Soft Brakes after brake job

[Dr.Evil]

I recently installed new front rotors, calipers, and pads on my sho. I bled it twice and went to try it, and I have to press the pedal further than usual to get it to stop. So I rebleed the fronts and the rears and it is the same. Do it one more time, absolutly no air in the system and it is still the same. if I pump it a couple times it stiffens up.
What could the problem be? shrug Should I invest in one of those pressure bleeders?
thanks!

 

[Machspeed]

Wouldnt that suggest a bad master cylinder? If you haveing pressure trouble and have to build pressure...

 

[Mr Anonymous]

Did you bleed in the proper order? RR, LF, LR, RF is the proper order to purge the system of air.

 

[Speedy_91_SHO]

When I did mine, it was my first time doing them. My friend was helping me and he has done them before. I got anti-squeak stuff. I didn't know to put it on the back of the pads, not the front. doh He said when he did his it went on the actual pad. Well, my pedal was spongy obviously. I took my wheels back off and cleaned off the rotors with brake kleen. I got all of it off and they were fine. shrug

 

[PanamaPat]

Dr.Evil:
I recently installed new front rotors, calipers, and pads on my sho. I bled it twice and went to try it, and I have to press the pedal further than usual to get it to stop. So I rebleed the fronts and the rears and it is the same. Do it one more time, absolutly no air in the system and it is still the same. if I pump it a couple times it stiffens up.
What could the problem be? shrug Should I invest in one of those pressure bleeders?
thanks!

Is this a car with ABS? I had the same problem with an ABS equipped SHO and I finally got it fixed with an ABS bleed box and several bleeding jobs. The ABS bleed box is an electronic box that plugs in place of the ABS computer and cycles the ABS equipment so that you can flush out any air bubbles that may have gotten trapped. I bought one of the boxes on ebay for less than $20.00

Details:
Thexton ABS TEVES IV Brake Bleeder
Purchased on ebay from: [email protected]

I just checked and it looks like he is still selling them on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10368&item=2430761457

 

[sdpatt]

Are you aware that you DO NOT have to bleed the brake fluid to replace the pads and rotors? On the front brakes, all you have to do is press the piston back into the caliper with a caliper spreader or C-clamp. The fluid just goes back into the reservoir. Any opening of the hydraulic system raises the risk of introducing air or moisture. Both of which can cause problems.

 

[kd7kmp]

If you read the first sentence in the post you will notice that he did replace the calipers. Later.

Kevin

 

[haydenm315]

SHOooo:
Did you bleed in the proper order? RR, LF, LR, RF is the proper order to purge the system of air.

If you do one wheel at a time, does this matter? Are you referring to a brake job procedure or just to remove air from the system?

 

[haydenm315]

sdpatt:
Are you aware that you DO NOT have to bleed the brake fluid to replace the pads and rotors? On the front brakes, all you have to do is press the piston back into the caliper with a caliper spreader or C-clamp. The fluid just goes back into the reservoir. Any opening of the hydraulic system raises the risk of introducing air or moisture. Both of which can cause problems.

I never knew that scott. I did front brakes on my tempo. Obviously the new pads were too thick to fit without spreading the caliper. It was easy to spread the caliper after opening the bleeder valve. Unfortunately I broke the bleeder valve on one of the calipers. I'm still stumped as to how and why the bleeder valve would not come out. It should not be that tight. My only guess is the car was still warmed up. Could the metal expand to the point that bleeding the system was impossible? I never did get that valve out. My friend got me a new caliper because he owed it to me for borrowing my car when I told him it needed brakes very soon.

 

[revhardSHO]

I dont think the 89s had abs but im not 100% sure. You may be low on brake fluid from replacing the calipers. Check the level.

 

[JaySHOguy]

smithsil:
I dont think the 89s had abs but im not 100% sure. You may be low on brake fluid from replacing the calipers. Check the level.

No, '89's do NOT have ABS. But, I believe he is referring to his '90 SHO that he did brakes on.

FWIW, I just did rear calipers on my '89 over the weekend. I had to bleed the entire system(front and rear) as I had air in it.