Something's Not Right

[geckoboy86]

Hey guy.
Something has been going on with my subie's brake system that isnt right. I just need to know what to do/replace to fix it.

Every morning after the car has been sitting for more then 5 hours, and the temperature was under 35F, my brake petal is unreasonable firm and the car is very slow at wanting to stop. This goes away after about 2 minutes of pumping the brakes (5-10 minutes just letting the car sit there).

Whats up with my car?

[httrdd]

Maybe water on the lines somehow. Not sure though, but that would cause sluggishness until the exhaust heats it up.

[Huffer]

I'd go with bleeding the lines first.

[immortal1kon]

check your levels for both the brake fluid level and if manuel ( clutch fluid)
- it might be freezing over night in the brake lines. in the morning check to see if they move freely or feel like they are kinda frozen.
- was anything else feeling stiff like the shifter or e brake ? ( because that means the liquid had frozen and was not a malleable.
i i believe that this is a clutch master cylander/booster problem. it's probably still the one that came with the car if so it's very possible that it is getting tired especially in harsh cold.

[geckoboy86]

Thanks for the help guys

My car is an auto.

Nothing else is stiff with my car.

[birukun]

Although your pedal is too hard as opposed to going all the way down, may be related. I guessed at your Model Year from your pic.

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/probl ... =DrillDown (http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/recallsummary.cfm?rcl_campaign_id=99V040000&prod_id=78579&moduletype=VEHICLE&make=SUBARU&model=LEGACY&veh_model_year=1998&searchtype=DrillDown)

"Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s):
SUBARU / FORESTER 1998-1999
SUBARU / LEGACY 1998-1999
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 99V040000
Summary:
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). (THE 1999 2.2 LITER LEGACY VEHICLES ARE EXCLUDED). IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE IS INCREASED.
Consequence:
THIS CONDITION CAUSES THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE TO BE INCREASED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. "

[geckoboy86]

Mine is a 95

and my pedal doesnt goto the floor as it describes...I cannot push it down the whole way when its acting up

[birukun]

Cheapest / easiest answer is to bleed, as Huffer said. Brake fluid sucks up moisture, so if your fluid is old, the moisture may be freezing and making something stick.

http://autorepair.about.com/cs/generali ... ef_058.htm (http://autorepair.about.com/cs/generalinfo/l/bldef_058.htm)

[1-3-2-4]

This happened to my car too when pulling out and first hitting the brakes.. but then again I havent bleed the brakes since I got the car only because I wanted to get that pump bleeder system.

I'm going to go with new pads I think too these no names don't really feel all that great.

[httrdd]

If you bleed the breaks, will you be able to get out the moisture out without draining all of the fluid.