Brake problems????
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,597
Likes: 4
From: Lawrenceville, GA
I have done it a number of times before. The last time I changed the lines to Earls.
Bill
I heard chasing a bubble out of the brakelines can be a PITA. I may also try bleeding the brakes in the reverse recommended order. I had read MitchNtx recommended that for getting an air bubble out.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,597
Likes: 4
From: Lawrenceville, GA
At least it does stop.
Bill
I recently put in a new caliper in the front left. It was an OEM caliper. My brakes at that point were quite a bit soft and wasn't getting any bubbles bleeding the brakes.
Now I don't understand why, but the brake is starting to feel a lot better over the long run. I don't know if it was just a bubble that made its way to a different part of the system and I just need to bleed it, or what it is. So if the brakes are just a little softer than they were before but you can still get the car into ABS then see how it is after a few weeks. I actually autoxed with a somewhat soft brake pedal. Call me crazy but I think it helped me during the rainy events preventing me from over-braking.
My brake pedal feels pretty firm at this point and working well.
Now I don't understand why, but the brake is starting to feel a lot better over the long run. I don't know if it was just a bubble that made its way to a different part of the system and I just need to bleed it, or what it is. So if the brakes are just a little softer than they were before but you can still get the car into ABS then see how it is after a few weeks. I actually autoxed with a somewhat soft brake pedal. Call me crazy but I think it helped me during the rainy events preventing me from over-braking.
My brake pedal feels pretty firm at this point and working well.
1. You did put in a new caliper. I may have missed something, however the possiblity of a needed caliper rebuild (for the old one) may have been necessary. Torn boot seals may have been a cause of some brake fluid loss and/or brake system pressure.
2. How much brake fluid did you replace when you flushed? Two reasons I mention this is even though it's well known that air is highly compressible compared to the good brake fluid, sometimes (but pretty rare) the air can cavitate to the point where not all bubbles in the system can be readily visible to the bare eye, but I'd say that dependent upon the age of the brake fluid and the humidity exposed to the brake system, there could have been a significant amount of water in the fluid due to the hygroscopic nature of brake fluid itself.
I'd also say that the really soft pedal did help you remain in control during the rainy AX events. Then again, we all know that it's best to have a properly working brake system and a well modulated foot, eh?
Mitch is pretty much spot on with that (at least from my experience trying it as well).
Foxxtron, my current brake setup is slightly on the ghetto side. Last year I had replaced my OEM calipers with cheap Autozone Fenco remanufactured calipers. My OEM bleeder screws were totally seized and I couldn't brake them loose with any means, but I did manage to file them down to almost nothing. But anyway, the Fenco's worked great and had great feel for autox... for a year until I had to flush my last years fluid. I stripped the threads on the caliper metal for the bleeder screw... and I swear I didn't use that much torque! 
So I got a replacement Fenco for free with the warranty. The new one I stripped the brakeline connection threads on the caliper. So I just sucked it up and bought a GM replacement. So I have GM calipers in the front left and both rears, but still have the front right Fenco works fine... but I will definitely just throw the caliper in the garbage next time I flush the system and put in a new GM caliper for that side.
That's interesting stuff about the fluid. I admit I didn't keep the ATE fluid can closed the whole time, and I also used new fluid from a can that I opened from a week before. Probably not a good idea. But it makes sense that this fluid now becomes compress-able.
So I got a replacement Fenco for free with the warranty. The new one I stripped the brakeline connection threads on the caliper. So I just sucked it up and bought a GM replacement. So I have GM calipers in the front left and both rears, but still have the front right Fenco
works fine... but I will definitely just throw the caliper in the garbage next time I flush the system and put in a new GM caliper for that side.That's interesting stuff about the fluid. I admit I didn't keep the ATE fluid can closed the whole time, and I also used new fluid from a can that I opened from a week before. Probably not a good idea. But it makes sense that this fluid now becomes compress-able.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,597
Likes: 4
From: Lawrenceville, GA
I started to work on the soft brakes last night. The right front showed some air and I keep working on it and the brakes got much better. This morning they were a little softer. Could a bad caliper cause this? They were new but that does not mean anything.
At least the car does stop now but it is still not right. I was thinking of putting the old calipers back on to see if that fixes the problem.
Bill
At least the car does stop now but it is still not right. I was thinking of putting the old calipers back on to see if that fixes the problem.
Bill
I have a very similar issue to this since I put my line lock on. The car stops fine but the pedal is spongy, I can fairly easily push the pedal all the way to the floor. I have bled the brake system about 12 times and I even took the car to the dealer to have them cycle the ABS modulator with the tech 2 and that did nothing. I am at a loss with mine, the car stops fine like I said and the pedal feels fine if you don't put much pressure on it but with some pressure it goes to the floor. Any body else have any thoughts on this?
