Help diagnose soft pedal after front pads and rotors
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 34
Likes: 3
From: MA
W211 E55 Estate, W210 E320 Estate
Help diagnose soft pedal after front pads and rotors
I replaced my front pads and rotors over the weekend and now have a soft pedal which I noticed after a short test drive. I then bled the brakes with fresh ATE fluid using Motive power bleeder that I am very familiar with. Still, I have a soft pedal.
What do you guys think.
1) I pushed air into the ABS system when I retracted the brake pistons that didn't get pushed back out when I bled the brakes?
2) Master cylinder problems?
3) I did not sand the surface of the brake pistons where they contact the pad backing but they didn't seem that bad.
I'll re-torque all of the mounting hardware on the calipers, but I rarely forget something like that.
It has always had a soft-ish pedal from the vacuum assist, but now I definitely have more travel. Also, I am very familiar with bleeding brakes, and pushed a full liter of fluid through the system, starting with the RR caliper moving forward.
Ideas? I"m a bit stuck
What do you guys think.
1) I pushed air into the ABS system when I retracted the brake pistons that didn't get pushed back out when I bled the brakes?
2) Master cylinder problems?
3) I did not sand the surface of the brake pistons where they contact the pad backing but they didn't seem that bad.
I'll re-torque all of the mounting hardware on the calipers, but I rarely forget something like that.
It has always had a soft-ish pedal from the vacuum assist, but now I definitely have more travel. Also, I am very familiar with bleeding brakes, and pushed a full liter of fluid through the system, starting with the RR caliper moving forward.
Ideas? I"m a bit stuck
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Mercedes E300 Turbodiesel
Hi mate i have had this same thing with several of my cars over the years. I always drive carefully for the first 100 or so miles to let the pads and discs bed in properly and you normally feel a better pedal coming on over that time. What you did should not have introduced any air to the system. Just take it easy and drive safe.. George.
