Soft brakes

[LLTB]

My 97 brakes work fine, but feel really soft — meaning the pedal has quite a bit of travel before I feel pressure. Also if I pump the pedal it does get harder and has a better feel.

I have replaced brake lines with Slee SS lines, replaced the brake booster (OEM) and cylinders, rotors and pads.

my shop did a full brake system flush.

What else could contribute to soft brakes?

Thanks in advance guys.

 

[ColoradoCarlisle]

Sounds like fluid to me

 

[LLTB]

Sounds like fluid to me

Right? Like air in the lines.

I’m just surprised because my shop is a top shelf Land Cruiser shop. Super competent.

 

[Malleus]

I think the consensus is moving towards air in the ABS pump as a likely source of poor brake pedal feel, when all else has been eliminated.

 

[White Stripe]

Did they replace the lspv?

 

[ppc]

Loose wheel bearings.

 

[LLTB]

I think the consensus is moving towards air in the ABS pump as a likely source of poor brake pedal feel, when all else has been eliminated.

Will look into this. Thank you sir!

 

[LLTB]

Did they replace the lspv?

Not sure what that even is! LOL I’ll look into that

 

[LLTB]

Loose wheel bearings.

Hilarious

 

[ppc]

Hilarious

That's not a joke. Loose wheel bearings cause runout/wobble of the rotor which pushes the pads away from the rotor. Applying the brakes you first have to get the pads in contact with the rotor. That why pumping the brakes gives better brakes.

 

[LLTB]

That's not a joke. Loose wheel bearings cause runout/wobble of the rotor which pushes the pads away from the rotor. Applying the brakes you first have to get the pads in contact with the rotor. That why pumping the brakes gives better brakes.

Thanks - I seriously thought you were joking! I did not know this about the bearings.

I had the wheel bearings done on front and rear axles in the past year - but maybe they did something wrong. I’ll look into it! Thanks

 

[Malleus]

I'd look at every other root cause before I went after the pump. IMHO, it's the root cause of last resort.

 

[Justcruzin]

Hey. Did you ever find a solution to your spongy brake pedal issue?

Here's what i got out of the way so far:

ABS: Deleted
LSPV: Deleted
Useless Y unions way up front near rad: Deleted
New pads front and rear.
Checked for bubbling rubber brake hoses: ️
Master cylinder: Replaced. Twice.
Bleeding master cylinder ️
Bleeding now very basic system: 32 times.
Pumping brake fluid backwards from bleeders to master cylinders ️
Check brake booster to MC rod gap ️
Checked for booster holding vaccum ️
Adjusted brake pedal height thru cleviss ️

Still spongy.
Running out of ideas.
I mean, my braking system is now as basic as a 1978 pick-up truck...but...
Still spongy.

Anyone out there have suggestions?
Thx.

 

[LLTB]

Hey. Did you ever find a solution to your spongy brake pedal issue?

Here's what i got out of the way so far:

ABS: Deleted
LSPV: Deleted
Useless Y unions way up front near rad: Deleted
New pads front and rear.
Checked for bubbling rubber brake hoses: ️
Master cylinder: Replaced. Twice.
Bleeding master cylinder ️
Bleeding now very basic system: 32 times.
Pumping brake fluid backwards from bleeders to master cylinders ️
Check brake booster to MC rod gap ️
Checked for booster holding vaccum ️
Adjusted brake pedal height thru cleviss ️

Still spongy.
Running out of ideas.
I mean, my braking system is now as basic as a 1978 pick-up truck...but...
Still spongy.

Anyone out there have suggestions?
Thx.

Check the wheel bearings. See post #10.

 

[MissahPapaJ]

I would try gravity bleeding the rears when the vehicle is on the ground before doing anything else for what ever reason old Toyotas seem to love it compared to a vacuum bleed.

 

[TXIN]

I use a power brake bleeder and Toyota specific master cylinder reservoir cap. Made a huge difference in my pedal feel versus vacuum bleeding or the traditional two person brake pedal method.

Lots of debris cleared out of the lines with the power bleeder even after a recent vacuum brake bleed.

 

[lumbee1]

Hey. Did you ever find a solution to your spongy brake pedal issue?

Here's what i got out of the way so far:

ABS: Deleted
LSPV: Deleted
Useless Y unions way up front near rad: Deleted
New pads front and rear.
Checked for bubbling rubber brake hoses: ️
Master cylinder: Replaced. Twice.
Bleeding master cylinder ️
Bleeding now very basic system: 32 times.
Pumping brake fluid backwards from bleeders to master cylinders ️
Check brake booster to MC rod gap ️
Checked for booster holding vaccum ️
Adjusted brake pedal height thru cleviss ️

Still spongy.
Running out of ideas.
I mean, my braking system is now as basic as a 1978 pick-up truck...but...
Still spongy.

Anyone out there have suggestions?
Thx.

Wheel bearings? Worn spindles?