'98 V70 brake question Topic is solved

[Guest]

Lately I've noticed when first apply the brake pedal seems travel a bit farther than normal. But if I'd pumping it by quickly release and re-apply then the brake would pedal would travel less with more stopping power.

Could someone please explain of this symptom. Is this normal or major brake failure about to happen ? I do not want just to take may car to some shops without proper knowlegde and got stick for a large, but un-necessary, repair bills.

Thanks.

p.s.: front brake pads and rotors were replaced about 6 months ago.

[Tsquared]

But if I'd pumping it by quickly release and re-apply then the brake would pedal would travel less with more stopping power.

Is this normal or major brake failure about to happen ?

You have air bubbles in your brake lines or the bleeder valve was not tightened to spec during your brake job and it is leaking. Another possibility is contamination in you fluid - the fluid should be flushed every 2 years for optimal performance. It is not normal for your brakes to be acting the way you describe.

To correct this you need to bleed the brakes while purging the old fluid from the system. Remove the fluid from the reservoir (I have a kitchen baster I use for this). Fill reservoir with a good quality DOT4 synthetic fluid - it is only a dollar more than the cheap stuff. Get a 1/4 inside diameter plastic tube, empty 20 oz Coke bottle, and a box end wrench to fit the bleeder valve (3/8 if I remember correctly). Remove the rear passenger tire and block the frame with a jack stand (safety...). Loosen the bleeder just enough to where it is not torqued down. With the box end still on the bleeder valve put the 1/4 tube over the valve and the other end into the Coke bottle. Have a friend press your brake pedal and hold it to the floor - loosen the bleeder and fluid will run into the bottle, tighten the bleeder, have your friend release the pedal and then press and hold to the floor, loosen the bleeder, repeat until the fluid runs clear for the new brake fluid. Tighten bleeder, remove hose from bleeder, dispose of used fluid, refill reservoir with new fluid and go to the diver rear side and start the process all over again. Once the driver rear side is complete go the passenger front and lastly the drivers front. The reason for the pattern is that you want to bleed off the longest brake line first. It will seem to take forever for the rear passenger but when it does run clear the rest go a lot quicker.

The process listed above is relatively easy and takes about a 6-pack length of time for two people to complete.