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At 30,000 miles the dealer said I needed new brakes. The dealer says this is normal in Subaru. I was shocked as I drive primarily on freeways. When I picked my car up it made a groaning sound when I braked. The dealer said that was normal and would go away. It did not groan before I brought it in. A friend looked and said they did not machine the back rotors although they had charged me. Also for two years I have been bringing the car in complaining that the back brakes get very hot and in fact on one occasion smoked. The dealer said they could find nothing wrong. I think this is all connected. help -- I am getting nowhere with Subaru and am now nervous to drive my car plus it sounds like I have 100,000 miles the way it groans ever time I brake.
i don't work on the really new cars.. but there is somethings to do.. as most still go to the dealer for service.. i have seen a lot of cars that needed brakes much sooner than 30,000 miles.. there are a LOT of later model subaru owners in some of the imported car magazines in this site.. the brakes should NOT be groaning when stopping.. if they are something is wrong.. you need to contact subaru north america.. they will be best at getting to the bottom.. when brakes are groaning.. its sometimes the support hardware that is worn out or got left off.. there are on most disc brake cars from japan.. little folded pieces of thin steel that fit between the brake pads and the bracket.. when these wear out and don't have any spring left in them. the brake pads can shift around while you are breaking.. causing a groaning noise.. i have a friend who just got a clean 87 300ZX.. that made so much noise from the rear brakes that people in other cars and on sidewalks would give him dirty looks... it was LOUD... the hardware kit was all that was needed to fix it... brakes hanging up.. getting really hot.. that needs to be looked at in person.. and with a proper scan tool.. as you at least have antilock brakes.. and probably stability control.. perhaps even traction control.. the antilocks and stability control can cause problems.. as the stability control can apply the brakes without you touching the brake pedal.. a parking brake lever that hangs up and won't release may also cause problems.. this needs to be looked at.. and 2 mechanics test driven for 5 to 10 miles while the tech in the passenger seat monitors the signals from the antilock brake and stability control system with a scan tool to look for problems.. there are toothed rings somewhere on the individual parts for each tire.. a sensor counts the teeth as the wheels turn.. it uses a magnet and a coil of wire to know when the magnet is in front of a solid section or a empty section.. it actually generates a voltage for the computer to see.. the wheels all need to be going the exact same speed.. or the system might kick in.. but the stability control also has G force sensors in the car.. it knows if you are pushing on the gas or not.. it knows how hard you are pushing on the brake.. it knows if you are turning the steering wheel.. talk to subaru north america.. they may arrange for something to be checked since you don't get satisfaction at your dealer.. depending on your state.. if you have AAA.. you might find out if they have an inspection shop at their headquarters. i know the main office here in los angeles does do vehicle inspections.. and they dig deep.. please post on what happens.. there are a lot of people with subaru cars around..