Brakes Overheating
 

This winter has been a bit of a disappointment in NJ, and I've only had 2 opportunities to do some sliding in the snow. Now I'm trying to figure out why my front passenger side brakes were cooked after each time. This led to dangerous rides home where the car was pulling to the left whenever I hit the brakes. I could clearly feel the heat coming off of the front passenger set when I got home.

So my theory is that even with the traction control and stability control set to "off" (holding the "off" button for 5 seconds) the stability control was actuating the front passenger brakes in an effort to correct the slide. It just so happens that I was drifting to the left 90% of the time.

What do you guys think? Could the stability control do something like this? Or are my pads/rotors/calipers defective? I might have a Subaru tech look into it when I go for an oil change.

The long press does not disable the electronic brakeforce distribution and E-diff. The EBD is likely interfering, though I have not heard of it doing it to that degree. Youtube "pedal dance" and try that next time.

Caliper sticking could cause this. I drive around in snowstorms using the long press and get no interference.

I'd suggest you take your car in for a brake inspection right away and not wait for your next oil change.


humfrz

My money is on a stuck caliper. Could be a guide pin, or the piston. Either way common problem in places with lots of rain/snow/or salted roads.

Simple fix. Any auto mechanic can fix it.

For 17+BRZs with a manual transmission the e-diff is disabled by a long press, the pedal dance is not necessary.

^^ I wonder if that's something that can be programmed into the older cars.

Would the brake LSD still activate with a clutch type LSD installed, or would there not be enough of a wheel speed difference to activate it?

So I guess this disproves my original theory. I plan on bringing it to the dealer next week but I'm afraid they won't discover anything. My pads appear to be worn evenly and the brakes haven't been heating unevenly either. It drove just fine over the last few days.

This has only happened the 2 times that I did donuts in the snow.

It doesn't just look at wheel speed difference there's accelerometer type sensors it takes into account as well. It would still activate I believe.

Make sure they check everything brake related as well as suspension related, older fluid may over heat. Also make sure the tire pressures were equal before you do any drifting in the snow type stuff. It's very odd for a 2017 to have brake issues....

It's a '17, is this it's 2nd winter?

I'm no expert in US weather, but you might be having some brake seizing issues if they've never been dismantled, cleaned and had brake lube applied appropriately. Winter is ROUGH, and road abrasives and salt are ROUGH on disc brakes. Here in Quebec, most disc brake pads that have been lubed will seize solid in the rack in about a year in a half if they're left alone. Considering most cars leave the dealer lots with completely dry brakes, it wouldn't be a surprise to see them starting to jam within a year after they're put in service.

It may not be completely stuck and work in normal driving, but if more heat is being put into them like during "spirited" driving, it's possible for the pads to expand and bind, causing more expansion and binding and more expansion and binding.

I bought the car new in April of last year so this would be its first winter. Like I said, there hasn't been much snow in nj this winter.

Not sure why there is so much discussion about the brake LSD being the cause when he said it was the FRONT brakes that were overheating...?