My Brakes Suck, Help!
06-18-2013, 07:50 PM
#1
My Brakes Suck, Help! The car has had ABS INOP/ TCS OFF lights on since I got the car. Also, the car has new pads, rotors and a new front drivers side caliper, I bled when the caliper was installed and had good brakes for approx. 3000 miles. Lately I have noticed my pedal getting soft if Im slowing down over a long distance.. (not hard braking).
Example 1 just use the brakes to slow from 30mph over 60-80yards, ill lightly tap the brakes and hold and I get a slight ABS feeling shutter and the the pedal drops more and becomes all but useless. If I let up on the pedal and then tap it hard the brakes feel normal and it grabs and im fine.
Example 2 If im driving hard (60-80) and enter a corner and tap the brakes fast and firm they work fine but if I have to slow down from the same speed for like a deer, or animal ill tap the brakes just as hard but not mash (not enough to trigger normal abs) and hold ill get a slight abs shutter and I lose some pedal and have to pump to get my pedal firmness back.
I bought a mightyvac and bled farthest away to nearest away and never let the reservoir go dry and i still have the same problem.
Help.
Example 1 just use the brakes to slow from 30mph over 60-80yards, ill lightly tap the brakes and hold and I get a slight ABS feeling shutter and the the pedal drops more and becomes all but useless. If I let up on the pedal and then tap it hard the brakes feel normal and it grabs and im fine.
Example 2 If im driving hard (60-80) and enter a corner and tap the brakes fast and firm they work fine but if I have to slow down from the same speed for like a deer, or animal ill tap the brakes just as hard but not mash (not enough to trigger normal abs) and hold ill get a slight abs shutter and I lose some pedal and have to pump to get my pedal firmness back.
I bought a mightyvac and bled farthest away to nearest away and never let the reservoir go dry and i still have the same problem.
Help.
06-19-2013, 05:39 AM
#2
Just to eliminate abs causing the issue unplug one of the speed sensors, be it a front one or rear whichever is easiest to reach, and the abs will not function. You could have a bad sensor somewhere going in and out. With my rear sensor unplugged my abs does not ever interfere.
06-19-2013, 11:44 AM
#4
On The Tree
iTrader: (34)
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Finger Lakes NY
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Not the caliper, it must be mounted and have the brakeline hooked up in order to be bled. You are most likely thinking of the Master Cylinder which can yes be bled on the bench.
Its possible that the system needs to be bled with the TechII if the ABS Control unit is still mounted on the car and hasn't been eliminated from the brake system.
Its possible that the system needs to be bled with the TechII if the ABS Control unit is still mounted on the car and hasn't been eliminated from the brake system.
06-19-2013, 12:33 PM
#5
Not the caliper, it must be mounted and have the brakeline hooked up in order to be bled. You are most likely thinking of the Master Cylinder which can yes be bled on the bench.
Its possible that the system needs to be bled with the TechII if the ABS Control unit is still mounted on the car and hasn't been eliminated from the brake system.
Its possible that the system needs to be bled with the TechII if the ABS Control unit is still mounted on the car and hasn't been eliminated from the brake system.
Trending Topics
06-20-2013, 09:09 PM
#8
I normally agree with your posts but this one I don't. If its a ABS/TCS car a tech 2 is the best way to bleed it but that's not on par with the OP's problem.
OP,
With the car off, pump the brake pedal up and see if it bleeds off. If it does bleed off then there is a leak somewhere in the system. M/C would be my first guess if it bleeds off.
If it doesn't start the car and pump it up a few times and and hold it down and see if it bleeds off. If it does it can be several different things, brake booster, air in the lines, air in the ABS motor.
OP,
With the car off, pump the brake pedal up and see if it bleeds off. If it does bleed off then there is a leak somewhere in the system. M/C would be my first guess if it bleeds off.
If it doesn't start the car and pump it up a few times and and hold it down and see if it bleeds off. If it does it can be several different things, brake booster, air in the lines, air in the ABS motor.
06-21-2013, 01:31 AM
#9
^^
i have had air in my system before.......gave me soft pedal for the longest.........soon as i bled it right.....it was party time
not to mention i got hawk pads ......stainless lines ....with a new master cyl
my hawk pads replaced some very nice ceramics........night n day difference between the 2
i have had air in my system before.......gave me soft pedal for the longest.........soon as i bled it right.....it was party time
not to mention i got hawk pads ......stainless lines ....with a new master cyl
my hawk pads replaced some very nice ceramics........night n day difference between the 2
06-21-2013, 05:23 AM
#10
With the car off, pump the brake pedal up and see if it bleeds off. If it does bleed off then there is a leak somewhere in the system. M/C would be my first guess if it bleeds off.
If it doesn't start the car and pump it up a few times and and hold it down and see if it bleeds off. If it does it can be several different things, brake booster, air in the lines, air in the ABS motor.
Pedal is rock solid with the car off. Start it up and it can do either, step on the pedal fast? Rock Solid. Gently apply pressure... it goes down in stages: a few inches.. then a few more until youre at the floor.
07-10-2013, 09:10 AM
#11
Update:
After I unplugged the abs sensor nothing seemed to change.. Bought a mity vac and bled the brakes to the best ofy ability... I don't think its air in the lines.
Now with driving it for a few weeks ive seemed to notice that in the mornings when the temperature is cooler it seems the brakes work better, but in the afternoons when the temp is warmer they seem so suck more.
Should I run down the vacuum line?? Anything simple this could be? Brake booster???
After I unplugged the abs sensor nothing seemed to change.. Bought a mity vac and bled the brakes to the best ofy ability... I don't think its air in the lines.
Now with driving it for a few weeks ive seemed to notice that in the mornings when the temperature is cooler it seems the brakes work better, but in the afternoons when the temp is warmer they seem so suck more.
Should I run down the vacuum line?? Anything simple this could be? Brake booster???
07-10-2013, 09:30 AM
#12
On The Tree
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: new castle PA
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Do you think it could be in the abs module itself? It might need blead I'm pretty sure they do...if not could still be something to do with it.. ur lines still run threw it. It doesn't sound like air or heat soak its to inconsistent.
07-10-2013, 09:46 AM
#13
On The Tree
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: new castle PA
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Plus with the d.s caliper is the closest to the abs module so the air is a maybe...but if not just take the abs relay out I'm not sure that unplugging 1 speed sensor is gunna help ur problem...best bet get in it drive it with the scanner plugged in and watch all the speed sensors it could be as simple as a chipped tone ring.
Last edited by 2000ultraZ1911; 07-10-2013 at 10:34 AM.
07-10-2013, 11:20 AM
#14
Has your fluid level changed dropped? If you're losing brake fluid it has to be a leaking connection or bad booster.
Helped a guy trace an issue a lot like yours. Turned out a bad seal in the booster was pulling fluid and wouldn't work right. Drained a full bottle of brake fluid from it and swapped boosters. Worked fine after that.
Helped a guy trace an issue a lot like yours. Turned out a bad seal in the booster was pulling fluid and wouldn't work right. Drained a full bottle of brake fluid from it and swapped boosters. Worked fine after that.
07-10-2013, 01:50 PM
#19
On The Tree
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: new castle PA
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Abs relay not fuse. Go to someone who has a good scanner and they can look at all the speed sensors while the car is driving and tell you for sure and pull any abs codes.