No brakes when car running

[Rodney Charnholm]

2013 SHO I replaced all the calipers pads and rotors. I bled the brakes and it has a great pedal. When I start up the car the pedal goes to the floor. I replaced the master cylinder with a new OEM ford. Bench bled the master cylinder and same issue. I bled the brakes and did not see any air in the system. The reasons I replaced all calipers was because I had a noise coming from the passenger front area it felt like a caliper sticking. When I started to replace the front passenger side I found that pads we’re worn evenly so that was a surprise not sure what cause the pulling and brakes to grab. Also I pulled the fuses to the ABS and ran the car on jack stands and still same issue. Great pedal until you fire her up. With it running I can pump up the brakes and they get firmer but once you let up on the brake and push it down again it goes to the floor. Any ideas what may be causing this. Thank you

 

[802SHO]

Have you driven it? Like just slowly out of the garage and brake to stop? The pedal grabbing but then feels like it goes to the floor is fairly normal. Hard to know by just reading this and not being able to feel it. Sounds like you did everything correctly and I’ve only bled my brakes twice, I would get outstanding pedal firmness and then turn the car on……it goes farther to the floor. I hate that feeling and I’ve had the master cylinder replaced and brakes bled at one of my favorite shops (high quality) in the past, they hated the pedal feel after doing the brakes, to the point they bled everything again and no air…..did the same thing. I had to tell them it was normal for the car…..we all agreed it shouldn’t be like that. When I drove off it felt the same to me as it always did.

Take it for a slow and curious test drive unless you already have?

 

[FREAK_SHO]

Another thing to consider, peddle should firm up some once the pads are properly bedded.

I agree with 802SHO, Take it easy before attempting the bedding process.

 

[Rodney Charnholm]

Thank you I am going to get it on the ground and take it for a drive. I will let you know what I find out.

 

[Rodney Charnholm]

Something else must be going on as test drive proved it has some other issue. Before I changed all the calipers it felt like when I hit the brakes and let off the pedal it was dragging on the front and mainly on the front passenger side. When I replaced the calipers, pads , rotors the front passenger side pads were worn evenly. I originally though it was a caliper hanging up. So as of now it will go to the floor and I can pump it up and then if I let completely off the brake and apply the brakes it goes to the floor and is not doing a very good job of stopping the car. With the brakes pumped up it does an ok job of stoping. Also the brake pedal is slow to return to the full up position.Really stumped. Also I did re bleed the rear brakes by pumping them up and then cycling the emergency brake I saw a video on it. I did see a few bubbles. Any ideas or maybe it’s time to take her in to my local shop.

 

[802SHO]

Something else must be going on as test drive proved it has some other issue. Before I changed all the calipers it felt like when I hit the brakes and let off the pedal it was dragging on the front and mainly on the front passenger side. When I replaced the calipers, pads , rotors the front passenger side pads were worn evenly. I originally though it was a caliper hanging up. So as of now it will go to the floor and I can pump it up and then if I let completely off the brake and apply the brakes it goes to the floor and is not doing a very good job of stopping the car. With the brakes pumped up it does an ok job of stoping. Also the brake pedal is slow to return to the full up position.Really stumped. Also I did re bleed the rear brakes by pumping them up and then cycling the emergency brake I saw a video on it. I did see a few bubbles. Any ideas or maybe it’s time to take her in to my local shop.

Hmmm I’ll be honest I might cave and take it somewhere. I did my brakes with my vacuum and someone on the brake. It worked so well I had to keep an eye on the fluid level every time.

Perhaps all they will do is bleed them and maybe that won’t cost too much? Or try again I guess. One last time?

 

[Rodney Charnholm]

I may try to vacuum bleed I was doing the two man pump and bleed. My step son was going to get me the mighty vac he has. it just takes so long to get the car set up on the jack stands. I will let you all know what I find out.

 

[802SHO]

I may try to vacuum bleed I was doing the two man pump and bleed. My step son was going to get me the mighty vac he has. it just takes so long to get the car set up on the jack stands. I will let you all know what I find out.

Good luck! Hopefully you got it this time

 

[SHOrod]

When replacing the calipers did the master cylinder run out of fluid? If so, you may need to use a scan tool to bleed the ABS pump, especially if the key was turned on before bleeding the brakes.

I'm not sure if the ABS bleed is required any time the system is bled. Since I have a scan tool that can run the ABS bleed cycle I've done that every time I've bled the brakes so I'm not sure how much different it would feel if I the pump isn't also bled.

-Rod

 

[Rodney Charnholm]

When replacing the calipers did the master cylinder run out of fluid? If so, you may need to use a scan tool to bleed the ABS pump, especially if the key was turned on before bleeding the brakes.

I'm not sure if the ABS bleed is required any time the system is bled. Since I have a scan tool that can run the ABS bleed cycle I've done that every time I've bled the brakes so I'm not sure how much different it would feel if I the pump isn't also bled.

-Rod

I am very sure it did not run out I made the swap for each caliper in less then 2 min the rears are kinda of different not the typical banjo bolt. I have read about using software to activate the ABS while bleeding the brakes. I have a feeling it could be something to do with the ABS. I wish I would have investigate the strange noice and pulling / brake dragging before I assumed it was a bad caliper. I have an appointment next Thursday at my local shop. I will let everyone know what they come up with. Thank you all for your help. At least it looks nice with the new brake set up even though I can’t really drive it you have to zoom in a little to see it.

 

[802SHO]

It does look sharp

 

[Rodney Charnholm]

Well I found out the issue and with great shame it was installer error I had the front calipers Reversed. So I must have mixed them up while I was painting them and never noticed. The guys at the shop had a good laugh but said it was not the first time they saw this. I appreciate all your help thank you Rodney

 

[SM105K]

It happens to the best of us. Glad your SHO stops now.

 

[FrankK]

Rodney,

Can you explain why the calipers being reversed caused a problem.

I never knew there was a left or right caliper, thought you could interchange them.

Frank

 

[jasong_10]

When calipers are installed opposite of their intended side it locates the bleeder at the bottom instead of the top where it needs to be. So no matter how much the brakes are bled, there is always air left in the system as the bleeder is below where the fluid comes into the caliper, which leaves an air pocket between the banjo bolt and top side of the caliper.

 

[FrankK]

Thanks Jasong!

 

[Diatogen]

Same. Exact. Thing. Did the 2013+ upgrade to my 2010 and thought it was weird the new front calipers had the bleeders in a different location. Didn't think anything of it. After many failed attempts at brake bleeding and internet searches, I found this thread. Thank you for the follow up and admission of the true cause. You saved me a lot of rage and eventual humiliation at the shop!