Brakes feeling squishy still after bleeding.

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nodashi

nodashi

Joined
May 19, 2024
Threads
2
Messages
14
Location
Washington
Ever since I put in the extended brake lines in the rear the brake pedal has never felt as firm as it did before. Now, I have bled the brakes. Rear with the ABS pump and front with a vacuum bleeder. I though I was doing something wrong but even the local mechanic bled the brakes and it still feels squishy. Anyone got any tips?
 
nodashi said:
Ever since I put in the extended brake lines in the rear the brake pedal has never felt as firm as it did before. Now, I have bled the brakes. Rear with the ABS pump and front with a vacuum bleeder. I though I was doing something wrong but even the local mechanic bled the brakes and it still feels squishy. Anyone got any tips?
Click to expand...
What are your pads and rotors like? Pretty new still or showing a little wear?
 
For whatever reason the brakes on these rigs can trap little bubbles in them. I've bled my brakes 4-5 times, always with the ABS system and always had good luck, but when I put on new brake hoses last summer, still got a bubble in one of the rear lines after bleeding.

I ended up getting a Motive Power Bleeder and bleeding the rear brakes again. This resulted in one tiny bubble coming out of the right rear caliper. It seemed like the smoothness of the power bleeder help push it out, as opposed to the violent nature of bleeding with the ABS pump. Not sure why I had good luck so many times before, but I won't be bleeding with the ABS pump again. The power bleeder attaches to the master cylinder and uses low pressure (like 5 psi) to push fluid thru the lines.

I've also tried vacuum bleeders and don't like them....I personally don't trust their ability to remove air bubbles unless you 1) have a perfect seal on the bleeder valve and 2) generate enough vacuum to actually pull brake fluid through. In my experience, both of those things are hard to do with a vacuum bleeder.

If both you and your local mechanic bled with the ABS method, maybe you have a tiny bubble in there. If you have squishy brakes after putting on new lines but not touching anything else, there is about a 90% chance you have an air bubble in there. I'd buy the Power Bleeder and give it a shot.
www.motiveproducts.com

0101 Round Universal Power Bleeder Kit – 2 Qt One-Person Bleeder

Universal one-person brake bleeder kit with 1.5"-2.90" round adapter. Fits most import & domestic cars. 2 qt tank, 4 ft hose. Motive Products 0101.
www.motiveproducts.com www.motiveproducts.com
 
r2m said:
What are your pads and rotors like? Pretty new still or showing a little wear?
Click to expand...
pretty new with little wear
Rednexus said:
For whatever reason the brakes on these rigs can trap little bubbles in them. I've bled my brakes 4-5 times, always with the ABS system and always had good luck, but when I put on new brake hoses last summer, still got a bubble in one of the rear lines after bleeding.

I ended up getting a Motive Power Bleeder and bleeding the rear brakes again. This resulted in one tiny bubble coming out of the right rear caliper. It seemed like the smoothness of the power bleeder help push it out, as opposed to the violent nature of bleeding with the ABS pump. Not sure why I had good luck so many times before, but I won't be bleeding with the ABS pump again. The power bleeder attaches to the master cylinder and uses low pressure (like 5 psi) to push fluid thru the lines.

I've also tried vacuum bleeders and don't like them....I personally don't trust their ability to remove air bubbles unless you 1) have a perfect seal on the bleeder valve and 2) generate enough vacuum to actually pull brake fluid through. In my experience, both of those things are hard to do with a vacuum bleeder.

If both you and your local mechanic bled with the ABS method, maybe you have a tiny bubble in there. If you have squishy brakes after putting on new lines but not touching anything else, there is about a 90% chance you have an air bubble in there. I'd buy the Power Bleeder and give it a shot.
www.motiveproducts.com

0101 Round Universal Power Bleeder Kit – 2 Qt One-Person Bleeder

Universal one-person brake bleeder kit with 1.5"-2.90" round adapter. Fits most import & domestic cars. 2 qt tank, 4 ft hose. Motive Products 0101.
www.motiveproducts.com www.motiveproducts.com
Click to expand...
I am going to try to use tech stream to bleed the brakes if that fails then I will try your method. Thank you
 
+1 on the Motive Power Bleeder

I use this on all of my rigs and made for a dead simple brake fluid flush on my 460 as well

Cap I used w/Motive on 460



51I5P0lo3XL._AC_SL1000_.jpg
 
I did the redneck version of tech stream. I hit gravel roads and repeatedly engaged abs and used the abs pump to bleed the system when I did my front pads a few weeks ago. I was distracted and let air in the system.
 
Rednexus said:
Didn't know they made that, but I'm going to invest in it next time. The universal one works, but I had to use a piece of copper wire under the MC to get it to cinch down and seal.
Click to expand...
Ah, makes sense. I had a hard time getting the Motive to seal properly last time I tried it. I had a friend help me bleed the brakes today. GX running and pushing the brake while i bled each corner. But the brake pedal still seems too squishy. I'm going to order that cap and try again again.
 
M3GX said:
Ah, makes sense. I had a hard time getting the Motive to seal properly last time I tried it. I had a friend help me bleed the brakes today. Pushing the brake while i bled each corner. But the brake pedal still seems too squishy. I'm going to order that cap and try again again.
Click to expand...
If you can activate the ABS you can use the ABS to bleed out the bubbles if you dont have time to bleed it.

Its white trash but it works in a pinch. I use gravel roads with loose gravel.
 
Hiluxforever said:
If you can activate the ABS you can use the ABS to bleed out the bubbles if you dont have time to bleed it.

Its white trash but it works in a pinch. I use gravel roads with loose gravel.
Click to expand...
Is that just slamming on the brakes? Not many gravel roads around me, but I could on one of the back roads near our cabin.

I also have an Autel that could likely activate it, but need to grab it from storage and play around with it.
 
M3GX said:
Is that just slamming on the brakes? Not many gravel roads around me, but I could on one of the back roads near our cabin.

I also have an Autel that could likely activate it, but need to grab it from storage and play around with it.
Click to expand...
You dont necessarily have to fully engage the brakes, thats why I usually aim for a gravel road that has a lot of loose material if I am going to go the redneck route, its lower risk and less wear and tear.
 
Thats a bummer. I should just get tech stream i have 2 toyota products and am probably going to get 1 or 2 more.

I got my honda fix for the decade.
 
I've since got the Motive cap and it works great. The brakes could also be squish due to perhaps a bulged hose. I'd try a re-bleed with the cap and see if that fixes it. All it takes is one tiny bubble.
 
Rednexus said:
I've since got the Motive cap and it works great. The brakes could also be squish due to perhaps a bulged hose. I'd try a re-bleed with the cap and see if that fixes it. All it takes is one tiny bubble.
Click to expand...
Likely a bubble somewhere. I've replaced all calipers, and the front hard lines from MC to caliper.
 
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