Need some help figuring out what I'm doing wrong. I've changed the pads on my front discs a lot, and I've always had kind of a soft pedal compared to most newer cars. My daily car is a 2000 Stratus, and the brakes feel the same way, since I've changed the pads on it. My girlfriend's car is a '97 Pontiac Grand Am. She had good, sensitive brakes, but when I changed her pads and rotors, they got soft, and she says its harder to steer. Sorry I'm asking about non-thirdgens, but the problem applies to my camaro as well, I guess. I didn't think the problem was in the rear, as the shoes are self-adjusting in all of the cars. Here's my routine. I use big channelocks, sticking one end inside the rotor, to compress the caliper, remove the caliper, change the pads, replace the caliper, and tighten the bolts before moving to the other side. Am I introducing air into the system somehow? I've tried bleeding, but never found any air. Am I messing up the valves or the master cylinder? It's just weird because it happens with my brake jobs on any car I do. The brake fluid level isn't low when I'm done, either. Sorry about the long post, just hoping someone has seen an amateur have this problem and can tell me what I'm doing wrong.

 

That's how I do it. Never had your problem though.
Do you check the fluid level after you've pumped up the system with the new pads?

 

If you aren't removing lines, you aren't getting air in the system. One thing you may have forgotten is the bedding in process, or slamming on the brakes repeatedly (until you can smell them). It's best to do this the first time out with the new brakes, just make sure other cars aren't around.

Your procedure is correct other than that (maybe you buy cheap pads?). Did you have the rotors turned? Sometimes they don't need it but other times they end up with gouges that could reduce stopping power.

 

sounds alright to me. I noticed on a few of my cars after i replaced the front pads AND machined the front rotos i had a soft pedal. Took about a week for them to wear in. Pedal was okay after that.