Another Brake Question.

[toneinblack]

Hi all,

after finally replacing my front brake pads ( undone the cap of brake resevoir , couldnt undo the bleed valves ) replaced both sides of the brake pads , put it all back together and now have a spongey brake pedal, ( pedal sinking quite far )

would bleeding cure it or have i done something i shouldnt have? lol

thanks all

[Buncers]

You need to bleed them and you may have pushed muck back into the hydraulic system when you pushed back the cylinder.

 

It also could be that the pads just need bedding in.

 

Suggest you use a socket (gently) to undo the bleed nipple (they get a bit stiff between services) and then continue with a spanner for bleeding.

 

When I did mine last week, I drained the lot and renewed with new fluid. You need to bleed all four ends for this. Pretty quick with assistance (my 11 year old son enjoyed the experience of pressing the brake pedal to order).

[Justice]

Yes you could have damaged the seals,I done the same on my Voyager when I could'nt undo the bleed nipples in the end I just kept flushing fluid through them and ended up curing the problem.get some wd40 and spray it round the nipple and let it soak in,also how good are your disc's becouse if you put a new pad on a worn disc you have to give them time to bed in.

[Andrew T]

It's also been mentioned on here before that pushing the fluid back up can force debris into the ABS pump and block a valve, although that's a side issue to your sponginess problem.

[seatkid]

Its more likely that you have new pads sitting against some badly worn/ridged discs and the brake performance is poor is due to the small area actually contacting. (Check: were the pads you took out badly grooved?)

 

The only way to improve this is to be harsh with the brakes to speed up the bedding in process. Or better still change the discs.....(iirc you had metal to metal contact - not good for discs)

 

Use a correctly fitting ring or box spanner to undo the brake nipples. It is always a good idea to bleed them, if only to flush out the old fluid and crap that builds up in the slave cylinder end.

[toneinblack]

the pads wernt badly grooved but worn around the edge , do you have to bleed the brakes with the engine running or turned off?

[seatkid]

turned off is safer....

[Guest vr6galaxy]

turned off is safer....

WHY? ;)

[toneinblack]

Ive bled them and the fluid looked ok but the brakes still feel spongey , Will run it tomorrow and see if they bed in ,

R ound 2 tomorrow lol and thank you for all your help ;)

[seatkid]

turned off is safer....

WHY? :P

Working under a car with the engine running (and jacked up with a wheel off) is not advisable........ ;)

[Guest vr6galaxy]

But it makes the job more interesting! ;) and if you have the heater blowing you have somewhere to sit in the warm while you read the manual :P

[Buncers]

turned off is safer...

 

When I had the front of my car jacked up the other day, I turned over the engine, can't remember why, forgetting I had the car in gear. Only realized when the front wheels started turning.