Update: I took our Forester over to my best pal’s yesterday. We bled the brakes on his TDI golf via power bleeder, which was slow and the last (drivers front) bleeder screw was stuck. He decided not to gamble and we moved on to the Forester. We used the two man method w a bleeder (check valve) bottle. We over did it... going into my 3rd bottle, but at least I had it and there is no doubt that it’s all clean. After that we had a look at my noisy passenger front brake. We saw that the ...spine? of the disc was ever so slightly contacting the ...shim? (metal thingy that holds the brake pads in place). I took it out, adjusted it and boom! No noise! I’ve done plenty of brake jobs but I always used to take it to my inde to flush the system. It’s no big deal. Complete brake system service $240.
I did the pads and rotors on my wife’s Forester curbside on Sunday. I intended to flush/bleed the brake system too, but I didn’t get started til noon. Also I’m not in a position where I can put the car all the way up on jack stands and take all 4 off. At least I don’t think it’s allowed. I’ve never flushed the brakes before but the concept of moving it before all corners have been done seems like I’d be mixing new/old fluid.
Anyway, my buddy who has done this before and has a vacuum bleeder and is doing his car this coming weekend so I’m going to ride his coat tails there and then we’ll rip mountain bikes afterward.
I went with the power stop kit from summit racing ($205)
The job went smoothly except for the rear discs. First of all I forgot how hand brakes work. After I figured that out I had to take some hard whacks with a hammer to get em loose.
The front passenger side disc came right off, but the driver’s side required a few light slams with the rubber mallet.
I did, briefly, have to put both sides of the front up on jack stands in order to turn the wheels so I could put the torque wrench on the caliper bracket bolts. I knew I probably had it tight with my hand, but it’s my wife a kiddo in this thing I gotta hear that click.
It was also my first time using my new cordless impact wrench for more than a bolt or two. LOL @ breaker bars, truly life changing. I forgot to use brake cleaner on the inside of the rear discs...didn’t even mind spinning everything off again real quick!
I followed the brake, brake in procedure and after some driving all of the brakes were nice and quiet...except for one...The front passenger makes an ever so quiet swish siwsh swish sound when no pressure is applied to the pedal. You can’t even hear it with the windows up. Yesterday I took the wheel off, caliper off, and removed the front pads. They kinda looked a little more metallic than I thought they ought to. I Hit the pads and discs with brake cleaner, made sure the little metal bits were seated properly and put it all back together...SILENCE...until the first hard stop, then back to the quiet swish swish swish unless you’re applying pressure to the brake pedal...Hopefully it goes away?
I like wrenching, how about you? I have to admit that I have taken it as far as writing up faux invoices for the maintenance work I do on our cars. I say it’s so that we have a record of it, but really its because I am a child.