Poor Brake Pedal Feel in MY04 Liberty GT

[GWB]

Hi All

I have very poor brake pedal feel in my MY04 GT. The feel is very wooden and while it stops perfectly adequately when I push my foot down hard I can not modulate the brake pedal very well. This means I do not have much control over my cornering speed as the brakes are either all on or not much at all.

I have replaced the rotors and replaced the stock pads with EBC pads. I have had the fluid changed (I do not know what fluid they used) and the brakes have been bled a couple of times. This has helped increased early brake bite but the pedal feel still feels awful (worst than a Honda Odyssey!).

Interestingly and this might be a clue to someone if I push the brake pedal hard to the floor a few times the pedal feel temporary improves.

Any help appreciated as this is really detracting my my driving enjoyment.

[SegR]

Interested to hear responses on this. I also think my pedal responsiveness is crap. I've also had my front rotors & pads replaced (along with fluid of course) and I think the pedal feel is quite poor. The brakes work fine and have plenty of bite, but it takes a lot of pedal travel and pressure to get any feedback.

I drove the bosses *cough* Camry *gag* and the brakes on that thing were super responsive. Too responsive - a slight press on the pedal clamps them right down. Probably because Camry drivers need to brake suddenly more often than most.

Something in between the two would be nice but I figured the pedal feel (in my car at least) was more due to design than due to a problem.

[Robbks]

which EBC pads?
redstuff or greenstuff.
both seem too hard for the back end of a street car, and generally they're probably too hard on the front too (take too long to get temperature in them).
i prefer something softer like Lucas/TRW pads, but they're dusty.

pumping the pedal is probably heating up the pads which helps them work (i assume you're doing this at speed?)
or is the pedal "spongy" until you pump it?

check the vac hoses to the booster are in good condition
check the flexible lines at the wheels for condition

[BUDDAH]

GWB did you do the work your self ? are you a trained professional in this field ?

[GWB]

@Robbks 7 @BUDDAH

The rotors and pads were replaced by Ross Fraser at Cromwood Auto Service in Burwood Melbourne. He recommended using EBC green pads. I have not done any work on it myself. The EBC pads are also very dusty.

I pump the peddle when the car is stopped so it can't be heat.

I will ask Ross to check the vac hoses to the booster and the flexible lines at the wheels for condition, but I would have thought he would have done this already.

Ross doesn't seem to be willing to offer any other suggestions even though I'm like a dog at a bone on the issue. However what confuses is me is that my wifes MY05 N/A 2.5 liberty has much better pedal response althought still not what I would call good. This means either there is still something wrong with my GT or Subaru changed something in the MY05. If I can find out what they changed I will happily part with the money to upgrade to the same components.

@SegR - I recently hired a Camry on an interstate trip and the seat belt saved me from going through the front window the first time I hit the brakes. A camry with better brakes than a 50K+ (new) liberty GT WTF..

Thanks for your help guys

[jslayz]

I like the pedal feel of the Bendix ultimate pads in the mine but gonna try some Project mu next change.
Even more aggressive but less dust apparently.

J

[rooby]

I had red stuff in my last car and I never had any issues with them, they were great.

I've also driven camrys and corollas that almost put you though the windscreen when you brake, but it isn't in a good way, more so the wooden feeling all off or all on way GWB described in the original post.

[Mr Cali]

I know exactly what GWB is talking about, and I'm almost certain that it's generic in the pre facelift GTs at least. When I was looking to buy a Liberty, this was one of the first thing that I noticed, poor feel of the brakes. I thought it was a one off, however after test driving in excess of 10 diff cars I found them all to have a similar poor feel.
Would love to hear what other prefacelift GT owners think.

Pumping the brake pedal just pressurizes the brakes, and gives a more instant bite, however it still doesn't give it feel. This is only good for one brake application though as the brake system returns to normal.

[SegR]

Ok, so not discounting the chance that GWB actually has a problem, is there something that can be done about the generally shit feel? Pedal adjustments, lines or master cylinder changes or tweaks?

[AndrewCowley]

Try different fluid perhaps? There's also the Cusco Brake Master Stopper thing that has been said to improve the feel.

[Mr Cali]

I think braided lines may be a solution