Ever since I got the car back from the shop my brakes have been spongy as hell unless I hit the brakes twice in a row. The second time I hit it, it feels like it did before I got to the shop. So here's some background of what I got done:
SuperPro bushings full set
GC coilovers
Polyurethane motor mounts

When I first got the car back the ABS light was on, but they cleaned the sensors and it went away. Not sure if that has anything to do with anything.

They claimed that they didn't disconnect any of the brake lines so no air should have gotten in, but I still had the shop bleed my brakes, they gravity bled all four corners. That helped nothing.

Then I found someone with a vacuum bleeder and we did a full brake fluid flush out of all four corners. STILL the same. Spongy on first press, firm on second press.


What else can I do? I have a track day coming up this weekend and I really don't want to have to hit the brakes twice every single time. Any help is appreciated!

 

brake booster.

when you press the brakes the fluid is being pressurized, so when you press it a second time the fluid is already pressurized and brakes easier. to some degree its normal for it to be firmer after you press the brake 1 or 2 times.

 

Hmmm ok, but I don't remember having this issue before... Used to be pretty firm on the first press...

 

Some people have experienced the same thing you are describing, but no one has been able to pinpoint the problem, so they resort to replacing major components one by one until it goes away. I think people hypothesized that it was the ABS unit.

The fact that you got it back from the shop with the abs light on is fishy to me. Check for any abuse that may have been done while they may have had the car.

 

Hmm I have looked around and haven't been able to identify anything strange. Any suggestions on what to check out?

 

First off, it isn't the brake booster. Could be the brake master cylinder, though.

Check and make sure the system is leak free. Also, check to make sure the pads are moving smoothly in the calipers, if you have a caliper or pad that's sticking, you may need one pump to unstick it, two pumps to force it into the rotor.

Dale

 

i have similar problem, here is what happened.. my car sat for 3 years or so. after i got it running, i ran out of brake fluid to the point where my pedal would go all the way down. it would require 1 full pump to get the brakes going. i refilled the reservoir and i was going to bleed the system, but it was getting better. after about 200 miles i'd need to pump the pedal maybe half way. now after 1000 miles, i dont need to pump but it feels little different when i get on brakes first and second time.

i think in red_dragons case, the fluid completely leaked out at the shop, then was refilled and bled, but there is still little bit of air trapped in the system..

i guess drive the car more and see what happens, then bleed the brakes properly.

 

Sounds like a basic air bubble in the brake line. When i did a full brake rebuild i thought i bled them enough. Went for a drive and they where doing what you described after another round of bleeding they are back to normal.

 

Okay hmm how did you do the bleeding? Maybe I've been doing it wrong all along.

 

Red Dragon, can't help you much yet but just to give you little info on my end, My FD brakes don't work at all. Just got it and from the previous owner he said the ABS control unit is what causing them not to work. Got a mechanic to come tomorrow to take a look to see and test if it is the ABS control unit or something else.

I don't know if this might be your issue as well but may be its coming from the ABS control unit.

 

Try disconnecting the ABS and see if it goes away.

thewird

 

Hmm, that's an idea. How do I do that?

 

unplug it i'd imagine. 2 connectors right by the abs. Is the brake booster line connected? Have you noticed any brake fluid disappearing? Sounds kinda like the master cylinder is goin to me...or something is leaking

 

also to fully bleed your system, you should do a regular bleed on all 4 sides, drive the car and egnage ABS a few times. Re-bleed again. If theres air in the ABS system this should get it out.

 

also bleed the clutch

 

to bleed the lines, have someone floor the brake pedal while you unscrew the bleeder valve on each caliper. make sure you tighten it ALL THE WAY. before the person takes their foot off the brake. repeat for each side, 2 or 3 times per side. per caliper.

 

Yea I think I did do the bleed properly, but I'm pretty sure I still have air somewhere, maybe in the ABS =(.

Removing the ABS fuses didn't seem to help.

I'm going to rebleed again tomorrow and see what happens.

 

i bled abs with key in the on position. I also bled it between each line that i could...before abs and after abs

 

I've drained my system, disconnected the ABS to install the Garfinkle Torque brace, etc.. Never needed to mess with putting the key in the ACC position or tricking the ABS to bleed the brakes.

red_dragon, you need to do as we talked in PM's and bench bleed the MC. After that, do a full MANUAL bleed of the brakes (i.e. 2 person bleed). I've found that when the system gets drained (whether on purpose or accident), the vacuum/pressure bleeders don't work as they don't provide the same amount of pressure as the MC piston.

A picture of bench bleeding the MC while it's installed in the car for others:

http://mahjik.homestead.com/files/FD.../DSCF1897s.jpg

 

Exactly. The only way brakes should ever feel spongy is if there is air somewhere in the line. Once air gets in the MC, there's no way to fix it unless you bench bleed it. Obviously you'll have to re-bleed the rest of the system, but once you get that done, you should be good as new.

 

Yea I'm going to do that as soon as I can track down some brake line or something to attach to those 2 holes.