General question about master cylinder

[Blizzard242]

I was working on my gf's car.. a 93 topaz.. boo. Changed the bearings and a freakin brake pad fell apart during that. Just fell apart. Anyways, after installing new pads.. Her freakin brake pedal is spongy as hell. Just on the first push though. If you push down again it's just about normal. Wait 30 seconds and it's spongy again just for the first push.

Bad master cylinder? Maybe I kinked a line while installing the calipers back on. Or could it be something else? I don't know much about the whole braking system but thus far from the research I've done I'm leaning towards the master cylinder. I don't understand how I could have gotten air in the lines. At least, I really don't think I could have. I'll bleed em tomorrow and see.. But if it's still funny, I dunno. Help?

[hockeyman]

Re: General question about master cylinder

Did you bench-bleed the mater cylinder before installing it?

Normally, when the pedal travels down to the floor, or feels spongy, that means you either have a leak or air in the lines.

I had a neighbor that had a Topaz. It was the biggest piece of poop on the road. Parts on that car would just fall off without reason...seriously!

[cam98aro]

Re: General question about master cylinder

i would say it needs to be bled

[Blizzard242]

Re: General question about master cylinder

Did you bench-bleed the mater cylinder before installing it?

Normally, when the pedal travels down to the floor, or feels spongy, that means you either have a leak or air in the lines.

I had a neighbor that had a Topaz. It was the biggest piece of poop on the road. Parts on that car would just fall off without reason...seriously!

I haven't installed a master cylinder. Just did the front brake pads.
I think I'm just gonna bleed her brakes today and hopefully it's just an air bubble that magically got in there.

BTW what the hell is bench bleeding?

[cam98aro]

Re: General question about master cylinder

I haven't installed a master cylinder. Just did the front brake pads.
I think I'm just gonna bleed her brakes today and hopefully it's just an air bubble that magically got in there.

BTW what the hell is bench bleeding?

when you bleed something before you install it on the car so you dont have to bleed the whole system

[Blizzard242]

Re: General question about master cylinder

when you bleed something before you install it on the car so you dont have to bleed the whole system

Bench bleeding.. Yeah, i looked it up. It was like.. duh. Well if she does need a new master cylinder I will be bleeding the whole system because that brake fluid in there looks horrible.

[hockeyman]

Re: General question about master cylinder

Sorry, I was a bit hungover this morning when I posted above.
I thought you installed a master cylinder, but then I realized you just did the pads.

Anyhow, I'd still say that you may have air in the lines or a leaking master cylinder. Check around where it bolts to the firewall near the brake booster. Normally when they leak, it's from right around there. If and when you install a new one, you'll need to bench bleed it to purge the air out of it.

[Blizzard242]

Re: General question about master cylinder

Yeah..I bled all her brakes today. Up, down, up, down... That was fun. Fixed it a little. Master cylinder time... F, that. I'm gonna make her sell her car. It's one thing after another. And I don't get jack **** for fixing anything on it other than her grief when I find another thing wrong. She was suppose to paint my calipers while I was changing her f'n bearing.. Did that happen?!? NO! Ok, i'm done ranting/venting.