New brakes 'soft'

[markaz]

'89 2.8L. Just replaced the front pads and rotors. Replenished the brake fluid. When I depress the pedal it almost goes to the floor. Braking is fine, but the pedal's got to go half way before you feel the brakes. Thoughts? If bleeding is necessary, please describe the steps. Thanks!

[jsgold]

Shouldn't have to bleed unless you took off the hoses when changing pads. However, it sounds like air in the lines. You can buy a one man bleeder from Advance etc., and use that but what I do is this. Make sure fluid levels OK. Loosen the bleeder screw on back of caliper (be careful not to break it!!!!) Check the size and use a socket or a bleeder tool that fits. You can buy cheap. After you loosen the screw, tighten it back only lightly, and have someone start the car. Have them pump the brakes a few times and then "hold" down with normal braking pressure. Take your wrench or socket and loosen the screw and the fluid will shoot out the screw hole. The pedal will go to the floor, and have the person hold it there, do not remove foot. When the pedal is at the floor, tighten up the screw again with minimal force and do this several times. If there is air in the lines you will have air shoot out with fluid, so watch for that. If a lot of air, you will have to stop and re fill fluid tank a time or two when doing this. Do until you can detect no more aire and tighten. Do the other wheel the same way, and top off the master cylinder. This works OK for me but there are other ways IE one man bleeder and other special tools and bottles that you can see air bubbles in. Would advise you to get a manual to do this or have one of the others here that use these methods explain it. Make sure car cannot roll on you when doing this.

[markaz]

Thanks for the advice. I will need to buy the tool for removal as I mimimally tried to open the bleeder screw and it wouldn't budge.

[Kooterskkar]

Sounds to me like a bad master cylinder. If bleeding the lines doenst help, that would be my next guess. (make sure you bleed all 4)

[markaz]

Probably right. Bled system with little improvement.

[Johnson410]

I don't know about that master cylinder I had a car do that to me once and it was my brake booster I had new brakes all the way around the car. If you try the M.C. and it doesn't work i would check that next. If you can you could always take off the M.C. and bench bleed it.

Originally Posted by markaz

Probably right. Bled system with little improvement.