SmileyScooby

Hi there,

Probably gonna sound like a complete idiot....but.....how do I tell what kinda brakes I have on my Bugeye? They have Subaru written on the Callipers so, I guess they are standard WRXs.

I think the front pads are worn....when braking...no noise but as I am driving forwards I get a little humming noise(like you hear on trucks and buses)

They humm a little more as I start to put the brakes on but it disappears as I actually brake!

I took a look at the pads and the fronts seem low but I don't undrestand why the don't humm during the actual braking?


Is changing brakes easy?

O have a few weeks off work and am bored......?


Guess it might be a bad idea to attempt it if I don't even know which they are!

Mifo

iTrader: (10)

yes they sound like stock brakes.

if you dont know what your doing its best to get someone to take a look at them.

I doubt the humming is from the brakes by the sound of it.
most probably something with tyre/wheel.

SmileyScooby

You reckon?

It goes when I press the brakes though?

I might take all the wheels off and have a look!

richiewong

You've standard 4 pot fronts.

The humming could be various reasons, low pad material or just needs a coat of copper grease on the back of the pads.
Lip of the pad contacting a slight rust edge, uneven wear you name it.

SmileyScooby

Damn....quite alot of possible reasons there....LOL! Will hve a better look this week! Doesn't seem to be affecting the performance of them!
I will try a little WD40 on them!

Thanks for all the help!

Anymore is very welcome!

GlesgaKiss

Mine get sticky occasionally, and I free them off and WD40 all the moving parts - not the pads though, dont do that

If you cant see how much is left on your pads, just jack it up and take the wheel off to give you a better view. All you need to do to give them a free off is take one bolt out and push the caliper up. I will take photo's when i'm doing it and post them up so you can see.

Will be about half an hour.

GlesgaKiss

Here we go - Put the car in gear, with the handbrake off and jack it up(put blocks behind the wheels you havnt jacked up so theres no chance of the car moving). Wheel off and...

Just undo this bolt...



Now the caliper will lift up like so...and you can get a good look at the pads(if you fancy changing them yourself, you will see how simple it is now)



The piston that my thumb is on in the pic below can stick: Sometimes the seal around it can be knackered so check that out.



To free off a sticky piston: pump it out with the brake pedal(not too far...this will also let you see the whole of the seal). Then push it back in anyway you can - I do it by jamming a big screwdriver up against it(wish I had taken a photo of this now). Just any way you can possibly push it back in, which might be quite difficult depending on how badly seized it is.

Repeat over and over again, and cover all the moving bits with WD40 or similar to free it all up(dont get any on the disc or pads): it should get easier and easier to move the more you do it.

Thats all I think...once you are done just put that bolt back in nice and tight. It might be a b*astard to get off in the first place btw.


HTH
Alan

SmileyScooby

Thanks Alan...really impressive bit of help there! Really appreciated!....

Will my brakes be the same as yours...mine is a Bugeye?

SmileyScooby

Oh....I already sprayed wd40 all over them.....is this bad?

SmileyScooby

oooops

SmileyScooby

Nice motor aswell alan...very tidy.

richiewong

Shouldn't be you should have the monogramed 'SUBARU' front 4 pots and possibly 2 pot rears and not sliding calipers

GlesgaKiss

Yeah, as richiewong says you will have the 4 pots. Mine are 2 pots. single at the rear...which is what I was doing in the pics. Yours will be the same to get into though.

Your welcome btw, I was bored anyway, needed something to do.

Did you say you sprayed WD40 all over the discs and pads? Cause no, that isnt good you will have no brakes the next time you drive it

SmileyScooby

Oh....****....can I clean it off?

IainMilford

iTrader: (15)

try driving with your foot resting on the brake pedal, this may help?

GlesgaKiss

I live on a mile long straight, so could easily burn it off safely just by leaving my drive. Thats all i've ever done with any of my bikes or cars when i've got stuff on the discs - burn it off with heavy use. May not be handy if you dont live in the country though.

Just try them in your drive by moving slowly and slamming them on to see how effective they are. Even if they do 'seem' to work, be very carefull when taking it out on the road. After leaving your drive slam on the brakes another 5 or so times at low speed to make sure. Even then, just take it easy and keep trying them while building back up to normal driving.

SmileyScooby

Went out...seemed to be working as normal......wd40 didn't stop the noise though!

Will take a look at them in next few days! I am one lazy B*&**ard!

GlesgaKiss

Haha, i've been there mate. I just happen to enjoy spending time sorting out the car now. Its amazing how simple things are when you start trying. Could hardly do anything a few years ago.

I'm only 21 btw(incase you were thinking I was some old git**)






**no offense to old gits on this forum

SmileyScooby

No way...I did figure that you were about 40ish....with the know how you had...LOL!
I am 26....LOL....need to start trying things out cos it will be alot cheaper to do things myself.

Thanks for all your help, you little nipper!