3rd Gen / L98 Engine Tech 1982 - 1992 Engine Related

new pads and rotors brakes still soft

Old Apr 13, 2004 | 01:36 AM
  #1  
kevin 2.8's Avatar
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new pads and rotors brakes still soft

at work i drive vehicles with 0 kilometers on them and the brakes are super hard nice and tight. i changed my front brakes to kevlar pads and crossdrilled rotors the car stops wicked now but the brakes are still soft. too much pegal travel. my brake fluid is muddy looking, was changed a year ago. is that whats making my brakes soft? or is the rubber lines going from the hardline to the caliper stretching? or somthing else?
anything i can do to harden things up a little?
Old Apr 13, 2004 | 01:39 AM
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Yea change that fluid. Also check the brake hoses. I replaced mine with new rubber hoses and it made it much better. Eventually I want to get the steel braided ones because someone on here told me how much better they are. Start there.
Old Apr 13, 2004 | 01:55 AM
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kevin 2.8's Avatar
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you mean for the rear drums?
they were done a year and a half.... i think i still have the recipt, midas with lifetime relacement warranty. ill get them checked
any way i can scrape/flush all the gunk out of the lines?
like is there any brake line flush/cleaner?

its 3am i love how you guys dont sleep, like me
Old Apr 13, 2004 | 02:09 AM
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Originally posted by kevin 2.8
you mean for the rear drums?
they were done a year and a half.... i think i still have the recipt, midas with lifetime relacement warranty. ill get them checked
any way i can scrape/flush all the gunk out of the lines?
like is there any brake line flush/cleaner?

its 3am i love how you guys dont sleep, like me
No i mean the front caliper hoses. I dont really think rear drums have to much of an effect on stopping or like soft pedal. I dont know why the fluid would get muddy. Bleed the lines with the hose connected to the steel lines but disconnected from the caliper. See if it poors out with a decent pressure or if it just dribbles out. If it just dribbles out disconnect the hose from the steel line and try it again. It should poor out. Then you know the hoses are bad. Im not sure if there is any kind of cleaner or flush for the lines. But you can put fresh fluid in and just run all the fluid threw the lines and then refill it with fresh and blead the lines and connect everything. Like you said.....Its 3 AM and what I'm typing might sound confusing...HAHA
Old Apr 13, 2004 | 02:22 AM
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kevin 2.8's Avatar
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sorry i saw hoses and read shoes

is it a big job to bleed the lines? ill probably do that when i go to town on my car at the end of the month (tax return time)
Old Apr 13, 2004 | 02:30 AM
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Originally posted by kevin 2.8
sorry i saw hoses and read shoes

is it a big job to bleed the lines? ill probably do that when i go to town on my car at the end of the month (tax return time)
No not at all. You will need 2 people though. One to pump the brakes and the other to open and close the bleeder nipple when your hose is reconnected to the caliper.
Old Apr 13, 2004 | 07:38 AM
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If you have time there's an easier way. Find something to scoop or suck all the fluid out of the master cylinder and fill it with clean fluid, then take the bleeder screws for all 4 wheels completely out. Put drip pans under them and go away for about a half hour. Keep a check on the drips, and when one of them turns clean put that screw in and close it off. Keep the master cylinder full through the whole process, and when you have clean fluid at all 4 wheels you're done. Out with the old, and in with the new.
Old Apr 13, 2004 | 12:31 PM
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I change my fluid once a year. Keeps the bleeder screws from freezing up and the fluid fresh. Perosnally, I think your problem witht he soft pedal is from worn out brake hoses. I got the Earl Hyperfirm set for my car and they worked wonders. Nice kit with 5 hoses in it for about $100
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