mushy brakes

[mitmaks]

So I decided to bleed brakes. Popped all 4 wheels off and then greased slider pins as it's been a few years since I've done a brake job.
I got a quart of DOT4 fluid and opened one bleeder at a time (speed bleeders) and bled all 4, starting from farthest out. After all done I've test driven car and it seems too mushy. If there's air in the system how could've it gotten there, I made sure reservoir was full.

[RS_OBD'oh_2]

any pulse in the braking or the wheel pulling to one side or the other when hitting a set of lights?

[wytbishop]

I would say it has to be air. The only other thing that I have experience with is a bad wheel bearing. I figured out that when I applied the brakes the rotor was actually moving with the brake caliper piston. Getting the wheel bearing sorted out caused my brakes to improve dramatically and instantly.

[cWs306]

sorry to butt in. i got a brake question too. not a mushy feeling but say im doin like 180.. or so. is it normal for the brakes to wanna feel like there pulsating? i tend to just gradually tap the brakes to slow down at these speeds but if i try and hold it, it gets the pulsating feelings. normal? or bad brakes? my passenger side wheel bear is 90% hooped.

[Ryan]

Your rotor isn't perfectly flat so the pulsating is normal, old rotors won't be flat. If its violent then I'd worry about it, or if you can feel the car lurching with the pulse at lower speeds and moderate braking... then worry.

As far as mushy brakes go, just keep bleeding.... I don't know how speed bleeders work, but were you sure the valve was closed before you released the brake pedal?

[wytbishop]

Definitely could be air. Speed bleeders don't have to be closed with the pedal down. That's the point of a speed bleeder. It comtains a one way valve so that fluid can get out and nothing can get back in.

[cWs306]

Ohh okay awesome! and no pulsating or anything unless im just cookin. thanks alot!

[mitmaks]

Your rotor isn't perfectly flat so the pulsating is normal, old rotors won't be flat. If its violent then I'd worry about it, or if you can feel the car lurching with the pulse at lower speeds and moderate braking... then worry.

As far as mushy brakes go, just keep bleeding.... I don't know how speed bleeders work, but were you sure the valve was closed before you released the brake pedal?

Speed bleeders have one way valve, so when you release pedal valve closes and there's no air coming back in. I also ran a line from bleeder to canister and didn't see any air coming out, besides it helps as there's constant fluid around valve.

[mitmaks]

Another quart of DOT4 brake fluid and I have nice brakes again.