No brake pressure and the brake pedal goes to the floor

Tiny
MICHAEL OSWALT
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 FORD EXPLORER
  • 4.0L
  • V6
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 230,000 MILES
I bleed my brakes opened all bleeders but there is no pressure and pump brake and it goes to the floor. Can you tell me what is wrong? I also replaced a broken brake line and added fluid.
Friday, November 4th, 2016 AT 12:02 AM

6 Replies

Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
Bleed one wheel at a time, a vacuum bleeder will also help, but pressure bleeding is the best option.

Here are two guides that will help us.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/brake-pedal-goes-to-the-floor

and

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

Please run down these guides and report back.
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Friday, November 4th, 2016 AT 5:24 AM
Tiny
JOHNNY G.JR
  • MECHANIC
  • 320 POSTS
Start bleedding on left front first, then right front, right rear, left rear last
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Sunday, November 6th, 2016 AT 6:47 PM
Tiny
JGBREB2007
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 FORD EXPLORER
  • V8
  • AWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 136,000 MILES
I have replaced a part of the brake line on my explorer. I have bled the lines and had no issues. The brake pedal was back to normal. Then I go to start the vehicle and my brake pedal goes to the floor. What else might be the problem?
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Saturday, December 21st, 2019 AT 12:25 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Try using a power bleeder first if that doesn't work a pro will have to hook up a scanner to open abs valves to bleed system.
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Saturday, December 21st, 2019 AT 12:25 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LANSTEC
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1998 FORD EXPLORER
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 143,750 MILES
I had a damaged front caliper driver side and all the brake fluid leaked. I just finished replacing front rotors, calipers, and brake pads for both sides. After installing the new parts, I bled the brakes both sides. If you pump brake paddel once or twice when engine is turned off, the paddel gets hard as it would be under normal circusmatance. But, when engine is running and you press the brake paddel, it sinks to the floor without any pressure. The vehicle doesn't stop and brakes don't work. I have bled the brakes twice and there is not air in the system (as I know). What am I doing wrong? I have changed master cylinder and brake calipers on other vehicles (Nissan Maxima 1987, Pontiac Sunbird 1983) before without any problems. Can you please help me? Thanks.
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Saturday, December 21st, 2019 AT 12:25 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LANSTEC
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
:D
Well I didn't get any help but I solved the problems. Wanted to post back to forums so it might help someone like me. The problem was that I had already mounted the new calipers on the Explorer before "bench bleeding" them. Even though after install I had let the gravity run fluid thru calipers and then bled the system as you would normally do, there was air traped on the top corner of the calipers because the bleed nipple is on the bottom side of the calipers.
Solution. I uninstalled the calipers. Turnered them upside down with the bleed nipple being the highest point on the calipers and let the gravity do its work. A lot of traped air came out. Once clear fluid was filled in the plastic tubing, I tightened the nipple. Instaleed the calipers and then bled the system again. Worked perfect.
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Saturday, December 21st, 2019 AT 12:25 PM (Merged)

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