Need help with GC brake problem..

[UGotSchooledByaGirl]

Pedal is spongy after changing the front pads ( read drums are fine)and bleeding the brakes correctly and all.What could cause this and can someone PLEASE help me with this nightmare? I'm gonna try and shoot home like it is.But i know I wont make it much more after that.Thanks guys.

[TROLL]

all you did was change the pads? did you disconnect the brake lines at all? let the brake fluid reservoir run dry when you were bleeding? the brake fluid system must have been changed in some way for the pedal to feel different. i'd just bleed again...
bryan

[UGotSchooledByaGirl]

Nope.. Just changed the pads and pushed the pistons back in ( the usual pad change) and bled the system.im thinking there might still be air in the system? but i spent almost 2 hours tryin to decipher this and bleeding it and refilling the reservoir and there was never a change so how could there still be air in the system.I never let the reservoir run dry or disconnected any lines.Its not lleaking fluid at all.JSut has a spongy brake pedal and the car will barely stop.I made it home by down shifting alot and using the brakes for what i could get out of them.

I was supposed to go do something tomorrw but i have a feeling i will be in my garage all day tryin to figure this out. I might just buy more fluid and try again.This time ill dye the fluid or something so i know when the new fluid is making its way down..I dont know.. But something isnt right.The brakes apply but not hard enough.almost like there is no pressure..Its really weird to describe.

BTW.. Are these cars self adjusting or do you have to do that manually?

[TROLL]

dont put anything in the brake fluid! it'll ruin it. if you insist, get ate super blue fluid, which is actually blue. it shouldnt be necessary though since its not an issue of getting all the old fluid out but rather just making sure there is no air in the system.
of course with any new pads they should be bedded in properly but that wouldnt cause the pedal to feel spongy, it would just make your stopping distances longer.
you shouldnt have to adjust the brake pedal after new pads either.
i say rebleed tomorrow, bed the pads in, and see where you are then.

[UGotSchooledByaGirl]

Bed the pads in? ? Never heard that term before..Explain please.. AS for bleeding again. Ill try again tomorrow and see where I get with it.. I dont know where to get the super blue stuff nor how much it is and i wont dye it either now that someone set me straight on it..lol.I was told dying it wasnt bad tho.Damn ATC..bad teacher.. I havent had brakes yet at UTI So I guess I'll learn more this time around.Same was with drive trains... anywyas.. back on topic. .. Super blue or jsut bleed them till the air is out.I think i will stick with bleeding for now.Ill save the change in color for another time.Thanks.

[RyanG]

here's what you do. Bleed the calipers again. Not to be rude but are you bleeding them correctly? PUMP PUMP PUMP HOLD "bleed then close" repeat even if it feels spongy after, take the car for a SLOW drive around the block.
sometimes air bubble like to hide in weird spots. Then re-bleed

[UGotSchooledByaGirl]

I did ALL of that last night.I know how to bleed brakes I just dont know WHY i stil have air in the system... Im rebleeding it again today anyways.I drove home from philly to coatesville on bad brakes last night well the pads werent bad. jsut the pedal was too spongey.But thanks.

one more question.If I do this with the car off the brakes get hard but when I start the car they sink to hte floor..Should I be bleeding these with the car on? My other cars have NEVER given me this much problem and they ALL had power brakes.

[RyanG]

bleed with the car off. you might have a faulty brake booster as well tho

[UGotSchooledByaGirl]

Im beginning tothink thats the problem... Do those boosters run off of Vaccum?

[teh DIRT]

yes they do.

[UGotSchooledByaGirl]

ok.. That would explain alot.Ithink theres a vacum leak somewheres...Cause when I pres the brakes the car sounds like a honda with a vaccum leak.
I also have an exhaust leak at the cat.

[teh DIRT]

Originally Posted by UGotSchooledByaGirl

ok.. That would explain alot.Ithink theres a vacum leak somewheres...Cause when I pres the brakes the car sounds like a honda with a vaccum leak.
I also have an exhaust leak at the cat.

thing is just falling apart isnt it. swap time if i do say so/

[UGotSchooledByaGirl]

Waiting on my block that im supposed to get tomorrow and some heads to come available... Would a vaccum leak at the booster cause a spongey feel? I know its what is making the pedal sink to the floor when i turn the car on..but if i can nock both birds out with one stone.. all the better.

This jsut isnt my week.

[RyanG]

yes a leaky booster will cause that.

you need 2.5 heads??? got those

[UGotSchooledByaGirl]

Yup.. 2.5 heads I need...lol

ok So we found that its a leaky booster.Bled them again and no change.. ITs a leaky booster. So Is there a wya to seal a leak or do i have to get a new one?

[RyanG]

Originally Posted by teh DIRT

thing is just falling apart isnt it. swap time if i do say so/

YES YES YES YES !!! :D

[RyanG]

Originally Posted by UGotSchooledByaGirl

Yup.. 2.5 heads I need...lol

ok So we found that its a leaky booster.Bled them again and no change.. ITs a leaky booster. So Is there a wya to seal a leak or do i have to get a new one?

most likely its a leak IN the booster itself. you have a pm ;)

[UGotSchooledByaGirl]

Thanks.. Much appreciated. You have one in return.

[RyanG]

np. if you need those heads let me know.

[UGotSchooledByaGirl]

I will. jsut dont know when.. Jsut list me a price in a pm and I'll see what i can do.. have to converge with the guy pal ( if you so wish to call him that cause evcentually when im ready hes the next b/f) on it.