Replaced my front pads on my 2000 CRV. On first pad, I used a c clamp to press the piston in, but forgot to remove the cap on the master cylinder. Got a bunch of leakage over the rim anyway. Still plenty in the reservoir though.

Now my brakes are spongy. The MS cap jiggles a little too. If i blew out some kind of seal around the cap, im wondering if I'm getting air in that way. i dont see how else i could have gotten air in by changing pads.


Anyone else have some low-tech ideas? Its got to be simple.

Just tried bleeding the brakes, seem to be getting a lot of air thru on the first one (front left).

Any ideas?

 

did you bleed both front brakes? If you did, did you pump the brakes a few times till it's hard and then hold down the brake pedal and then bleed the nipple on the caliper for a few seconds only, close nipple, and repeat a few times?

 

Yes, I bled all 4 actually. Still spongy, and I don't even know why replacing the pads would have let air in.

My Haynes manual says that if the MS fluid got too low, I'll have to bleed the MS first (before the calipers) by unscrewing the brake lines and pumping until no air comes out. Anyone know how I do this without spraying brake fluid all over the car? There is no nipple on my MS, only the 2 female fittings for the lines.

So in upshot:

Could I have sponginess from a lack of seal on the cap, and how to I bleed the MS?