2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission What did I do to my brakes?

[Silver Bullet Ram]

I changed the rear pads, rear disc setup on my truck. I opened the bleeder to push the calipers back in. Now my pedal is soft to about half way down before it feels firm. The pedal is slow to return. Bad calipers?



Gary

 

[nps]

Sounds like you got air into the system. No reason to open the bleeder valve - the fluid will go into the master cyl reservoir when you push on the caliper.



Give the system a good bleed and all should be good.

 

[ttbird]

I agree with above. Buy a Lisle 24300 Speedy Brake Pad Spreader from Geno's. Real easy or if you have a large C-clamp that will work also.

 

[CumminsPower98]

Yes I agree, you got air in there. Most will just gravity bleed so try that if you don't have anyone to help you or a bleeder tool of some sort. I used to always push the fluid back into the master cylinder also on everything I worked on but I no longer do that. It's probably fine most times but there is a chance of getting crud up in there and the next thing you know the master cylinder is bad. Most of the time I change the fluid anyway when changing brakes.

 

[BK]

Yup got air in there.

If you haven't change / flushed your brake fluid out ever before. Every few years you should. Brake fluid is hygroscopic, it absorbs water. Nows the time. . get a nice NEW big bottle, start bleeding at the furthest one from the master cylinder working your way to the nearest to the master cylinder. (right rear, then left rear, then pass front, then driver's front) do lots of bleeding from the right rear... get the air out and pass the old fluid through. Watch the master cylinder, once low then refill. Then move on to the 2nd furthest one. . get the master cylinder down to the min again, refill, move on to the front right, same thing, then front left.

Once you have a master cylinder full of clean fluid, and it seems all clean fluid is coming out of each corner, your done.



To make it simple I use a vac setup with a auto refill.

I vac out the old fluid from the master cylinder first, refill, hook up the auto refill.

I apply the vac to each corner... just watching till the fuild runs clear, then move on to the next. I start at the right rear, work my way up to the drive's side front. No pumping, no running the engine, works real smooth.



Click here for my brake bleeding system



There are other vac systems out now on the market.

 

[Silver Bullet Ram]

Yep, I bleed them and they work great. I always heard open the bleeder to push the caliper back in, because the back flush could mess something up. Thanks guys.



Gary