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  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech

Brake pedal feel

  • Thread starter Thread starter Seraphitia102
  • Start date Start date Mar 22, 2011

Seraphitia102

will post boobie pics for a supercharger
Oct 11, 2004
737
1
16
California
Mar 22, 2011
#1
  • Mar 22, 2011
  • #1
My brake pedals don't feel great anymore. It feels mushy and not as firm as when I first got my new brake kit. Would a brake fluid flush help?
 

N8Dogg98

15 Year Member
Apr 4, 2005
3,872
238
184
MN
Mar 22, 2011
#2
  • Mar 22, 2011
  • #2
Absolutely
 

PULMEOVR

I need a bigger E-Penis.
Sep 29, 2003
560
0
27
Ottawa, Ontario Canada
Mar 22, 2011
#3
  • Mar 22, 2011
  • #3
You bet!
 

nyuk98gt

15 Year Member
Oct 10, 2000
1,427
6
79
Chesterfield, MO
Mar 23, 2011
#4
  • Mar 23, 2011
  • #4
Seraphitia102:

Your technician/mechanic probably knows to do this but the master cylinder should be bled (2 bleed screws on the engine side) after the four corners are bled. A brake system flush every 2 years is not a bad idea, imho.

HTH,

Chris
 

Seraphitia102

will post boobie pics for a supercharger
Oct 11, 2004
737
1
16
California
Mar 24, 2011
#5
  • Mar 24, 2011
  • #5
Thanks I'm going to a mechanic today to get this done. I'll inquire as to whether or not the master cylinder is bled as well.
 

fiveoho

15 Year Member
Apr 28, 2005
1,958
16
69
TN
Mar 29, 2011
#6
  • Mar 29, 2011
  • #6
Seraphitia102 said:
Thanks I'm going to a mechanic today to get this done. I'll inquire as to whether or not the master cylinder is bled as well.
Click to expand...

did the flush solve the mushy feelings?

my car does this , but not all the time. pedal feels spongy and can actually hear it creaking. still stops fine but doesnt feel as firm.
 

Seraphitia102

will post boobie pics for a supercharger
Oct 11, 2004
737
1
16
California
Mar 29, 2011
#7
  • Mar 29, 2011
  • #7
Unfortunately it only made a modest difference. I do notice a slightly better pedal feel but sadly it wasn't what I was looking for. When I had my 2 piston Cobra brake kit, the pedal firmness was much better. My SSBC 4 piston kit had an excellent pedal feel when I first got them but 3 years later... the pedal feels mushy.
 

nancygrl

Member
Nov 25, 2009
257
4
18
Mar 30, 2011
#8
  • Mar 30, 2011
  • #8
3 years later...it might be time for some new brake pads....May not be down to the wear indicators, but probably very close...
 

warment

Founding Member
Aug 23, 2000
339
0
0
Spotsylvania, VA
Mar 30, 2011
#9
  • Mar 30, 2011
  • #9
My pedal felt this way when the sliders on the rear calipers froze up.
 

trinity_gt

10 Year Member
Jan 31, 2003
3,125
81
99
Canada
Mar 30, 2011
#10
  • Mar 30, 2011
  • #10
A few thoughts:

A "mushy" pedal can generally be brought on by three things:

  • something compressible in the lines (like air)
  • internal or external leakage
  • mechanical deformation in response to hydraulic forces

You've bled the lines and hopefully have gotten all of the air out of the system ruling out point 1.

An external leak would be obvious and evidence by brake fluid on the ground. Assuming you don't see any you can rule out that. Internal leaks are trickier because they don't leave any evidence with the exception of reduced braking feel and performance. A leak occurs across the seals of the master cylinder, for instance, where fluid from the high pressure side leaks past an O-ring and gets back into the reservoir. This generally results in a pedal that is soft but also one that sinks slowly as pressure is maintained. The cause is often bad seals or corrosion in the bore of the master cylinder. This can happen if water gets into the fluid and it's left there for extended periods (e.g. winter storage months...)

Mechanical deformation occurs when parts give and bend. Pressure that would have gone into pressing a brake pad against a rotor instead goes to deforming something. Modern brake systems are pretty robustly constructed (though it's worth inspecting brackets, sliders, mounts and the like) but one thing that can "give" is brake lines. They can expand when pressure builds, resulting in a mushy brake pedal feel. It may be a sign that a brake line is on the verge of bursting so get it inspected... Other parts can mechanically deform too: The hydroboost and master cylinder mount to the firewall. Make sure it's not deforming or bending in response to pedal pressure.

One other thing that can mimic mechanical deformation is bad wheel bearings. If the rotor is wobbling due to a worn wheel bearing it can push the pads away from the rotors a bit, leading to an initially mushy feel and extended pedal travel when you get on the brakes.
 
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