Mashed on the brake pedal for a normal stop and the pedal went to the floor

Tiny
GOLDENCLAYS
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • 245,000 MILES
I was driving and mashed on the brake pedal for a normal stop and the pedal went to the floor and the parking brake light in the dash came on. I changed the master cyclinder and all the brake fluid completely bled the system and brakes worked great for a week or so then it done same thing again it has good brakes but has no pedal
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Friday, July 12th, 2013 AT 7:48 AM

31 Replies

Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
Have tried rebleeding? These guides can help you fix it.

https://youtu.be/w7gUsj2us0U

and

https://youtu.be/WDxvEQrMkBg

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/brake-pedal-goes-to-the-floor

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Thursday, December 29th, 2016 AT 6:08 PM
Tiny
GOLDENCLAYS
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Thanks for the guides fix it for me this site is wonderful!
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Thursday, December 29th, 2016 AT 6:08 PM
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
Thanks
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Thursday, December 29th, 2016 AT 6:08 PM
Tiny
POMOSTBR
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 12,000 MILES
My brakes seem to be spongy. When I press the brake I can hear a swish sound. They stop fine. The sound has just started over the weekend. When I turn off the truck and take a little pressure off the brakes the pedal comes up and gets hard. It's as if it is full of air. I had a brake job done about a year and half ago. I changed the booster about two years ago.
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Monday, February 22nd, 2021 AT 5:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Check brake master cylinder fluid level if okay-try bleeding the brakes don't work-do below Get the vacuum hose to the brake booster, check valve and brake booster checked out-sounds like its leaking. These guides can help you fix it.

https://youtu.be/w7gUsj2us0U

and

https://youtu.be/WDxvEQrMkBg

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/brake-pedal-goes-to-the-floor
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Monday, February 22nd, 2021 AT 5:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CHOPPED53
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 1995 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • 4.3L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 152,000 MILES
I am not getting fluid to the front left brake caliper. I pulled the valve from the brake module and not getting any fluid out of it either. I get fluid to all three other corners with no issue. Do I need to replace the brake module as I have replaced the master cylinder already?
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Monday, February 22nd, 2021 AT 5:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
AL514
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,067 POSTS
Do you mean the ABS brake module? You are not getting any fluid out of or do you mean the caliper itself? I would check the bled valve they can clog up
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Monday, February 22nd, 2021 AT 5:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CHOPPED53
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Just on of the valves on the ABS module where it goes to the left front.
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Monday, February 22nd, 2021 AT 5:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
AL514
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,067 POSTS
Sounds like the solenoid may be stuck closed inside the ABS module. Have you tried unplugging the electrical connector to the module? That will tell you if the solenoid is staying energized or if its just stuck closed. The solenoid should be open unless the ABS unit is energized. As you said the others are bleeding okay.
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Monday, February 22nd, 2021 AT 5:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CHOPPED53
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
So if I unplug how do I know if it is stuck or open?
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Monday, February 22nd, 2021 AT 5:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
AL514
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,067 POSTS
Well if it is stuck closed you still wont get any fluid through it. You are getting fluid through the others, so they are open. They should be normally open unless the ABS is needed to prevent the tire from locking up and causing the vehicle slide. The ABS pulses the braking system to prevent lock up under slippery conditions.
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Monday, February 22nd, 2021 AT 5:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
AL514
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,067 POSTS
I would also use fresh brake fluid, hopefully there is not something stuck in the solenoid itself.
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Monday, February 22nd, 2021 AT 5:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
AL514
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,067 POSTS
Also, could be air in module preventing the fluid from coming out, which method did you use to bleed the system? Have you tried pushing the brake peddle gently with the line open to see if any fluid will come out or have you just gravity bled it?
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Monday, February 22nd, 2021 AT 5:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
AL514
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,067 POSTS
It can be very difficult to get air out of the ABS system considering how many areas air can get stuck in there.
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Monday, February 22nd, 2021 AT 5:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,606 POSTS
Have a professioanl use their scanner to open ABS unit and bleed system properly.
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Monday, February 22nd, 2021 AT 5:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WOLFY2U
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1993 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • 5.7L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 400,400 MILES
Took a bit to get to this point so I hope it is real and not some other thing to join. I was led here by a post that described my problem exactly but never gave the solution. 1993 2wd Silverado, squishy low pedal. New pads and shoes and master cylinder, same problem. I push the pedal fast and there is a whoosh sound and almost normal pedal. Brake normally and it starts braking around half way down and will go to the floor if low and slow pressure is applied.
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Monday, February 22nd, 2021 AT 5:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 12,869 POSTS
Squishy low pedal is 95% of the time air in the lines. The description of stomping the pedal and they feel better bears that out. It is trapping more fluid in the bore of the master cylinder. Those lines have a bunch of high spots that trap air. The other times it is a failed brake part like a bad rubber line or mis-adjusted set of brake shoes. These guides can help you fix it.

https://youtu.be/w7gUsj2us0U

and

https://youtu.be/WDxvEQrMkBg

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/brake-pedal-goes-to-the-floor

You say you did the pads and shoes, did you replace the drums as well?
If not you might want to pull them, measure them for wear on the inner area and the area close to the backing plate, they can wear in the shape of a bell. When you step down the brake shoes end up flexing sideways and you get a poor pedal response.

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Monday, February 22nd, 2021 AT 5:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CESAR97
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1992 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • 5.7L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 200,000 MILES
I’ve been doing everything I have read on here and checked the repair guides and nothing. I got new master cylinder, new brakes all around(rotors drums, pads, shoes), new booster, bled brakes in sequence, new brake lines I believe I have done everything and still spongy.
I used up like 3 big bottles trying and trying.
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Monday, February 22nd, 2021 AT 5:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 107,922 POSTS
Hi,

If you have no leaks and it is doing the same thing with a new master cylinder, my first thought is are the rear brakes (drum brakes) properly adjusted. Does it have rear drum shoes? If so, how were they adjusted?

Let me know.

Joe
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Monday, February 22nd, 2021 AT 5:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good evening,

Convention bleeding on a truck rarely works. There is not enough pedal push to get the air out.

You need to power bleed the system. That is where you attach a cover to the top of the master cylinder and the air is applied to the master. Then you open the bleeders in sequence until the air is gone.

A side note. If you have ABS, you will need to do the other procedure I attached as well. Convention and pressure bleeding does not get the air out of the ABS unit.

Roy

Pressure Bleeding

Note: The pressure bleeding equipment must be of the diaphragm type. It must have a rubber diaphragm between the air supply and the brake fluid to prevent air; moisture, oil, and other contaminants from entering the hydraulic system. Also adapters are needed. Depending on the type of master cylinder used.

Tools Required:
J-29567 Brake Bleeder Adapter (Plastic Reservoir)
J-35856 Combination Valve Depressor

Note: It is very important that the correct master cylinder bleeder adapter be used to avoid possible damage to the master cylinder reservoir.

ImageOpen In New TabZoom/Print

1. Fill the pressure tank at least 1/3 full of brake fluid. The bleeder must be re-bled each time fluid is added.
A. Charge the bleeder to 140 - 170 kPa (20 to 25 psi).
2. Use J-35856 to depress and hold the valve stem on the combination valve during the bleeding operation.

ImageOpen In New TabZoom/Print

a. Install the bleeder adapter so the leg with the release valve is towards the cowl.
3. Bleed each wheel in the following sequence.
A. Right rear
b. Left rear
c. Right front
d. Left front
4. Connect the hose from the bleeder to the adapter at the master cylinder.
A. Open the tank valve.
5. Attach a hose to a brake bleeder screw.
A. Immerse the opposite end of the hose into a container partially filled with clean brake fluid.
6. Open the bleeder screw at least 3/4 of a turn and allow the fluid to flow until no air is seen in the fluid.
A. Close the bleeder screw.
7. Repeat step six at all the wheels.
8. Open the bleeder screw on the Isolation/Dump Valve (vehicles with power brakes only).
A. Allow the fluid to flow until no air is seen in the fluid.
B. Close the bleeder screw.
9. Check the brake pedal for "sponginess", repeat the entire bleeding procedure if this condition is found.
10. Remove J-35856.
A. Disconnect the line from the bleeder adapter.
B. Remove bleeder adapter.
11. Fill the master cylinder to the proper level with brake fluid.
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Monday, February 22nd, 2021 AT 5:33 PM (Merged)

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