legacycentral bbs

Ok I will admit not really Legacy brakes but Impreza brakes, but I'm looking at a legacy repair manual.

Little issue here, I put the pads in and the new rotor will not fit, Heck the old rotor would not fit as well.


What I did see after 3 hours of trying to get the rotor to fit, is the Caliper Support Bracket Can move in and out from Caliper Body, and I now think 98% this is what is causing things not to fit Correct.

I could really use some help, I have both brakes apart and nothing is really lining up Only thing I need to do is get the Front Rotors on and my Drum brakes will be here sometime next week.

Any chance of getting some pictures of what you're talking about?

I kinda figured that, Here are the pictures

And yes I later pushed the Piston All the way back in, and still with the 2nd Brake pad rotor still wont fit.

did you remember to compress the piston?

scottzg wrote:did you remember to compress the piston?

Yep Wont go in any more, also the Caliper Bracket started to slide out.

So the caliper bracket won't go back in any more?

Did you try cleaning out the part on the caliper that the guide pin goes into? It may have tons of grease built up in there. There's a bleed hole where grease is supposed to come out, but if it's plugged, it'll essentually be "hydro locked" since grease isn't too compressible.

noooo Thats not good news, I can't take the bolt off, for one I don't know what size it is and I have not picked up my tool kit yet.

Should it be moving in and out?

All I want is the rotors to sit in with the new pads, I ask for nothing else more then just that.

I've been working on this since 4Pm so I'm a bit tired now.. I might mess around with it a little more tonight.

But I don't know what else to do right now

No, I think you mis understood me.

Look at these pics
http://www.main.experiencetherave.com:8 ... legbrakes/

You see the guide pin. It's not supposed to be removed from the caliper bracket. But if it does not slide all the way into the caliper, then that's your problem, and you need to clean out the opening on the caliper that the guide pin slides into.

So it needs to slide all the way in in order for me to seat the 2 pads and the rotor?

I'm pushing and pushing on it and it's not moving at all.

When looking at your second picture, the caliper bracket needs to move back more towards the caliper in order for things to fit properly.

Like I said, clean out the hole that the guide pin slides in.

Legacy777 wrote:When looking at your second picture, the caliper bracket needs to move back more towards the caliper in order for things to fit properly.

Like I said, clean out the hole that the guide pin slides in.

When you say more do you mean "All the way in?"

What stuff can I clean it with? I really don't have grease cleaning products.

It should slide in & out pretty easy, right?

Also one thing since I'm using Aftermarket it wont fit with the Subaru Anti Rattle Clips, is that ok?

In the pic you posted it does not look like the guide pin is in all the way.

Do you have brake cleaner? If not, get some. That's what'd I'd recommend cleaning it out with.

yeah it should slide in and out relatively easy. It's possible the grease has caked and made it hard to move it.

Are you talking the pads & rattle clips? If so, yeah that's fine. I call them rattle clips because that's what they do. Use some CRC disc brake quieter. It's orange and comes in a little squeeze bottle.

I don't know Josh, it's really getting on my nerves now... give me one Reason why I should not just pull the brake line and start beating on the outter caliper to push it back in?

I said what the hell why not stick a pad in and put it on the rotor well I did, and it never self adjusted, and so I take it off and pump the brakes and now the damn pad is logged in the caliper.



I can't push the piston back in this time...

I need to be driveable by monday!!

Btw do you know the Brake line size bolt?

I hope it's not some stupid size.

That piston doesn't look like it has an intact boot. If that's the case, it really should be replaced.

If you must, take the caliper off.....get some brake cleaner and clean things. You gotta clean brake components, especially those rubber boots and guide pins. Pull all the rubber boots off/out, and the metal guide pins out and clean them.....

I don't know what else to tell ya.

I have brake cleaner, I already hit it once with it, Now I'm fed up with it.

Ok so I pick up a C Clamp, I got the drivers side to go back in, but I can't get the passenger side to go back in at all, Not matter what I do like Opening the bleeder vavle.

Looks like you have a torn seal around the piston that popped out. You need to pick up a caliper rebuild kit (get 2 and do them both now, while it's out). Your original problem, as stated above, was that the caliper was not fully pushed in on on the slide pins which brings the outer pad part of the caliper too close to the rotor to fit both pads.

If you do the rebuld yourself, you will need to have some fresh brake cleaner & fluid and more than likely an air compressor to stretch out the boot around the piston. Any good mechanic should be able to handle it for you. May be a good time to put in speedbleeders too.

So it's stuck on the boot right now are you saying?

And thats my reason why I can't get it to go back in?

You can't get it in because it popped out of the bore & is at a slight angle. I have been through this before. For the amount of work you are going to go through on a Sunday with most stuff closed and no way to get a rebuild kit from a Subaru dealer, you are better off to let it sit until Monday. Liberty Subaru in NJ is pretty cheap (1-888-SUBY-4WD, mention you saw their ad in Autoweek or some car mag). Or try the websites mentioned in this BBS.

If you like frustration & swearing, you can try to get it back together by loosening or removing bleed screw, lubing piston with brake fluid, and using a small pick or forceps to work the seal around the piston without it catching on the piston. A second set of hands will help a lot. DO NOT get brake fluid on paint because it will take it off in about 2 sec. If you get it back in straight, then you will need to slide the caliper toward the axle nut on those slide pins so the the bronze colored pins are not visible and those 2 little rubber accordion boots are compressed. Not crushed, just use hand strength. Make sure to use high temp caliper grease on the slide pins and little silver clips the pads ride on. I put some on the back of the pads too to cut down on noise.

If you get it all together you will need to bleed brakes after. It will probably take a lot depending on how much fluid you lose out of the caliper that lost its piston. Keep an eye on the reservoir.

More importantly, how did you attach pics? Are those hosted or attached/uploaded with post? I thought we couldn't upload on this forum.

So that seal showing on the piston is the One Behind it? I thought it was still apart for the one in front.

At some point it may be more advantageous to just buy rebuilt calipers.

I'm trying to but all of them want insane high core charges.

PLease tell me what the Banjo bolt size is.

what kind of car does this even go to?

LaureltheQueen wrote:what kind of car does this even go to?

1995 Subaru Impreza L FWD