Increasing brake pedal pressure

PANDA

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My brake pedal doesn't feel as firm as it should be (and used to be).

Setup - Front LS1 calipers/rotors, hawk pads
Rear stock calipers/rotors, hawk pads

Repairs - Recently, rotors, pads and brake hardware, were changed. The EBTCM was replaced, as well as a full brake fluid change. After, the whole brake system was bleed.

Anything I can do to increase the brake pedal pressure/firmness? I was told my master cylinder could be weak.
 

PANDA

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The ls1 calipers always felt spongy to me but seems you've got another problem. Are you running rubber lines still or do you have stainless? I'd say check all your lines.

stock rubber. Lines were checked out by a "professional" they are said to be fine.

I'd bleed it again. Guessing you have air in the lines somewhere if its spongier than it used to be.

It was actually done 3 times in the past month or so. :ugh:
 

Bob Kazamakis

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Could also be an internal leak starting on your master. I had that in my civic and it was real spongy unless I pumped it a few times. Does it just feel worse than before or like worse than most cars should feel?

I think somethings broken. Buy stainless lines.
 

PANDA

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Could also be an internal leak starting on your master. I had that in my civic and it was real spongy unless I pumped it a few times. Does it just feel worse than before or like worse than most cars should feel?

I think somethings broken. Buy stainless lines.

Its weird with the car off and you pumping it never really gets firm.
 

Turbocharged400sbc

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yeah internalk bypass is the molst common you can at the least see moisture at the back of the piston.

more than lekely you have air in your master cylinder, when the ebtcm was replaced they got air into it and an in car bleed short of full blown bleeding isnt gonna get it out
rubber hose do expand but to the point where it makes a large impression on your effort it's usually thinkin about poping the next time you panic stop. stainless brake hoses are plenty reliable, you just have to check and double check routing, them fuckers will rub through the side of a strut till the strut pops, besides plenty of manufacturers use them nowadays (ahem your car) as ususual though DOT approval process is a pita.

there's always hydroboost
i wanna put astro hydroboost on the wagon to get rid of the vacum booster
 

Ron Vogel

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When I did a portion of the brakes it seemed the pedal was soft. The lines aren't leaking, but it could be a bunch of different things. I manually flushed the system out (Before the EBTCM was done)...the fluid was dark green, and lots of chunky bits came out. I think the lines are OK, but SS lines would be a good idea for those LS1 claipers if you can get a trustworthy set.

I'm not sugessting throwing money at the problem, but it is probably due for a master. I can see the debris in your system causing a problem. Even the resivour was caked on the inside.
 

PANDA

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Details details.... :rofl:

If the master is leaking, you should be able to find the fluid exiting the system somewhere... :confused:

I'd pop the wheels off and with the car running have someone STAND on the brakes and look over the rubbers to see if they're expanding/bulging anywhere. :dunno:

I told the mechanic to checkout the lines when they replaced me EBTCM, he said they were fine. I would assume he did something of that nature to make that determination.

What kind of nightmares?

Leakage I'm going to guess. I know a few people who bought some and had nothing but problems.

yeah internalk bypass is the molst common you can at the least see moisture at the back of the piston.

more than lekely you have air in your master cylinder, when the ebtcm was replaced they got air into it and an in car bleed short of full blown bleeding isnt gonna get it out
rubber hose do expand but to the point where it makes a large impression on your effort it's usually thinkin about poping the next time you panic stop. stainless brake hoses are plenty reliable, you just have to check and double check routing, them fuckers will rub through the side of a strut till the strut pops, besides plenty of manufacturers use them nowadays (ahem your car) as ususual though DOT approval process is a pita.

there's always hydroboost
i wanna put astro hydroboost on the wagon to get rid of the vacum booster

So maybe I should go back and ask them to re-bleed the system?

When I did a portion of the brakes it seemed the pedal was soft. The lines aren't leaking, but it could be a bunch of different things. I manually flushed the system out (Before the EBTCM was done)...the fluid was dark green, and lots of chunky bits came out. I think the lines are OK, but SS lines would be a good idea for those LS1 claipers if you can get a trustworthy set.

I'm not sugessting throwing money at the problem, but it is probably due for a master. I can see the debris in your system causing a problem. Even the resivour was caked on the inside.

What is involved with replacing the master cylinder?
 
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