i have an 87 formula with 4 wheel disc. i replaced the rear pads and driver's side caliper. along with ***tloads of other non brake related stuff. now the car is back on the road and when i hit the brakes, the pedal goes all the way to the floor without much resistance, and the car barely slows down. also, after enough braking i smell burning brakepad, it alsmot seems like only 1 caliper is doin the stopping, i also noticed not much rust is worn off the other rotors except one of the front ones which im guessing is the one working. Also i am hearving a scratching/squeaking form the caliper i replaced, almost like the sensor is rubbing, but the pads and caliper are brand new. i tried runnin with wheels off the ground and they stopped, so they must only barely work. they bleed, so there is pressure goin to them, somone told me abuot stickin a flathead into a spot on the caliper and it should depress it or somthing? he is a mustang guy, i dunno. If someone can help me with some test to isolate this problem it would help alot, also my e-brake kinda worked before this, then after teh change, i have no functionality from e-brake at all. mabye needs adjusting? i tried going in revers and stopping alot.

 

sounds like you have a piston or caliper stuck causeing the burning smell. the non working caliper may have a restriction in the line r the caliper may be wore out. preasure bleeding may help and you may have a problem with the MC. if the e brake worked before you fixed the car i'd be looking and figureing out what you did wrong and make it work again.

 

I completely agree with ede. Start with a good pressure bleeding of the system, and then if that doesn't cure it, start eliminating suspect componets 1 by 1 until you find the problem.

But from your description of the pedal going all the way to the floor, it sure sounds like there is air in the system somewhere.

I had (still have) a 69 chevelle SS396 that no matter how many times we manually bleed it, we couldn't get the air out. But 10 mintues with a pressure bleeder solved the problem.

 

ok, if there is a problem in the line i can't bleed it right? there already bled, so i can't have a line problem, of course i bled them right after installing. the car always rolls to a stop no matter how hard i hit the brakes, and the pedal goes to the floor, mabye the burning smell is just cause the pads are new? the e-brake no longer has any effect, it didn't have much before, but none now, i have to park it in gear cause it would roll. please someone help me out on this? is there a way to test a caliper? master cylinder?