Hello Good People,

Just checking in, looking for some additional insight as to why my brakes are so damn soft. I replaced a brake line and followed up with using the Motive Power Bleeder. I did this a few times, and still the same soft pedal.

The ABS was disconnected in 2016 when I got the truck because I had read some horror stories about it acting up. Well, I nearly had a horror story to add! I disconnected the ABS and never looked back.

Before changing the brake line the braking system was never the best but it did stop the truck without any issue. I understand these rigs are not going to throw you through the windshield like on the newer Audi when you barely touch the brakes etc. Just checking in to troubleshoot if I am missing something.

Might the brakes firm up with more driving?

Thanks

 

I recently upgraded my fronts to D90 vented rotors. For me, I think the biggest difference was new rotors all around. All four were about 10mm and RAVE says 11mm then change out.
all new pads & rotors the pedal does a feel firmer, but not like as you say, AUDI neck breaking firm. More like it’ll stop on a nickel now instead of a quarter.
About a year ago, I did go to braided lines, new m/c, flush flush flush. Remove ABS fuse but really no change till I got the new rotors.
Good luck. It’s a journey in frustration for sure.
dcphotos

 

Hey dcphotos,
Congrats on the fresh braking setup.
I'll need to squirrel away a few more coins for such a setup.
For now its about getting the braking to at least where it was before replacing the line.

 

Toran,
Well, the way I looked at it was I needed new rotors and pads. They are the same cost as the D90's.
A bit of brake line and the calipers were the only "extra" cost.
I'd say check your caliper thickness and pads. Other than that, it is odd that things got worse after the line replacement.
You sure there are no leaks in the new lines?
dcphotos

 

I may be due for rotors.
At the moment I am not finding any leaks.

I am reading older threads where a few mentioned energizing the ABS than to start the bleeding process.

 

Toran,
I think that's for the D2 but I could be wrong. I've never done that when bleeding mine.
Can't hurt to try but I'm fairly certain that''s a D2 thing.
dcphotos

 

Brake bleeding screenshot

 

Bleed the brakes by hand slowly with 2 people. I had the same experience using a air bleeder - pretty sure it sucks so hard that it actually brings air in around the threads of the bleeder valve when its loosened - creating a small amount of air in the caliper. - again cant say for sure but I only bleed by hand now - and no issues.

 

Hey whiskeynipple0088,

Thanks for the reply. My little helper is out of town so looks like I will be doing the solo method of.
Slowly pressing the brakes while holding it down with a heavy dumbbell, crawling under the truck to bleed the four corners. Open bleeder; closer bleeder; slowly press brakes and hold with heavy dumbbell; crawl under truck and repeat the process. At this point the Motive Power Bleeder has been mostly useless for this truck.

 

no problem.
FYI (If you still have issue) - there is a thread somewhere that mentions cracking the 13mm loose at the ABS module under the hood to bleed the top of the system - but I have not needed to do this - so I don't know if its actually necessary.

Anyone else bleed the 13mm at the ABS module???