Hey guys. I've been having brake problems recently. When I brake the pedal is like hard, I find myself having to pump the brakes once every time I stop. My brakes also screech but only when I'm reversing. So my 2 questions.. Since I've had the car I've changed my brakes twice but never bleed them.. Could it just be a simple question of bleeding the brakes? The second is what quality pads could I put to get some good stopping power?

 

A bit confusing, usually one pumps when the pedal goes soft. If the pedal is hard, why pump ?
Are there any other factors that indicate degradation of braking performance that cause you to pump ?
For sure fresh fluid cannot hurt.
I have had used EBC red stuff all around for years with no regrets.
They've worked well at the track yet still work at -20C even on the first stop.

 

Not really pump... but when I go and press on the brakes the pedal is like hard and i have to let off and have at it again to actually get some stopping power.

 

The vacuum line to your brake booster still connected? If its not getting vacuum it can cause a stiff pedal.

 

^^^^Genius. To think I lived that when I was doing pizza delivery and could not recall.

 

The pistons are seized/sticking in the brake calipers. That's why you need to pump hard to push them out. Then they don't retract nicely because of sticking too.

Brake caliper pistons should be free to move and its the flexing of that piston's seal by a few thou that retracts the piston and thus the pads.

Install a rebuilt caliper, good to go.

 

Hmmm that's what I was thinking originally. Is there a good way to tell which one is sticking.. I cant imagine that there all seized..

 

Do'em all at once, it's most efficient. If one is buggered then the other is not far behind.

 

Well I'm going to start by draining all the brake fluid and bleed all the brakes and see how that goes... Before I go and drop a hole bunch of money for new calipers...

 

Alright so I'm gona go and drain my brake fluid reservoir. Wondering if I should just use normal 3 dot brake fluid??.. what are you guys running...?

 

Do you just commute ?
If so, DOT 3 is great.
If you track your car or otherwise warm the brakes for sustained periods, DOT 4 is best.
I use Motul DOT 5.1 currently.

 

I use ATE racing DOT 4, a little bit better than standard DOT 4...