Brake pedal sinks to floor

Tiny
JAMESWB68
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA
  • 4.0L
  • V6
  • 120,000 MILES
The brake pedal sinks to floor when engine running and hard pedal when car is off. Replaced the master cylinder. New. Bench bled installed. Bled brake entire starting at rear right rear left front right front.
Saturday, November 16th, 2019 AT 10:30 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,179 POSTS
Hi:

What you described sounds like the master cylinder, but you already replaced that. There is a proportioning valve that can cause issues, but again, the symptoms don't seem to match.

It sounds like you bled the correctly. Start with the wheel furthest from the MC (RR) and then work your way to the closest (LF).

I'm going to provide the directions from Alldata for brake bleeding specific to this vehicle. Just take a look through them to confirm everything was done. Also, the attached pics correlate with the directions. The attached pics correlate with the directions.
______________________________________________________________________________________

2001 Toyota Camry Solara SE V6-3.0L (1MZ-FE)
Bleeding the Brake System
Vehicle Brakes and Traction Control Hydraulic System Brake Bleeding Service and Repair Procedures Bleeding the Brake System
BLEEDING THE BRAKE SYSTEM
BRAKE FLUID BLEEDING

HINT: If any work is done on the brake system or if air is suspected in the brake lines, bleed the air from the system.

NOTICE: Do not let brake fluid remain on a painted surface. Wash it off immediately.

Pic 1

1. FILL BRAKE RESERVOIR WITH BRAKE FLUID
Check the fluid level in the reservoir after bleeding each wheel.
Add fluid, if necessary.
Fluid: SAE J1703 or FMVSS No. 116 DOT 3
2. BLEED MASTER CYLINDER

HINT: If the master cylinder has been disassembled or if the reservoir becomes empty, bleed the air from the master cylinder.

Pic 2

(a)Disconnect the brake lines from the master cylinder.
(b)Slowly depress the brake pedal and hold it.

Pic 3

(c)Block off the outlet plugs with your fingers, and release the brake pedal.
(d)Repeat (b) and (c) 3 or 4 times.

Loosen/Tighten Bleeder Plug

pic 4

3. CONNECT VINYL TUBE TO BRAKE CALIPER OR WHEEL CYLINDER BLEEDER PLUG
Insert the other end of the tube in a half-full container of brake fluid.

NOTICE: Bleed air of the rear brake first. If front brake is bled first, rear brake air cannot be bled.

4. BLEED BRAKE LINE
(a)Slowly depress the brake pedal several times.
(b)while an assistant depresses the pedal, loosen the bleeder plug until starts to run out. Then tighten the bleeder plug.
(c)Repeat this procedure until there are no more air bubbles in the fluid.
Torque: (Bleeder plug) 8.3 Nm (85 kgf-cm, 74 inch lbs.)
5. REPEAT PROCEDURE FOR EACH WHEEL

LOAD SENSING PROPORTIONING VALVE AND BY-PASS INSPECTION

pic 5

1. INSTALL LSPV GAUGE (SST)
SST 09709-29018
2. BLEED AIR FROM LSPV GAUGE (SST)

pic 6

3. RAISE MASTER CYLINDER PRESSURE AND CHECK REAR WHEEL CYLINDER OR CALIPER PRESSURE
If the rear brake cylinder pressure is incorrect, replace the P valve assembly.
4. REMOVE LSPV GAUGE (SST) AND BLEED BRAKE SYSTEM
5. CHECK FOR LEAKS
______________________________________________________________________________________
Here are directions for testing if there is an issue with the booster.
AIR TIGHTNESS CHECK

Pics 7 & 8

(a)Start the engine and stop it after 1 or 2 minutes. Depress the brake pedal several times slowly.
If the pedal goes down farthest the 1st time, but gradually rises after the 2nd or 3rd time, the booster is air tight.
(b)Depress the brake pedal while the engine is running, and stop the engine with the pedal depressed.
If there is no change in the pedal reserve travel after holding the pedal for 30 seconds, the booster is air tight.

__________________________________________

If there are no leaks, the booster is good, there is no air left in the system, and the pressure at the proportioning valve is good, I suspect you got a bad MC. Was the original one doing the same thing?

Joe
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Sunday, November 17th, 2019 AT 8:03 PM

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