Brake pedal traavel after caliper replacement

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by chi0328, Dec 23, 2006.

  1. chi0328

    chi0328 Guest

    I just had the rear calipers replaced on my '95 civic si. I
    immediately noticed when braking that my brake pedal seemed to sink
    about twice as far to the floor as it used to. I've owned this car
    since new and have never experienced this much brake pedal travel. The
    e-brake also pulls all the way up to its stop and still won't hold
    the car on the slightest incline. I decided to bring the car back to
    the shop and tell them they must have not bled the brakes. They bled
    them again and said they're free of air. They also mentioned that
    the lever on the caliper were the e-brake cable attaches seemed
    stripped out on both sides (one side worse than the other). I find it
    hard to believe that both remaned calipers would be bad. I plan on
    removing the rear wheels in a bit to check out the action of the
    calipers e-brake lever. If I have a bad e-brake mechanism on both
    calipers I would think it would only affect the e-brake and not the
    actual brake pedal. Does anyone have a thought on what could be
    causing this?
     
    chi0328, Dec 23, 2006
    #1
  2. chi0328

    Tegger Guest

    wrote in @a3g2000cwd.googlegroups.com:


    Rear calipers are difficult to bleed properly. There is so much stuff
    inside them that air bubbles are easily trapped. If all your garage did was
    bolt them in place and bleed, there are still bubbles stuck inside.

    To properly bleed rear calipers, you need to have them OFF the mount
    bracket. A block of wood is inserted so the piston cannot be ejected. The
    caliper is then rotated and tapped with a nylon hammer to shock air bubbles
    loose. With the bleed nipple held vertically, the system is then bled.
    Repeat from above until all air is gone.

    The external parking brake mechanism will not affect piston operation.
     
    Tegger, Dec 23, 2006
    #2
  3. chi0328

    jim beam Guest

    not bled properly. do like tegger says.
     
    jim beam, Dec 23, 2006
    #3
  4. chi0328

    jim beam Guest

    and find yourself an alternative mechanic for the future - these guys
    don't know their business and are potentially an expensive [dangerous]
    liability.
     
    jim beam, Dec 23, 2006
    #4
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