Spongy

Tiny
LUCILLE
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 56,000 MILES
I just installed rear drum brake on the right side of a 2003 cavalier and they seem spongy when I brake. I am not sure if I need to pump the brakes to get them to stiffen up or if I should try tightening up the adjustor.
Thursday, June 16th, 2011 AT 2:53 AM

1 Reply

Tiny
CUP1981
  • MEMBER
  • 133 POSTS
First thing I would try is bleeding the brakes, you may have gotten a little air in the lines. While you are bleeding them, check for any leaks coming from the lines.

I would then check out the fluid level.

Tightening the adjuster may help. Make certain the wheel rotates 3/4-to-1 turn when you spin it. This is the proper drag on the drums. I would doubt that incorrectly adjusted brakes would cause a spongy brake pedal.

I have a question for you. Did you replace just the drum, or the shoes, wheel cylinder etc, as well? If you replaced the shoes, then you could have damaged the seal inside the wheel cylinder. If you replaced the wheel cylinder, you may have not tightened the brake line, or gotten a faulty cylinder.

Try these things and get back to me.
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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 9:45 AM

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