I just replaced the Brake Pads on my 99' Expedition. The pedal feels like mush now. I did not turn the rotors. The Ford Technician states that the new pads will need to mesh with the rotors before good braking will occur. Why would the stiffness of the pedal change? I removed brake fluid prior to replacing the pads to allow room for the fluid when the pistons were compressed. Any suggestions?

 

Why did you remove fluid--had you added fluid in the past? How did you remove the fluid?

 

I followed the chiltons manual. It recommends removing fluid from reservoir to allow room for fluid to be pushed back into the reservoir when the pistons are compressed with a c-clamp. I used a 10 cc syringe to remove the fluid. Any help on why the pedal is still soft would be great. Thanks in advance.
Brian

 

Mush usually indicates air in the system. The preferred method of replacing pads is to open the calipar bleeder, then compress with a c clamp. The fluid will come out the bleeder. Sediment always collects in the lowest spot, calipar, pushing it up to the resivor sends the sediment through the ABS unit, which is undesirable. I do not know the proper procedure for bleeding the system but that is what you will have to do.

 

I have bled the system and still have a weak pedal. Any other suggestions?

 

There is no need to remove fluid, ive changed brakes on Expis and f150s a few times and never removed any. If your pedal is mush, you still have air somewhere in the lines.... I would just keep bleeding and topping off and it should get better little by little.

 

The mush feel can also be caused by the pads type you replaced them with.

Did you put on OE style pads or performance pads? I have found a difference in pedal travel depending on the pads I put on.

Glock