By now this is just getting old and irritating. I have SS lines, ATE fluid and Cobb pads which have been mostly working out well. Back in June was when I put the new brake stuff on the car. For pretty much the whole summer pedal felt stiff and the car braked well. Recently the pedal has gotten soft again and the brake fluid level is still the same. So...
1999 RS

-Last week bleed the brakes 2 times each corner, pedal felt like a rock and it braked perfectly.

-This week pedal gets soft again, brake fluid level at max line still.

-Yesterday bleed the brakes 1 time each corner and a few bubbles come out. Drove the car and brakes still felt meh and pedal was not stiff like before.

-Today bleed the brakes 3 times each corner, no bubbles come out. I go drive the car and brakes still feel too soft.

I don't get whats going on. My fluid level never goes down so I'm not leaking fluid and I bleed the brakes today with no bubbles coming out. Should I consider flushing out ALL my fluid and start over again?? Or possibly buy a new brake booster master cylinder?? My car has 94K miles on it if that makes a difference for the MC. Help me I just want my pedal to feel stiff and STAY stiff but I just cant get it to happen anymore, what gives?

 

BTW can you bleed the MC?? If so how, also what about getting an upgraded proportioning valve? Just throwin some ideas around.

 

check for excess fluid around the brake peddle and on the bottom of the MC i would want to think its your MC but to be sure if you cannt see anything abnormal id suggest you go get your brake system pressure tested for leaks...

edgar,

 

Sounds like a leak somewhere to me.

 

Little off topic, how much are the oem solid brake lines to replace? Ever since i installed my brakes and rear lines the peddle has never been rock solid. i've bleed them a couple times and its just an okay feel. The front right solid line twisted a tiny bit when removing the stock rubber lines and i wonder if that has any effect on my braking....

 

Well I did one more bleed and a large bubble came out of the left rear caliper, despite this I drove the car afterwards and the brakes feel even WORSE. Like stepping on a spongy pillow.

 

Where can I get my brakes pressure tested? Maybe Midas or any other places, I need to do this ASAP.

 

Sounds like air in the master cylinder.
Get a pressure test and pressure bleed.

 

When you bled 'em did you ever suck air in the M/C?
When you are talking about a soft pedal, do you mean it takes more pressure on the pedal to stop the car, or that the pedal just goes down easy?

If you've eliminated all air in the system, I'd check the brake booster and for pad/rotor glazing.

 

It takes more pressure on the pedal to stop the car. I'm taking it to a shop this afternoon to get looked at. Also I'm gonna be picking up some WRX front calipers and rotors at the end of this week.

 

Dan, the OEM hardlines are about 150 bucks for the set......and you HAVE to buy the whole set....all of the lines....you cant just buy one.....I had the same issue when I installed my BBK....see the Impreza Brakes forum, and read my thread "Some Critical info on the Hard brakelines!!!."

To answer your question, unless the hardline got pinched, kinked, or cracked so the fluid will not flow through it....a slight twist will not affect the performance. And its a PITA to change the hardlines, so unless the hardline is severly damaged, or mangled, I wouldnt worry about it.

-Ted

 

I'd bet 5 bucks you've simply glazed them. Once that happens, it's hard to get good "bite" from the pads.

 

UPDATE:

I had my car looked at by a mechanic my family has been going to for years. It's been determined that I need a new brake MC because we saw that it in fact is leaking fluid slowly. Where can I buy the upgraded MC for Subys?? Please I need this ASAP because pretty soon I won't be able to drive the car due to no brakes.

 

someone was talking about a Stage 1 Master Cyl...brucelee?

 

https://www.i-club.com/forums/bay-area-15/urgent-where-can-i-buy-single-stage-brake-booster-mc-77406/