leeboy

I replaced my calipers last week, and also added new pads (top of the line) , bled both and took it for a spin.Right away, it seemed the nose dive from the front brakes just werent there. The pedal also seemed a little "spongy" sitting at a stop light if i pushed it up and down repeatedly. I am not sure if i had to, if i could even lock it them up if i wanted. I was comming down a short large hill the 2nd day and almost had to push the brake pedal through the floor to stop. Then i could smell the brakes. Wasnt sure if it was me or a semi going by, so i pulled over and and stuck my head in the wheel well and, yup, it was mine. When i bled them, i thought i got all the air out, took about 8-10 pumps per side. Rotors are real smooth and shiny, so i dont know how i could have made them worse. Anyone?

nwhitney

If you did not bed the pads in when you installed them you will not have full brake untill they are set in. You need to get the pads hot to mate with the rotors when they are first installed. Go from 45 to 5 MPH 4 times or so and then let the pads cool off all the way before you come to a complete stop. This will heat the pads and let them grab with out parts of them sticking to the rotor and "warping" them with thickness variations.

BigIron70

You did install calipers with bleeder at the top? Just thought I would ask. I have seen experience mechanic make that mistake before. Does brake pedal slowly sink down? Do you have Height Sensing Proportioning valve?

daddy mopar

I just did a complete brake overhaul on my truck and I am not sure about bedding the pads, but if your master is bad or air is getting into the system this will happen. Your peddle should not be spongy. Even while being parked and the brakes are bled, the peddle should resist putting your foot to the floor and push back some. I would check all of your lines for tightness, cracks, and adjustment. If you pump and pump and pump and you are not getting the peddle pressure you know you should be getting I would check your master or pressure booster.

Tacomaman87

sounds like air in the system to me.

Hodge

If you have air in the system, the pedal will slowly travel to the floor. Is it doing that, or does it just feel different? If the pedal feels different, but doesn't go to the floor, then I would, for the sake of it, bleed them again, and as described, break in the pads. It is possible that the new, better working calipers will simply feel different than the others.
It has been my experience that if there is still air in the system, you clearly know it because the pedal travels to the floor, and there is no braking for the end of the truck that has air.