Brakes feel a bit soft, HELP!

[c8dhc]

Car is a mk2 16v and it has been sat for a couple of months. During this time I have done various repairs to it, including changing one of the rear calipers.

The problem is that when you press the brake pedal, it feels a little softer than it used to (drops about 3/4 of the way before you get any 'feel') I have bled the system 3 times now so surely there can't be any air in there. When you turn the engine off, pumping the pedal a couple of times results in a hard pedal.

The only thing I thought it could be is a vacuum problem. I did recently remove all the little vacuum pipes (when replacing air filter/modifying airbox) and tidied them up as they were all over the place. I had a diagram which I followed when refitting them but it wasn't too clear on a couple of connections so wonder if I have fitted some incorrectly?

Does anyone know if this sounds like a vacuum problem + has anyone got any good diagrams/pictures of where all these little pipes go?

Cheers, Dan

[danny_p]

it's not a vacuum problem,  that would make the brakes feel harder.  you defiantly have air in there  teh pedal on mine dosen't get 1/3 of the way down and the founts have locked up.    if the bias valve got drained when you changed the rear calliper it can make bleeding the brakes quite a pain.

 

[Khare]

did you use new fluid when you flushed it? Im saying it os you might have water in the system.

[c8dhc]

Used a fresh bottle of Halfords 5.1.

There was minimal fluid loss when changing as I removed old + whipped new one straight on. Have been reading up on this problem and various people say you need to hold the bias valve open when bleeding but I seemed to be getting lots of fluid through without doing this.

As said, I have bled 3 times now (used about 1/2 a litre of fluid)

I only have a manual bleed kit (the type with non return valve) - think it's time to get one of those pressure bleeding kits!

[Dolly]

hope you removed the 4.1 first... maybe you mean DOT 4.1 the yellowy stuff that everything uses? ive put 5. in a race car before.

[Steve_B]

Did you clamp the bias valve when bleeding?

[c8dhc]

Definatly 5.1 fluid (flushed nearly a litre through it when I first bought the car)

I didn't clamp the bias valve but got loads of fluid out of the rears so would I need to?

Anyone got one of these:
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_204645_langId_-1_categoryId_71553
Any good?

[Seansixx]

mine does this.. still passed the mot.. i was told it was the brake servo going a bit OTT.. brakes still work fine.

explains why it only does it when the engine is on.. as the servo isnt running when its off.

[danny_p]

those easy bleed kits aren't that brilliant,   i still bleed most cars the old way,   undo all the bleed nipples and just let them weep for a while keeping the fluid topped up,  then do all of them finger tight undo the furthest one,   put a bit of tube over it and get someone else to pump the pedal while you twist it closed bit of a pain in the arse method but it works,   i normally pumps about 1/4 litre through then tighten and then give each of the others about 5 pumps.   the tube with a valve in works ok and lets you do it by self but it's very rare i manage to find mine,   

the easy bleed kits are crap because there quite good at making microbubbels in the  fluid they also they don't seal all that well and leak everywhere 

[rubjonny]

just to add dont pump the pedal too far down as it can damage the mc internaly, or so 'they' say at least!