WalkingDrunken

I just put on new pads and started bleeding the brakes. When I finished they felt very tight but as soon as I started driving again they went soft. I could push the pedal the whole way to the floor with just a little effort. I then realized that when the car is stopped the pedal will go the whole way down but when I start to pump them again the peddle gradually increases it's tightness again.

Is this normal for the tightness to be that far off? I have bleed the brakes completly and there is no air in the line.

If this is normal is there any way to move the tightness up further? It just feels unsafe when driving and your pedal goes almost to the floor in semi strong braking.

I think they would lock up if the circumstance came, so the abs would kick in, but it so loose compared to before.

xviper

How did you bleed the system? Check for leaks at all 4 corners. Sometimes, when you bleed the brakes, the piston in the master cylinder can travel much further than during normal operation. If there was corrosion in the cylinder bore from water in the fluid over the months and years, a ridge can develop. Then, when you push the pedal to the floor when bleeding, the piston seal goes past this ridge and gets damaged. Did you lube the sliding pins when you put the caliper back on?

WalkingDrunken

I did check for bleeding at all four corners just now. I put a piece of paper under each looking for drops and then looked for any buildup on the caliper itself but didn't find any signs of a leak.

I also did lube the sliding bolts when I put it back on.

Would there be any other signs that would lead me to that conclusion? Anything I could test or check?

I will bleed them some more to double check on no air bubbles. Thanks

xviper

Not a bad idea. When you are done bleeding, it's a good practice, after you've closed everything up, to give the brake pedal a few firm, rapid pumps. As for tests you can do, none comes to mind at the moment. You seem to have checked all the usual areas.

WalkingDrunken

Is it normal, when the car is not on, for the brake pedal to creep up further and further with each press? And what causes this to dissapear when the car starts to move? Thanks

xviper

Depends on the car and how it was bled. Can't really say what's "normal" in your case. "Further and further" can have different meaning for different people. It "should" get firmer with each pump but arrive at a point where it won't change. When the engine is running, the brakes are "boosted".

Project SSAP1

i have almost the same problem...when the car is off the the brake pedal is really high when i try to push it down...when the engine is on..the pedal only feels tight like half way and almost sinks in...i will try to bleed my brakes again and see what happens

Ludedude

Yes, this is a normal side effect of vacuum boosted power brake systems. However, if the pedal is indeed going to the floor while driving, or you can pump up the pedal and it gets stiff while the motor is running then you have a problem.

First thing I'd do is bleed the brakes again and check for bubbles. If that doesn't show anything odd, then you'll have to dig deeper. Think master cylinder.

jyeung528

word.

WalkingDrunken

Yea it is exactly how they said above. The vacum boosted system just seems to work that way. After driving for a little while I found my new brake setup to be much more responsive and giving a much more positive feel.