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Replaced brakes, Now soft pedal

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Old Feb 20, 2011 | 08:44 PM
  #1  
fensty245's Avatar
fensty245
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Replaced brakes, Now soft pedal

So I replaced my brakes last night, Front and rear. And now when I drive the pedal is kinda soft. If I press on the brakes, then let off and get back on them, they feel better. So Im thinking there is air in the lines, But it just seemed odd to me because I never took off the brake lines or anything. Does anyone have any other suggestions?
 
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Old Feb 20, 2011 | 11:02 PM
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Bleed and bed

Yes, bleed them, or better, flush new fluid through if not done in some years.

You may want to bed pads too, particularly if you didn't change rotors. Rotors will have some prior pad material, and new pads won't be worn into all the inevitable grooves that actually increased surface area that old pads fully contacted and that new pads will take a bit of time/wear to adapt to the wear irregularities. Half a dozen spirited stops from reasonable speed in prompt succession on some deserted road would do it.
 
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Old Feb 20, 2011 | 11:27 PM
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fensty245
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I did seat the pads and I replaced the rotors. I am going to flush/bleed the brakes tomorrow morning. Hopefully that clears it up!
 
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Old Feb 20, 2011 | 11:57 PM
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Did you replace with the same pads/rotors? If not, that could be a piece of it. Also, if you put in new pads, but didn't bleed, then you pushed all the old, contaminated fluid that was in the cylinder back into the brake lines.
I switched from OEM to Hawk ceramics, and while it does feel a bit softer than before, it's more likely the bite difference. And the fact that in a month, my wheels don't get as dirty as they did in two days with the OEM pads...
 
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Old Feb 21, 2011 | 06:06 AM
  #5  
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Yes, aftermarket pads resulted in a huge reduction of brake feh on the wheels.
 
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Old Feb 21, 2011 | 07:19 AM
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Alright, Ill keep that in mind. but with how the pedal gets harder when I let off and push back on in, im thinking there is air ther.
 
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Old Feb 21, 2011 | 09:14 AM
  #7  
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If the brake fluid hasn't been changed in the last year this is a good time to do it.
If you change fluid you will also need to change fluid and bleed clutch cyl. assy also.
Might as well do everything at once.
 
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Old Feb 21, 2011 | 02:34 PM
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Air can be seen (or the effects) sometimes with a buddy helping. Pump the crap out of the brakes and hold them down, have someone take off the reservoir cap and watch to see if the fluid jumps when you release the pedal (it shouldn't if there is no air.)

I think it is just the pads need to be seated as posted above. Time will increase the contact area as the pads conform to the rotors imperfections.
 
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Old Feb 21, 2011 | 02:50 PM
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First thing to check. Are the rear pads clipped onto the brake caliper pistons? If not you will get the very symptom you describe. Happened to me first time I did rear brakes on a MINI.
 
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