Brake pedal to the floor

Tiny
MOON_ANGEL
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 HONDA CIVIC
  • 0.6L
  • 5 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 179,628 MILES
I have bled my entire brake system four times after replacing master cylinder, wheel cylinders, calipers, rotors and new brake pads. When I bleed each brake they do not stiffen, just little bit but when I check the bleeder to see if the tubing I have on it has any air bubbles there is none. My pedal is firm when the car is off but once I turn the car on the brake pedal goes all the way to the floor easily and does not firm up even after pumping it.
Thursday, March 22nd, 2018 AT 2:36 PM

18 Replies

Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
Look at the back of your front calipers and see if the bleeder is above or below the brake line fitting.
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Thursday, March 22nd, 2018 AT 4:03 PM
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
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Did you bench bleed the master cylinder? Try closing off the bleeder while there is a stream of fluid still flowing with no bubbles, this will ensure that no air is drawn back into the system.
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Thursday, March 22nd, 2018 AT 4:54 PM
Tiny
MOON_ANGEL
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Yes, my calipers both have the bleeder valves facing up, placed them on the correct sides. I did bench bleed the cylinder before I installed it, I used a one man bleeder I made and I closed the bleeder after I saw no bubbles coming out.
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Thursday, March 22nd, 2018 AT 6:29 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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I would suggest using a pressure bleeder.
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Thursday, March 22nd, 2018 AT 6:31 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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It sounds to me like you need a brake booster, they have a vacuum valve inside that goes bad causing the pedal to sink. Can you remove the vacuum line and then start the car (line plugged) to see how the brakes are?
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Thursday, March 22nd, 2018 AT 6:45 PM
Tiny
MOON_ANGEL
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  • 7 POSTS
I have bled the brakes with a pressure method and still pedal to the floor. Is there something I should be on the lookout for when I disconnect the vaccum line?
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Friday, March 23rd, 2018 AT 3:58 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Just see how the brake pedal is does it work good pedal just hard to push?
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Sunday, March 25th, 2018 AT 11:19 AM
Tiny
MOON_ANGEL
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  • 7 POSTS
I took the vaccum line off and the pedal goes hard when I turn the car on.
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Sunday, March 25th, 2018 AT 2:26 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
All that means is that the booster is working properly.
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Sunday, March 25th, 2018 AT 2:28 PM
Tiny
MOON_ANGEL
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  • 7 POSTS
I did another bleeding of the master cylinder with no bubbles coming out, placed it back on the car and then tightened the brake lines then I loosened them while I had a helper push the brake pedal down and hold while I close the lines. Did this a few times to make sure the master had no air, seemed to improve the feel of the pedal when the car is on but only by a little. Re-bled all the wheels again with the reverse pressure bleeder and had no bubbles at master cylinder.
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Sunday, March 25th, 2018 AT 2:44 PM
Tiny
MOON_ANGEL
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The old master cylinder was having the same problem, that is why I replaced it with the new. I did replace a lot of parts I am not sure if maybe I introduced a lot of air into the system or it is something else.
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Sunday, March 25th, 2018 AT 2:47 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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My advice of using a pressure bleeder still stands and if that does not help you have to look at something being assembled incorrectly.
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Sunday, March 25th, 2018 AT 2:54 PM
Tiny
MOON_ANGEL
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
I am trying to send a picture of I found but will not let me post. I opened up the caliper and found that there is something leaking out around the piston, it is a dark brown color.
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Sunday, March 25th, 2018 AT 3:05 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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Brake fluid is the only thing that can leak out of a caliper. That is your problem.
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+1
Sunday, March 25th, 2018 AT 3:07 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
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Here is a guide to help you see what you are in for when replacing the caliper:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/brake-caliper-replacement

Let us know.
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Sunday, March 25th, 2018 AT 8:51 PM
Tiny
MOON_ANGEL
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Still no luck. Would a leak in the system cause the brake pedal to feel soft? It is like the when I start the car the brake pedal is so easy to push down to the floor. When I bled the system the brake would stiffen but it feels like if I kept pushing down the pedal would slowly depress down.
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Monday, March 26th, 2018 AT 1:35 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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Yes it would. It as a high pressure, low volume system. It cannot have a leak of any kind, even slight seepage will drop the brake pedal. That has to be repaired.
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Monday, March 26th, 2018 AT 1:40 PM
Tiny
MAXIMILIAM
  • ADMIN
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Do you get an error message when you try to upload an image or what part of the upload process is not working?

If you add image or video you can't leave the reply box blank. You still have to write a message. Is that what you mean? Or does the actual upload fail when you click on add image or video? If that is the case. Does anything happen when you click on "add image or video"?

Apologize that I have to ask, just trying to get to the bottom of the issue. :)
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Tuesday, March 27th, 2018 AT 1:26 AM

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