break problem

[2000oldsilh]

I have very soft breaks. Almost right to the floor. When I pump it a few times the pedal gets hard but then looses it's pressure and back to the floor. I bled the system. All the shoes and pads are new. What is going on?

thanks,

Chris

[roreed08]

did you make sure all bleaders were tight

[2000oldsilh]

Yes all bleaders are tight. There is plenty of fluid in the system.I read in the manual, that you have to bleed the traction control system first before you bleed breaks. What Im I doing wrong? I did this job on few other cars and I had no problem. Do you think the fluid may be the problem? Thanks.

[merc81]

Originally Posted by 2000oldsilh

I have very soft breaks. Almost right to the floor. When I pump it a few times the pedal gets hard but then looses it's pressure and back to the floor. I bled the system. All the shoes and pads are new. What is going on?

thanks,

Chris

If you just rest your foot on the brake pedal, does it gradually sink all the way to the floor? That is the symtom of a bad master cylinder. When it starts to fail, brakes get soft, pedal will sink to the floor in about a minute or less.

[rockwood84]

seals are worn out in the mastercylinder. time for a new one.

[rockwood84]

are the wheel cylinders leaking in the rear hubs?

[2000oldsilh]

No there is no leak at all anywhere.

[gls02]

When you bleed the brakes you have to start with the wheel furthest from the master cyclinder, the right rear wheel. Then bleed the left rear, right front and then the left front. If this doesn't work then I too believe that your master cylinder is bad.

[2000oldsilh]

I changed master cylinder, put new fluid and bled the breaks. That finaly solved the problem. Now breaks work just fine. Thank you all very much for your input to fix my van.