New caliper now squishy brakes
01-11-2006, 07:59 PM
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New caliper now squishy brakes
I just replaced one of my rear calipers and now my brakes are really squishy. I replaced the caliper with one from Fenco and the brake fluid with Gunk DOT4 (want to use a better fluid but local stores dont have any). Once the caliper was installed I blead all four corners untill I saw the new fluid, starting with the furthest from the master cylinder. The next morning I was driving to work and noticed that the brakes were squishy but seemed to work all right. Thinking that I had air in the lines I took the car to the mechanic next door to my work place. He power blead the brakes (I think this is similare to vaccum bleeding) and said that he only got a few small air bubbles. The brakes are still sqishy. I am stumped! Is it the new caliper, is there still some air left in there? I dont think its the brake lines, they were fine a few days ago. Is it the brake fluid? Please help.
01-11-2006, 08:05 PM
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Re: New caliper now squishy brakes (NitrousB.I.G.)
Make sure that the caliper you got was right and not for the opposite side...the bleeder should be toward the top of the caliper as it's installed.
Also, try holding the brake pedal and pumping the E-brake handle...just hold the button in and crank up on the handle several times. This can sometimes increase pedal feel on cars with the E-brake in the rear caliper, especially after a caliper change.
Did you change pads and rotors at the same time? It could just be that the pads need to be broken in as well.
Just FYI, it's not a good idea to mix different types of brake fluid. If your car calls for DOT3, use DOT3. DOT4, DOT5.1, etc, is not an upgrade for fluid. The power flush done by the shop probably flushed all your DOT4 out, hopefully he used the correct DOT3 fluid.
Also, try holding the brake pedal and pumping the E-brake handle...just hold the button in and crank up on the handle several times. This can sometimes increase pedal feel on cars with the E-brake in the rear caliper, especially after a caliper change.
Did you change pads and rotors at the same time? It could just be that the pads need to be broken in as well.
Just FYI, it's not a good idea to mix different types of brake fluid. If your car calls for DOT3, use DOT3. DOT4, DOT5.1, etc, is not an upgrade for fluid. The power flush done by the shop probably flushed all your DOT4 out, hopefully he used the correct DOT3 fluid.
01-11-2006, 08:54 PM
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Re: New caliper now squishy brakes (anony95ex)
The caliper is right for that side.
You said to hold the brake and pump the E-brake, do you mean to blead the brakes while doing this?
Its not new pads or rotors.
As for the brake fluid I chose the DOT4 because it has the highest none synthetic boiling temp that the store had. From what I under stood any Glycol based brake fluid will not react to each other. To be on the safe side I blead the brake lines until I saw a color change. Am I incorect about the compatibility?
You said to hold the brake and pump the E-brake, do you mean to blead the brakes while doing this?
Its not new pads or rotors.
As for the brake fluid I chose the DOT4 because it has the highest none synthetic boiling temp that the store had. From what I under stood any Glycol based brake fluid will not react to each other. To be on the safe side I blead the brake lines until I saw a color change. Am I incorect about the compatibility?
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