Spongy brakes

KELLY L

MEMBER
2001 FORD EXPLORER
100,000 MILES

After changing front brake pads then bleeding all four along with the master, why would I have coasting to a stop, spongy brakes

Sunday, February 19th, 2012 AT 9:31 PM

10 Replies

RIVERMIKERAT

MECHANIC
6,110 POSTS

It sounds like you have air trapped in the brake system, go here and follow the guide

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-bleed-or-flush-a-car-brake-system

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Sunday, February 19th, 2012 AT 9:47 PM

CRAIGHAJR

MEMBER
1 POST
2001 FORD EXPLORER
6 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC
77,000 MILES

I replaced front brake pads and now have a soft pedal. I bleed the brake lines with no results. I don't see how I could have gotten air in the line by squezing the piston in and putting the pads on. Could it be the master cylinder? Or could it be the calipers?

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Saturday, December 26th, 2020 AT 2:30 PM (Merged)

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,937 POSTS

Hi there,

Start by checking that the new pads are sitting in the slots correctly, as if one is slightly cocked it will give a funny pedal feel. Try that first.

Mark (mhpautos)

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Saturday, December 26th, 2020 AT 2:30 PM (Merged)

HYRAILER

MEMBER
3 POSTS
1998 FORD EXPLORER
6 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC
132,258 MILES

I replaced all the brake lines and the left front caliper on my 1998 explorer and I bled them many times including the master and when Its not running I have a hard pedal the minute I start it I the pedal goes right down. I even used a vacum pump to bleed them and I have constant flow of fluid if I crack the bleeders where is the air stuck and how do I get it out the bleeders on top of the calipers.

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Saturday, December 26th, 2020 AT 2:30 PM (Merged)

DON OLIVER

MEMBER
101 POSTS

If they worked before they should work now. Check to see if pads are seated properly and not "cocking" also make sure caliper bleeder is on the top and not bottom. Good luck. If you clamp or pinch the hose does the pedal stay up when you start it? If so the problem is in the caliper area. Make sure of the pads.

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Saturday, December 26th, 2020 AT 2:30 PM (Merged)

HYRAILER

MEMBER
3 POSTS

The pedal is soft when I start it there is nothing wrong with pads it is an air issue I have air trapped somewhere an can't get it out!

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Saturday, December 26th, 2020 AT 2:30 PM (Merged)

DON OLIVER

MEMBER
101 POSTS

Well again I would suggest that you clamp off the hoses and see if the pedal is hard then. If it is, the problem lies in the wheel area. Logically it stands to reason that if the pedal is still soft, it points to the master cylinder or ABS unit. Isolate the two parts of the system and find out which one makes the pedal soft. Just because you only changed one line and caliper doesn't mean the air drawn in when the master was allowed to run dry is only in the one hose. Whatever the fluid goes through has to be suspect. IE master cylinder, abs pump. If you don't have plugs for master cylinder, I have seen people use a small nail with a large head inserted into the line removed from master and re-inserted into master. It blocks the fluid flow. If pedal is hard then, bleed the ABS. If it isn't bleed the master. If the pedal being soft means it is dropping while applying, you probably have a fluid leak.

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Saturday, December 26th, 2020 AT 2:30 PM (Merged)

HYRAILER

MEMBER
3 POSTS

I fixed it! I had no leaks and perfect fluid coming out all the time but still a soft pedal when I started it so I gave up and put the tires on it and tried it after hitting the brakes while running and moving the abs block did what it had to and the pedal came right up I have already put 100miles on it and it is fine. A ford mechanic said that was going to be the problem was the ABS he said it has to do what it want's and he was right!

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Saturday, December 26th, 2020 AT 2:30 PM (Merged)

JAIAMBE

MEMBER
2 POSTS
1994 FORD EXPLORER
6 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC
300,000 MILES

Other day my car overheated so I pulled on side. Then I was just looking around and to check the brake oil I took the capoff from the brake mastercylinder reservoir. ANd suddenly brake fluid overflowed and came out - back flow. And lost some fluid. Since then I got this spongy padel. There is no leak anywhere. I did bleed the brakes. But still cannot get rid of spungy brake and very ineffective brakes.

What is going on? What can I do?
Thanx for the answer in advance

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Saturday, December 26th, 2020 AT 2:30 PM (Merged)

DAVE H

MECHANIC
13,384 POSTS

MANUAL BLEEDING
Clean master cylinder cap and surrounding area. Remove cap.***** models are equipped with dual-type master cylinder.**** Bleed primary and secondary systems separately. Loosen primary or secondary master cylinder hydraulic line fitting. See Fig. 1 .
Fig. 1: Bleeding Master Cylinder (Typical)
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Wrap a cloth around brake lines to absorb escaping brake fluid. Slowly push brake pedal down to force out air. With pedal fully depressed, tighten fittings to prevent air from being sucked into master cylinder when pedal is released. Release pedal.
Repeat procedure until air is completely purged from master cylinder. When all air has escaped, tighten fittings with pedal down. Release pedal, and depress again. If pedal is not firm, repeat bleeding procedure.
Attach a rubber drain hose to bleeder fitting on front of master cylinder. Submerge hose in small container half-filled with clean brake fluid. Open bleeder fitting. Loosen bleeder fitting about3/4 turn. Slowly push down brake pedal completely.
Close bleeder fitting, and return pedal to fully released position. Repeat procedure until all air is purged from master cylinder. Repeat procedure at bleeder fitting on Rear Anti-Lock Brake Electrohydraulic RABS Valve, each wheel cylinder and caliper. See Fig. 2 . See BLEEDING SEQUENCE table under BLEEDING SEQUENCE. When bleeding is complete, fill master cylinder to proper level.