini 1000
IronMonkeyL255
Fourth Gear
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Joined: Sat Aug 09, 2003 5:02 pm
Location: Woodruff, SC

Post by IronMonkeyL255 »

This is actually MY second Subaru, and the third in my family.

In my previous scooby, a '94 Legacy wagon, the brakes picked up a bit earlier. In my mom's '03 Legacy wagon, the brakes are MUCH quicker on the uptake.

On nasioc, one of the guys suggested it may be the brake booster.
Disclaimer: If anything I post is inaccurate, please correct me. I do not wish to add to the misinformation floating around on the internet.

That being said, everything I post is accurate to the best of my knowledge.

Rio Red '91 Legacy SS
Legacy777
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Post by Legacy777 »

may want to try bleeding the brakes.....including activating the abs. If after all that you still have mushy pedal....or excess travel....the MC could be going out.....or it may just be the way it's supposed to be....
Josh

surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT

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luckylouie
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Post by luckylouie »

I have a similar thing going on with my 92 L Wagon 2.2 5MT AWD but with the clutch pedal.
The travel is quite long before the gear kicks in.
The clutch seems fine but is somewhat "sensitive".
Overall it is very different than others vehicles I had before (including other Subies: three HBs and one Loyale).
I am not complaining but would like to know if other Legacy owners experience the same thing.


Louie
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