Archived Soft Brake pedal

[SMalafy]

Just changed my rear brakes and wheel cylinders and bled the entire system and now I have a mushy pedal. ABS warning light is on. What did I do wrong ?









95 2500 4x4

 

[MidwestMotorman]

Well, you may still have air in the system or your rear brake shoe clearance is incorrect. Did you pump the brakes to bleed them? You may still have air in the system if you did. Vacuum bleeding (using a hand operated vacuum pump) is much better.

 

[jtwcummins]

The best way to bleed brakes is power bleed, vac is a close second. I bought a power bleeder from Motive products for $80. Worth it since I flush the lines about every 3 yrs. If you haven't flushed your brake lines, completely replace the fluid with new, take truck to a good brake shop and have it done. Bleed and flush are the same operation and worth the money. In the Bay area it runs $50-75 for flush.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Originally posted by SMalafy

Just changed my rear brakes and wheel cylinders and bled the entire system and now I have a mushy pedal. ABS warning light is on. What did I do wrong ?









95 2500 4x4

First, the reason the ABS brake light is on, when you blead the rears, whoever was pumping the pedal pushed it down so far it caused the pressure differntial switch to close off the brake lines to the rear wheels and turn the light on. This probably also prevented you from gettting all air out of the system. To put the light out, have someone put slight pressure on the brake pedal and watch the light while you open the bleeder on one of the front calipers, tell the person who is pressing on the pedal to stop and hold the pedal where it is when the light goes out and to yell at you so you can close the bleeder Now with the light out, continue with the bleeding of the rear wheel cyls. , just tell the person pressing on the brake pedal to do it very gently and only about half way down, (best done with engine off) then close the bleeder and repeat. bg

 

[y-knot]

You still have air in the system, the bleeder they recommended does work very well. Also whit a truck that old, you should replace all the rubber brake hoses. They are about shot , and the rubber will give all more, which really adds to the mussy pedal. If you can spring for the SS lines, there is nothing like them.