what are some things that could cause a soft brake pedal, other than pads needing to be replaced? I dont think there is any air in the lines because i have changed pads several times since i have had the car and it has always been the same even after changing front and back brakes. What do you guys think?

 

Hyper, I dont think that worn down pads would cause a spongy pedal.. They would just grind lol. Try bleeding the brakes and make sure you have enough fluid in the master. Check your wheel cylnders too as they can cause that to happen. Good luck mate

 

actually, i noticed a difference when i changed my pads. not huge, but the pedal felt a little less spongy. also, look into replacing the rubber brake lines in the front and back- the old rubber tends to expand when the brakes are applied, giving a spongy pedal. or you can go to a steel braided line and never have that problem again.

 

yea faded brake pads will make the pedal a little spongy but that is to be expected. I stay on top of all the fluids so i know its good (pet peeve). I kinda figured that the brake lines could be causing some of it too. Will upgrade those when i do my rear disc conversion. Do you guys have any experience with these? What are your thoughts? I was thinking the other day that i may not have my rear shoes adjusted correctly. What is a good way i can check if they are adjusted properly? Still the stock drums.

 

pull the back tire off . push the drum tight to the axel and twist it back and forth just a little if you dont feel any resistance turn the adjuster till you do, then turn it back 1 click at a time until no resistance is felt. take the car out and make a few stops in reverse.

 

okay i will do that. Thanks will let you know how it works out.

 

did it work?

 

Had to do that myself. I also had to take the adjusters apart and lubricate them really well so they would actually work, they were all cruddy and frozen up.

 

LMAO...like a year later and were all still waiting.....

Anyway, I kinda had soft brakes and all I did was bleed the lines clean and refilled with fresh fluids(6 years/20 000km's ago).

 

If you press hard and long enough you can over heat your brakes. And if you do that enough times you can get like these heat pockets that will give you that soft feeling. Kinda like air bubbles.

I also plan to dump the dot 3 fluid and put dot 4 fluid in, (higher resistence to heat bubbles). My brakes should stay firmer for longer.

 

yea it's been a year later and still haven't even bothered with it. Don't drive her around much what w/ the gas prices up and down and 100 mile round trip drive every day. My plan is to drain the fluid and replace along with upgrading the lines, calipers, pads, etc. But that is at the bottom of the 400 page list of other to-do's.

 

Soooo, what did you end up doing about your soft brakes for the time being?

 

as of yet... nothing. Just don't follow too closely and don't get in any big hurry when i do take it out for a drive. Since it's not a daily driver other priorities come first.