2001 Kia Spectra front brakes

Tiny
MRPATINO
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 KIA SPECTRA
Pedal feels spongy. Brakes don't engage until pedal almost reaches the floor. Just changed front pads. Rotors good no fluid leaking from lines. Master cyl. Within specs. Air in system maybe?
Sunday, October 11th, 2015 AT 9:18 AM

5 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
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Which computer? What problem are you trying to solve?
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Sunday, October 11th, 2015 AT 10:28 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
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Sorry about that. Right answer; wrong Kia.

Did the low brake pedal start after the front pads were replaced, or did you replace the pads thinking that would solve a low pedal? What specs are you referring to for the master cylinder? Did you do anything that would allow air into the system?
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Sunday, October 11th, 2015 AT 10:36 PM
Tiny
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Sorry I meant the master was filled to proper level. The brakes were already spongy but the pads needed replacing anyways. I figure I need to bleed them but what is the order. Which brake is bled first and so on?
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Monday, October 12th, 2015 AT 12:06 PM
Tiny
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Which brake is bled first depends on who you're talking with. Some people say the right rear is first so the largest percentage of air is removed by bleeding that one line. Some people do the left front first to get one line fully-bled as quickly as possible so pressure is easier to build to bleed the other brakes. I have a system for choosing which one to bleed first. It's the wheel I'm standing closest to.

Also, I only gravity-bleed. I never use a helper or do pedal-bleeding. If you resort to pedal-bleeding, you must never push the pedal more than half way to the floor. Doing so runs the pistons over the crud and corrosion that build up in the lower halves of the bores where they don't normally travel. That can tear the rubber lip seals, resulting in a low or a slowly-sinking brake pedal.

Once new brake pads are installed, the pedal has to be pumped to run the pistons out of the calipers. That's another opportunity to push the brake pedal too far.
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Tuesday, October 13th, 2015 AT 7:06 PM
Tiny
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Much thanks sir. Just wanted to verify what I learned many years ago from a hot headed man that had to work on his car after a long day at work. My dad.
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Tuesday, October 13th, 2015 AT 9:23 PM

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