Brake issues

I had the brake pads replaced, and the brake lines flushed and new fluid put in, but the car is still acting like its not getting enough pressure on the first push of the pedal. It takes me twice of pushing the pedal to get my car to stop really well. Is this normal for an automatic?

[Sarra]

1) Pump your brake pedal
2) Was the system bled after they put the new fluid in? If no, then it needs bled.
3) Did you properly bed in your new pads? If no, do eeet. Go around 30-35, then STOMP the brakes and bring the car to a complete stop. Accel back to 30-35, and repeat a few times.
4) If you got a more performance pad, that may be normal until the pads heat up. You'll have to get used to it if that's the case. :(

[Huffer]

Could also be a faulty brake master cylinder...

[Sarra]

True, forgot about that.

I'll have to have my husband ask our mechanic if he bled the system once he put the new fluid in. As for bedding in the new pads, no I have not done that either. BUT it did this before I had the new pads installed...so...

[1996Battlewagon]

If you get that spongy feeling after you replace the pads and pressure doesn't return to normal; you most likely still have air in the lines. It usually takes a lot of pumping to get all the air out. But since you said that you had the problem before, you probably do have a worn out master cylinder. Just make sure to bleed that too if you replace it.

How long before that master cylinder will need to be replaced?

[jg09]

Well, if everything is kept in good working order, never.


Oh, and I'll jump on the bandwagon and say it's air in the lines, too. The symptoms you're having are classic for that scenario.

Well, the symptoms were there before we had the new pads put on, and we thought it was the nasty crappy BLACK looking brake fluid that was in there....I'm not so sure I want to take the car back to our mechanic....he didn't do an alignment after he installed the struts....and now it looks like he didn't bleed the brake lines after he did the brake fluid.
How hard is it to bleed the lines? How much fluid do I need to do that with?

[Huffer]

You definitely need to find a new mechanic.

Bleeding the brake lines is typically a two person job - one to man the pedal and make sure the master cylinder is topped up and one to close the bleeder screw on the brakes.

You may want to just use a siphon pump to remove the gunk from the master cylinder, and be gentle on the pedal when you put new fluid in to bleed, if the lines are corroded then the fresh fluid will show up a broken line FAST.

Where is the bleeder screw? I want to do this this weekend on our own, so we don't have to have it done again. My husband and I can do this, it doesn't sound that hard.
What is a siphon pump....sorry for all the questions...am trying to learn as much as possible so we don't have to take it in again. I really hope we dont have any broken brake lines....

[jg09]

It's on the caliper itself. It looks like a silver nut with a cone shaped thing on the end with a hole in it.

Okay, so that description made no sense, but you might be able to figure it out.

[Huffer]

Here's a useful writeup:
http://www.popularmechanics.com/automot ... 13448.html (http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/how_to/4213448.html)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKwY80HkTxo

Thank you for these! These will help alot!