Ok, this is not for a thirdgen but shouldn't matter.

This is a '96 Nissan Sentra. Today I replaced the front brake pads and rotor, and now I have a problem.
In order to compress the piston back so I could fit the new brake pads over the rotors I had to loosen the bleeder screw, and then a bunch of brake fluid eventually leaked out. Well, I got everything on and bolted back up, but now there's no brake pedal. After putting it all back together, I checked the fluid reservoir and it was half empty, so I poured some fluid up to the top. Well..... that didn't do anything. When the car was off, I pumped the pedal a few times and it came back real stiff right away. When I turned the car on it was completely soft again, no brakes. Checked the reservoir, still full. Turn the car off, pedal comes back when I pump it, turn it on, goes away.

What am I doing wrong, or not doing that I should be? Please help, because now I can't drive it anywhere

Also, the right side brakes fit reeaal tight on the rotor when I put the new ones on and I couldn't compress them any further (or didnt care to try). I thought that they will self adjust, is this right or do I need to do something to that as well?

Thanks a lot guys, any help is much appreciated!

Tim

 

my guess is you sucked air in the system. i'd think if you'd removed the cap to the resivour it would of done the same as the bleeder screw without the chance of getting air in the system. try bleeding the brakes.