Last night, i changed the brake pads and fluid to an ITR. After the pads were installed, fluid was flushed, and all lines bled, I proceeded to to go for a test run. Getting out of my driveway, i discover the pedal is EXTREMELY soft. Thinking there is more air in the lines, i started to bleed the brakes again to discover there is no air anywhere!! The wierd thing is that when the car is off, the pedal is holding great pressure (very stiff pedal) but once the car is turned on the pedal is almost to the floor. Also, i can hear this air leak sound coming from the ABS unit everytime i pump the brakes with the car on. I compared it to my other friends ITR to discover that the other ITR doesn't make this noise. Could me ABS unit be shot?? The brakes were growing weak on me before i changed these parts.

 

Maybe there is still some air in ABS unit?

 

But if there is still some air in the ABS unit, why would it hold pressure with the car off?

 

Maybe some valves in the ABS close when you shut down the car... Just a wild guess..... If it's true you can try bleeding it with the engine running!!!


[Modified by EuroITR1689, 4:03 PM 8/17/2001]

 

Just bleed bleed bleed. Sombody had this problem a while ago and lots of bleeding solved it.

 

I had the same problem, my pedal feel got soft on me one day, and then was getting worse and worse for a few weeks. Also, as in your case the pedal held good pressure with the car off, but not when it was on. First I had the lines bled, the I had the calipers, rotors, pads, etc. checked and they were all fine and then I had all the same stuff redone/rechecked at another place (just to be sure). I finally ended up replacing the master cylinder and all my problems were solved.

 

BTW how did you change the fluid? What I do is replace the fluid in the reservoir first and then pump the old fluid out of the 4 bleeding bolts until all old fluid is replaced by new fluid. Keep the reservoir filled with new fluid. In this case you won't get air in your system...

 

bleed, bleed, bleed... then bleed again.

get a rubber mallet and beat the hell out of your calipers while bleeding. whack the ABS modulator too for good measure. tap any high spots in the hard lines, valve, etc.

then bleed some more.

D

 

I had the exact same problem and it was the result of air trapped in the brake lines. Do as Dr Pooface says and just bleed them again to get all the air out of all the lines. Your brakes should otherwise be fine.

Just remember air can compress a lot more than brake fluid does so with any amount of air in the lines it will take signifigantly more pressure on the brake pedal which is causing your pedal to feel soft.

 

Thanks for all the help! I dried the system first before adding new fluid cause i am going from **** fluid to Motul RBF 600 hence i didn't want to make mix them up! Someone suggested bleending with the car on...do you think i should try that? Or just keep bleeding and bleeding and bleeding and bleeding.........? Thanks.

 

so what was wrong?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Del_Slowest &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">so what was wrong?</TD></TR></TABLE>

What did you miss reading?

He needed to bleed the system till the pedal was firm again.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 1GreyTeg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

What did you miss reading?

He needed to bleed the system till the pedal was firm again.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

i guess that worked for him, but he never updated if it was the problem for sure.

 

Ive always done it with the engine on, works great, jack it up on jackstands, take all the wheels off, have fun for the next hour with Gf bitching at me.

 

if that doesn't fix it, some people have "exercised" the abs unit. Rainy day, find a parking lot, and work the abs to hell. It'll get the air out.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DutchITR1689 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Maybe there is still some air in ABS unit?</TD></TR></TABLE>BAM

 

Damm this thread is old

 

I don't want to say it..

but if the bleeding does not work... it could possibly mean your brake master cylinder is going out.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by The HamsterBall &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I don't want to say it..

but if the bleeding does not work... it could possibly mean your brake master cylinder is going out. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes but not based upon what the original poster posted above.

If the guys brakes were fine before his swap and hopefully he followed correct bleeding procedures, then bleeding was the answer to his issues.

It really is too bad he didn't post up his ultimate results.

 

n00bz

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=925064

 

ITR brakes suck. They always feel soft. I have given up on them.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by onyx00 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ITR brakes suck. They always feel soft. I have given up on them.</TD></TR></TABLE>

You're still having problems?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 1GreyTeg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

You're still having problems?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Touch and go. They are good lately, but sometimes they get a little soft. I think I am going to change pads and see if that helps.

 

Brakes are overrated anyways