Re: 1998 Subaru Outback front brake calipers

Yousuf Khan <[email protected]> wrote:

> Chris in Minnesota wrote:
>
>> Hey everyone...my daughter on big island Hawaii bought a 1998 Subaru
>> Outback and is having brake caliper and possible rotor problems.
>> Does anyone know if this model has dual or single caliper pistons?
> 
> Most cars are single-caliper pistons, with dual pistons on that one
> side.

https://www.autozone.com/brakes-and-traction-control/brake-caliper-front?filterByKeyWord=caliper&fromString=search&isIgnoreVehicle=false

Dual pistons are used when the rears also use discs.

Single pistons are used when the rears are drums.

The OP didn't say what he has for his rear brakes.  Yep, the 98s
might've had rear drums; see:

https://parts.subaru.com/p/Subaru_1998_Legacy/Drum-Brake-Shoe-Hold-Down-Pin-WO-ABS-WOABS/49235039/26267AA001.html

The Legacy Outback got renamed to just Outback (starting first in
Australia).  The 1st generation of Outback is a Legacy-based vehicle.
The Legacy wagon was the foundation for the Outback.  The Legacy wagon
got modified, and the Outback was designed by Olivier Boulay at
Mitsubishi: raised roof, suspension changes for higher ground clearance,
and bigger 2.5L engine.  The Legacy Outlook was a Legacy wagon on
steroids.  The 2nd generation of Outlook (Legacy no longer in its name)
from the 2000 model year, and on, was after the OP's '98 model, so the
OP has an older Outback model based on the Legacy frame.  That's why
parts for his car are listed as Legacy parts, and why his "Outback"
could have either disc or drum rear brakes, and that affects which type
of front caliper is used in his car.

I think the OP must've misstated what he meant to ask.  Don't remember
seeing a vehicle that has 2 calipers per wheel.  It's just 1 caliper.
He probably meant to ask about single- or dual-piston calipers on his
front wheels.  To know means he has to crawl underneath to look at the
rears to see if those are discs or drums.

He could also lookup by the VIN for his car.  The subaru.com site lets
you search for parts by VIN.

That the OP doesn't know his car probably means that he doesn't have the
expertise to do the caliper, disc, and pad replacements along with a
brake bleed or flush.  Whatever car shop to which he takes the car to do
the repairs will figure it out for him.