Question about parking brake issues...

[xoSubieLegacyxo]

So last weekend my rear caliper locked up on my rotor. I thought the piston jammed, but my professor thinks it could be the parking brake. Anyone know what type of system the 2nd gen legos uses?

Thanks,
Chad

[02_Legacy]

The parking brake is an drum brake that uses the inside of the rotor on the rears. It has nothing to do with the caliper. However there is a difference between your wheel locking up and the caliper locking. I don't know how you confirmed that it was the caliper but just keep in mind that the parking brake can sill cause the wheel to lock up.

[harrymaneuvers]

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/

I find it unlikely that one side's parking brake locks up without the other considering that it is a mechanical system.

[GTDrifter]

the wheel and lugs were unusually hot, especially compared to the other wheels on the car on the trip home
I dont think the wheel actually locked up on him
i dont know how they determined it to be the caliper because I arrived a little while after he had pulled over

[Wiscon_Mark]

A drum brake that's locked up could cause a lot of heat. I thought there was only one drum brake (parking brake) on the rear passenger side though?

[xoSubieLegacyxo]

I don't have drum brakes.........just to let you all know. So I'm not sure how the parking Brake(or sometimes called E-Brake) is mechanically operated.

[Huffer]

Every AWD Subaru with disc brakes uses a form of drum brake on the rear. That's why the rear rotor has a huge raised section in the middle. Behind that are two pads that operate exactly like a drum brake when you pull on the e-handle.

If your ebrake cable has no tension on it, it can prevent the pads from retracting from the inside of the rear brake rotor.
THESE ARE NOT THE PADS IN THE CALIPER
You can adjust the ebrake cable from two points - at the end of the ebrake handle, or by each brake rotor using the access hole, a flat head screwdriver, and the star shaped cog.

My recommendation: Buy a Haynes service manual and read the brake section on adjustments.

Right now, you should look to service your rear brakes - pull them apart (when you have the car on stands, make sure the ebrake handle is DOWN, not engaged) and service the caliper slides, clean up the springs behind the rotors and generally soak everything except the pads in brake cleaner.

[xoSubieLegacyxo]

Thanks for clarifying Huffer. I was confused for a minute. I'll have to disassemble the rear brakes over the weekend.