soft brake pedal

OK, techies whats the problem:
This happens at all temperatures regardless of how long I have been driving. When I push on the brake pedal it feels like it has an inch or 2 of play before it really starts to squeeze the brakes together. If I push it down for a brief second and then push again it feels like its supposed too. Its almost like the first push primes the system or something and then the second push the pressure is there immediately. Diagnose!

 

Time to bleed your brakes

 

I would agree bleeding your brakes will more than likely solve this problem.

 

Yup, gotta bleed 'em. The sequence of bleeding the brakes from corner to corner is this:

1) Front right
2) Rear left
3) Front left
4) Rear right

 

Guys this happens to me too! BUT only when the A/C is on and when I am stopped at a light

 

Already bled them. In order, no air bubbles at all. The problem was present before and after I did this. (after the rotor group buy I put in ATE Super Blue)

 

I thought you started with the calipers furthest away from the master cylinder first, then worked your way to the closest? :???:

 

my mom's legacy had this problem, turned out to be a bad master cylindar.

-Chux

 

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by TabulaRasa

I thought you started with the calipers furthest away from the master cylinder first, then worked your way to the closest? :???:
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

The order that Fong posted is exactly what's in the service manual.

 

I can tell you what, exactly, it is... Dual Stage Brake Booster. This is the precise reason why so many people converted to the single stage, the "mush" is built in. I have my single stage booster sitting in a box waiting to go onto the RS when I have time (and it takes a full day, at that). Air in the lines will make it worse, but it is inherent to the design. Apparently, people thought the single stage brakes were too touchy so they came out with the dual stage on the ABS cars. ...go figure.

 

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> my mom's legacy had this problem, turned out to be a bad master cylindar.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

I agree. Since the brakes have been bled, and the pedal still goes down far, don't rule this out as a possibility.

 

This is information to me. I'm one step smarter on brakes.

 

I still have this problem. I heard something about needing to cycle the ABS sometimes to get air out of the ABS system. Anyone know anything about this?

 

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by TabulaRasa

I thought you started with the calipers furthest away from the master cylinder first, then worked your way to the closest? :???:
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

I have read the same thing in multiple places. I think both ways are correct, however, it might be easier if you start at the furthest corner.

 

I always figured it was the ABS that was doing it. I can bleed my brakes until I run out of fluid and after a day the pedal will go back to feeling slow. I'm interested in this ABS unit that Christian mentioned though. Which years did they put the sloppy unit in?

 

becareful when messing with abs and bleeding.. dont turn the car on... people have lost fingers with the pressure the abs system puts through it... like a laser beam if it streams out.. My Head Tech told me some stories aboutthat stuff..

I was gonna say it sounded like a master cylinder..t hen read about the 2 stage system?? so I dont know.. bleeding is always a good start but if it dont help then master cylinder is next step...

Speak to a dealer... pick their brains..

 

I'll just have to drive another WRX sometime and see if its a design problem or my problem.

 

my car does the same thing kyle. The brakes are just about totally hosed now, so I need new pads as well, but the spongy feel is par for the course on the 02+

I'm bleeding mine this weekend. wanna help?

zak

 

My single stage booster is going in before the next AutoX...

As for what years, Garrett... anything with ABS, but no STi on the trunk, has the same issue. I believe pre-'95 or so are ABS free. I actually have a new master cylinder and booster I bought off of someone on NASIOC over a year ago for <$200(!), rather than a junkyard special.

 

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by esperunit

my car does the same thing kyle. The brakes are just about totally hosed now, so I need new pads as well, but the spongy feel is par for the course on the 02+

I'm bleeding mine this weekend. wanna help?

zak
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

You guys are welcome to come over on Saturday... I will be working on both cars. Brake bleeding would be a great break in the action...

 

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by TabulaRasa

I thought you started with the calipers furthest away from the master cylinder first, then worked your way to the closest? :???:
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
thats how i learned it too...farthest away from the master cylinder..

 

I'm moving this weekend and I might go to milwaukee but if saturday I'm free I'm in.

 

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Chin

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by esperunit

my car does the same thing kyle. The brakes are just about totally hosed now, so I need new pads as well, but the spongy feel is par for the course on the 02+

I'm bleeding mine this weekend. wanna help?

zak
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

You guys are welcome to come over on Saturday... I will be working on both cars. Brake bleeding would be a great break in the action...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

I'm in. I just have to rearrange furniture this weekend, nothing else to do, GF has school fri, sat and sun.

PM me with contact info.

-Zak

 

how hard is it to install a single stage brake booster. i think i missed the cut off for single. i have a 95 w/ abs. would there be any issues with keeping abs and using teh single stage brake booster?

 

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dynapar

how hard is it to install a single stage brake booster. i think i missed the cut off for single. i have a 95 w/ abs. would there be any issues with keeping abs and using teh single stage brake booster?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

Install isn't supposed to be difficult, just painful. Apparently, the majority of the effort is in the physical removal and replacement of the booster (knuckle scraper, I guess). Just unhook everything (brake lines, pedal), pull out the master cylinder, pull out the booster and reverse.... There is a write-up on ScoobyMods, I think.

It is independent of the ABS, it should not affect its performance.