Brakes are dissapointing

[kbruz]

Need some help on this one. I replaced my rear brakes abuot 3 weeks ago along with the sensors. I flushed the brake fluid and put in ATE blue.

Brakes were bleed using the power bleeder and then the old fashion way via the pedal. SO my problem... the brake work fine, but seem mushy or soft. The car stops fine, but the brakes seem to lack any strong bite. I recall the brakes grabing faster before I changed them. I've checked for leaks and don't see any.

Any idea or suggestions on things to check..

[AirCooledExcellence]

What did you replace?

How many times have you bled them? you may need to repeat, a soft mushy pedal usually means there is still air in the system.

Cheers

[Wayne 962]

Follow the bleed guidelines in my tech article:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/mult_bleed_brakes/mult_bleed_brakes.htm

-Wayne

[kbruz]

I replaced the rear pads and rear sensors only. Bleed the brakes once using the power bleeder and then once with someone assisting on the pedal. I'm pretty sure that I did the correct order

passenger rear
driver rear
passenger front
driver front

Should I bleed the brakes again

[Zeke]

You did put the calipers back on the correct side for each with the bleed valve at the top, right?

[masraum]

When I first put new pads on my car the brakes were really soft for a couple of days, then before I realized it they were rock hard and awesome. Give the new pads a little time.

[kbruz]

Yes calipers are correct

[don911]

When you bled the old fashion way, did you push the pedal all the way to the floor? I think I read in a post a while back that you can damage the seals in the MC if you push the pedal too far.

[Emission]

While the car is off, press on the brake pedal. It should drop a bit, then remain firm (and not move). If that checks out OK, I would bleed all the brakes (yes, again). Let a lot of fluid run out before you tighten the bleeders. I've seen bubbles trapped pretty far into the system slowly work their way out this way. Like another poster said, new pads also need a few hundred miles before they feel perfect.

[coolbreeze]

tap on the calipers like you were the little drummer boy, ratt-a-tatt, ratt-a-tatt, bum-bum-bump. then bleed them.

[Dan Owens]

I'd re-bleed them again as there could be air still in the system and if you compressed the caliper pistons in too far they may not have re-seated themselves completely yet. Also did you check the brake line condition, the ones going to the calipers? The rubber lines start to break down over time and can get spongy. It may not be the whole cause of your mushy brakes but could very well be a part and it just makes good sense to replace them.

[JeremyD]

Try bleeding them with the old pads first - get a hard pedal - then replace with new pads - -

BTW - new brakes needed to be seated before they really start grabbing.

[masraum]

Are they soft and mushy, but you can pump them up? If they don't pump up then it is probably not a bleeding problem. Air in the lines will be soft, but the pedal will pump up.

[makaio]

Either air still in the lines, or possibly a leaky master cylinder.