Squishy brakes, new pads, shoes and bled?
- Thread starter Jon
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My brakes are doing the exact same thing after I changed them. I thought I might have air in the lines and used a vacuum bleeder and re-bled the system and still have the issue. Maybe it was coincidence that the master went out that day but highly doubtful. Not sure I have been trying to resolve this over the last few weeks. Please let me know if you get a solution and I will do the same.
CO_FlyFisher
New member
Definitely sounds like a symptom of a dead master cylinder, however, kinda hard to believe both of you are having the same problem after a brake job. First thing is to make sure you're not pumping brake fluid out somewhere (the obvious, I know).
Another possibility is that you got air in the ABS system somehow. I have no idea how to check that, but I know that sometimes on vehicles with ABS, you cannot simply fill/bleed as usual. I hope that isn't your problem, because it can be a pain in the behind and expensive to fix.
Another possibility is that you got air in the ABS system somehow. I have no idea how to check that, but I know that sometimes on vehicles with ABS, you cannot simply fill/bleed as usual. I hope that isn't your problem, because it can be a pain in the behind and expensive to fix.
What does that have to do with the brakes???
TheDurk
Elite Member
Are you sure you didn't allow the reservoir to go dry while bleeding? If that happens, you need to bleed the MC and then re-bleed the rest of the brake system. There are two chambers in the reservoir so this mistake is easy to make. Ask me how I know. Bleeding the MC is easy, instructions in the FSM.
cj80cruiser
Senior Member
brian2sun
Elite Member
I'm guessing he must have been thinking that when the axle seal leaks, the gear oil from the diff gets on the brakes and ruins them. That wouldn't affect the pedal going to the floor though so that's not it.
So, I fixed my brakes today. Turns out I got air in the ABS system, heres what I did to correct; Went to a dirt road (to be nicer on my tires then pavement) made the ABS activate several times to push the air into the lines. Went back home bled them the old fashion way. And repeated the process 1 more time, now they are as good as new!
Limited2K
New member
That's exactly what i meant. The OP had said that it took a lot more pedal to slow down, which if the rear brakes aren't helping, is true.
Jon
New member
Ahhha! I fix yay! Tightened up again and pulled on brake cable to see how far it had to travel before stoping the wheel. The more times I pulled it the looser it got. So I kept adjusting tighter and tugging on e brake cable until it stopped slacking off. 1st test drive was a success. I left with good breaks and returned the same.
I am having this problem..i think the reservoir ran dry while bleeding because my buddy didnt know i had the line cracked open (miscommunication)
SOOO, now i have bled the shit out of my breaks. no air in lines. still squishy pedal.
1.) I dont have a FSM, so how do I bleed the master? Do i just undo the 2 lines from the side of it, attach tubes, and feed tubes into the resevoir and pump the shit out of it?
2.)I have ABS, could air be in there too?
3.) does a 98 4runner have a brake booster?, do i need to bleed brakes with the key on?
sorry, im new to 4runners. Basically i just did the axle seals and reinstalled everything, brakes were rubbing a bit so i left the adjuster turned all the way in. I spose its now possible that the rear pads are not engaging at all. would this cause a squishy pedal?
any help here greatly appreciated.
im ready to say screw it and take it to a shop.
funny, i was able to do axle seals, brakes, wheel bearings, replace bent axle
and i cant bleed the goddamn brakes.
TheDurk
Elite Member
1. See this post of mine: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/86585-1999-4runner-no-brake-pedal-after-flush-bleed.html#post749760 A little searching would have found it--I had to.Hint: Use the Google Search Box at the top, not the forum one.
2. I doubt it. I had my system completely open, disassembled and dry and the MC bleed plus regular bleed was all I needed to restore function.
3. Yours is like my '99. It is a booster, but it's not a fancy computerized one. Key doesn't matter.
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Thanks for your answers man, yeah i searched for hours, actually did read your thread earlier, just thought there was another way to bleed it. I tried what you said earlier today, but only once. Didnt help, i will do it 5 times tomorrow.
No way to attach hoses to catch the 5 pumps of fluid that are going to come out i assume.
Im really starting to wonder if its my un-adjusted rear brakes that might be causing this problem...i mean if the rear pads are not engaging at all, maybe thats where the squishy-ness is coming from?
Anyways. i will report back on this thread tomorrow, thanks again!
No way to attach hoses to catch the 5 pumps of fluid that are going to come out i assume.
Im really starting to wonder if its my un-adjusted rear brakes that might be causing this problem...i mean if the rear pads are not engaging at all, maybe thats where the squishy-ness is coming from?
Anyways. i will report back on this thread tomorrow, thanks again!
jkeith.w
Official Vendor
I think this may be my issue also - is there not a way to activate the pump in the shop environment?
TheDurk
Elite Member
Nothing comes out, strangely enough. You just feel vacuum against your fingers when the pedal gets released. Once is definitely not enough.
If the rear cylinders have a lot of free play, that for sure will squishify your feel. If the adjuster is at minimum, I hope your pistons all stayed in their cylinders. If one pops out, you'll have a real mess and no amount of bleeding will get things working.
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OK lets see if i have this correct...
When i tried earlier, i disconnected the two brake lines from the drivers side of the master cylinder. I had someone push the pedal in, then i plugged the holes with my fingers and had them release the pedal. The reason i stopped at once was because all that fluid came out of the 2 ports when they pressed the pedal in, i figured ..well the master must be full of fluid...why the hell do my brakes still feel squishy then....
when they pressed the pedal in though, a BUNCH of fluid shot out of the two holes onto the engine bay, which i really dont give a shit about, ill just put some cardboard down, but i need to repeat this process 5 times, correct?
remove fingers, pump pedal down(fluid squirts from 2 ports), plug holes with fingers, release pedal (to suck in new fluid from reservoir), repeat
Correct?
and again, thank you so much...im really getting worried ive messed something up, this whole axle job was stressful and at the very edge of my comfort range.....
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