Brake Bleed?
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Pennsylvania
Brake Bleed?
Hello,I just installed front brakes and rotors to my 2004 escape,but the pedal feels a little spongy and makes a noise like a squeaky dog toy.Do you think I should bleed the brakes down?I got some fluid that pushed out of the master cylander when I pushed the calipers in to put the new pads on,but didn't have to add any.The wife thinks it takes longer to stop now,but I said give the rotors and brakes time to seat.any suggestions,thank you.
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I agree with Matt, always change and bleed your brake fluid when you change the pads. In fact when I push the caliper back I always open a bleeder to let the old fluid out, rather than push that crap back into the system.
Always use a fresh unopened bottle of fluid. Brake fluid absorbs moisture, and water is bad for brake internals.
I'm also old school and I'll bed new brakes/rotors. Take the car for a ride on a road with no traffic. Lightly apply the brakes for a few hundred yards with your left foot, (right foot's on the gas). Then do a few fairly hard stops from ~30mph, (not panic stops).
YMMV
Always use a fresh unopened bottle of fluid. Brake fluid absorbs moisture, and water is bad for brake internals.
I'm also old school and I'll bed new brakes/rotors. Take the car for a ride on a road with no traffic. Lightly apply the brakes for a few hundred yards with your left foot, (right foot's on the gas). Then do a few fairly hard stops from ~30mph, (not panic stops).
YMMV
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Elder User
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From: Pennsylvania
thank you guys,I'll bleed them tomorrow.I assume as in other bleed's i've done you start with the passenger rear then driver rear,pass front ,driver front. or do you only bleed the fronts? My rears are drums,thanks,Al.
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If you have time, bleed all 4, starting with the wheel the furthest from the master cylinder. Don't just bleed the brakes, change the brake fluid. Use a turkey baster to suck out the old fluid in the mastercylinder, replace with fresh fluid. Bleed a brake, top off the fluid and repeat.
I use a small vacuum pump and can do the brake bleed without a partner to pump the brakes.
I use a small vacuum pump and can do the brake bleed without a partner to pump the brakes.
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Island Southeast Alaska
Always renew the fluid
Originally Posted by John2Thomas
If you have time, bleed all 4, starting with the wheel the furthest from the master cylinder. Don't just bleed the brakes, change the brake fluid. Use a turkey baster to suck out the old fluid in the mastercylinder, replace with fresh fluid. Bleed a brake, top off the fluid and repeat.
I use a small vacuum pump and can do the brake bleed without a partner to pump the brakes.
I use a small vacuum pump and can do the brake bleed without a partner to pump the brakes.
I always renew the fluid. If it needs brakes. the fluid is old, been hot and is contaminated. Old fluid makes for spongy brakes. I use a presser bleeder. IMHO
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From: Pennsylvania
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Elder User
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From: Pennsylvania
Hey gang I bled the brakes today.I emptied out the old fluid with a turkey baster,then filled with fresh dot3 fluid.Started at the driver rear,had the wife workin' the brake pedal.I got lots of air out of the rears.I then did the fronts as well lots of air.All the while checking the resevoir to add fluid.It still seems like the pedal is the same.I guess I'll live with it,hopefully.
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From: London , On
squeaky toy like noises usually is the pads making the noise, did you put any anti-squeal on the back of the pads or brake grease ?. That helps alot.
If you got lots of air out of the system the brake pedal should feel totally different, like night and day difference. Did you bleed them properly ?, I've seen people pump the brake pedal with the bleed screw open, as opposed to pump the brake pedal and holding it down and then opening the bleed screw. Just a thought when you mentioned that the pedal didn't feel any different.
If you got lots of air out of the system the brake pedal should feel totally different, like night and day difference. Did you bleed them properly ?, I've seen people pump the brake pedal with the bleed screw open, as opposed to pump the brake pedal and holding it down and then opening the bleed screw. Just a thought when you mentioned that the pedal didn't feel any different.
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From: Pennsylvania
Stuart the rears were never checked I would say because,when I was bleeding the brakes the drums still have the metal tabs on them.It's hard to believe that 17,000 and a few inspections and never taken off hmmm. Jfusion,I had the wife pump up the brakes and hold,then i cracked the bleeders,about 3 times each brake.Also,I put anti sqeak stuff on the backs of the pads and cleaned and greased the calipers.
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