Brake Problem! Breaks press down all the way to the floor!

[SAPierce2006]

Basically the problem that I've been having that has been progressively getting worse, is that I have to press my breaks down WAY to far to get a response out of them (nearly all the way to the floor). I'm not sure what I should do to fix this. I've replaced the master cylinder and I just got done bleeding the brakes. Neither of which really helped.

One thing that I did notice while bleeding the brakes was that my drivers side front break, when I pressed it down to bleed it, just kind of drippled out break fluid. The other side shot it to the back of the cup I was collecting in. Is this a common problem with volvos? I've owned a volvo for most of my life, as has my father and I've never really experienced anything like this. Any ideas would be great. Thanks!

[SAPierce2006]

I forgot, its a '93 940 Volvo

[billofdurham]

Welcome to Matthew's Volvo Site.

This is not a common problem with Volvos. It would seem that you still have air in the system, probably because the driver's side front bleed valve appears to be partially blocked.

I would suggest that you take that valve out and see if the fluid flows freely. If it does then consider a replacement valve.

Bill.

[RichyRich514]

might be the brake booster....

[SAPierce2006]

We haven't lost any fluid anywhere from the system. How is it possible that we have air in the system if we haven't lost any fluid?

Another characteristic of the problem is that I can "pump up" the breaks if you will. By that I mean I can press the break down all the way to the floor and get a response out of it, and then I can release and press down again, and I'll get more of a response out of the breaks.

We went back a second time for the front drivers side caliper, and we opened the bleed valve a bit more I guess, and (although i did press harder this time), it shot out like the others. We didn't do more than 2 or 3 break compressions for either of the calipers or master cylinder (was that enough?), but either way we didn't see air come out of the system at all.

Ideas? Thoughts? Do you still think it is air in the system? Thanks in advance!

[billofdurham]

Your description of pumping the pedal and it gets harder is typical of either air in the system or badly worn pads.

As you have had the system apart I would go for air. I don't think you have eliminated all the air if you have only pumped the pedal 2 or 3 times for each caliper. You also say you saw no air come out but you should have done as you introduced air when you replaced the master cylinder.

I would suggest that you do it again but pump the pedal more. This advice may not be necessary - but ensure there is always plenty of fluid in the reservoir throughout the bleeding process.

Bill.

[SAPierce2006]

No no, I replaced the master cylinder in an attempt to fix this problem. This is something that has been getting progressively worse over time, and now it's at the point where the car is not safe to drive.

I don't really understand how there could be air in the system if we haven't lost any fluid, but if you really think thats the problem, then I suppose bleeding it again, for a longer period of time would be the way to go.

I need to figure out how the air is getting in the system though. I'm not really sure where to start with that.

[billofdurham]

It is possible that your master cylinder was failing causing your pedal to travel further.

The air that is now in the system would have entered when you replaced the master cylinder. That always happens when you drain brake fluid from the system at the master cylinder. The air will now be in the brake lines and needs to be pushed out by bleeding. If you can't remove it by pumping the brake pedal then you will have to get a pressure bleeder, but that should not be necessary.

Bill.