New Brakes with a Soft Pedal Feel

[bryancoleman]

I just got my KVR Cross Drilled rotors and KVR pads on on Friday. The pedal is still soft, and there doesn't seem to be any braking power. I came off of the highway yesterday at 80 mph, and had to run a red light because I couldn't stop. Luckily, it was 3 in the morning and no one was around.

Can anyone help me out? Do I need to add more brake fluid? Did the shop not bleed them properly? I seriously need answers, cause I am not too keen on not having properly working safety equipment.

Thanks for your help.

[beppomarx]

2 things:

#1 did you bed in the brakes??? go out on an empty road and get to say 60-80mph and stop using only brakes (no downshifting) to a stop not SLAMMING them but stop quite abruptly. re-accelerate again and do 80-0 again, 3 or 4 times to heat up your rotors and pads and they will seat fully.

#2 if that doesnt work, they probably have to be bled again. start with the RR wheel and go to LR then RF then lastly LF (this starts you off on the farthest line from the reservoir and move to the shortest line). just open up the bleeder screw on the caliper, have someone depress teh pedal slowly and while their foot is on the floor (NO LIFTING WHILE THE BLEEDER IS OPEN!!) then you tighten the screw back up first, and have them release the pedal. keep an eye on the brake reservoir dont let it get low but what youre looking for when they are depressing teh pedal you will see fluid squirting out of the bleeder and when it comes out in a nice even stream you have no air and are good. if you see it sputtering out then you are doing what you need to do, purging the line of entrapped air and when its all gone you will notice a ice constant stream flow out when the pedal is pressed.

also make sure you clean up the brake fluid that stuff can rust through just about anything :??::dead:

[pare_john]

If all the shop did was replace the pads and rotors then they should not have to be bnled since nothing was removed. If they did remove the calipers from the brake lines then yes you will have to bleed the system

[bryancoleman]

beppo -

Thank you very much. I am going to try number 1 tonight. I had attempted to "bed" them, or break them in, but I guess I hadn't done it right.

If that doesn't work, I'll bleed the brakes, but like pare_john said, all they did was replace parts, not take my system apart, so I probably shouldn't have to do it.

My rotors don't really show any wear in the four days I've had them on, so I'm thinking some 60 - 0 stops, no downshifting, are in order.

Thank you again guys.:

[bryancoleman]

Okay, they are working good now. Thanks again. I knew they had to be bedded, it just took them a while longer than I had anticipated.