[Vulcan50]

So back in Febuary my car went under the knife, and due to a number of factors, primarily time, its only just now about ready. So one of the many things i did was address the brakes. i went new rotors, stainless flex line, pads and painted the calipers while they were off. However during this process i F**ked up. I had learned about depresing the pedal with a board to prevent leaking. But I decided against that because of my timeline and didn't want to damage the seat. I figured that a few drips wouldnt be a big issue, I was flushing the system anyway. Had some cardboard down to catch the few drips, and i figured that as a sealed system, there wouldn't be much, similar to putting your finger over the end of a straw. I was wrong. it all drained out.

so by the time i got back in there it was way to late. in the end, I ran the bleed procedure in INPA, and it all went exactly how the video showed. took it out for a drive and didnt have bite till the very end (as i remember), and what i had was not safe stopping (again as I remember). fast forward to yesterday, i finally got ISTA working and reset the brake bite. Now it feels safe, for what little i did, about 10mph-0, but i cant for the life of me remember what it actually felt like before this disaster.

Id describe the new feel as an exponential graph appears. basicly through about 1/3 stroke nothing happens just enough to notice the brakes are on, not doing anything. 1/3-2/3 slow stoping like in town sunday driving. finally the final 1/3 starts at reasonable braking and ends at (if not for ABS) locking the wheels. It just feels like nothing for over 1/2 of the pedal travel.

Can anyone verify this is right?

TL;DR
Screwed up, drained all the brake fluid, bled them in INPA and reset bite in ISTA, but cant remember how they felt 6+months ago.

[alfazrus]

What brand of of pads do you use?

[Vulcan50]

Originally Posted by alfazrus

What brand of of pads do you use?

Hawk, oem Zimmerman rotors, and stop tech lines

[Phil325i]

Vulcan you may find this of interest:

[Vulcan50]

Originally Posted by Phil325i

Vulcan you may find this of interest:

Thanks, I did that. It helped tremendously, but I just don't know if it's all the way there (if that makes sense).

[Vulcan50]

So I drove another and the brakes were much "tighter." So I'm going to rebleed and see were I end up. I have a better laptop setup than last time so maybe that helps.

I remember hearing you can bleed with ISTA, is it any better/different than bleeding with INPA?

[bluewater328]

Originally Posted by Vulcan50

So I drove another and the brakes were much "tighter." So I'm going to rebleed and see were I end up. I have a better laptop setup than last time so maybe that helps.

I remember hearing you can bleed with ISTA, is it any better/different than bleeding with INPA?

To my recollection, no. Just a little different and I seem to remember ISTA being more picky in letting you know if you should be doing it over. That said I've probably forgotten more than I remember.

[Biginboca]

Originally Posted by Phil325i

Vulcan you may find this of interest:

Ok now I want to do that! My laptop died I wonder if I can do this with the pro tool

[Vulcan50]

Originally Posted by bluewater328

To my recollection, no. Just a little different and I seem to remember ISTA being more picky in letting you know if you should be doing it over. That said I've probably forgotten more than I remember.

I'll try it, I don't mind picky if it works!

Is a power bleeder specifically necessary? I don't wanna buy something that I just end up having to store somewhere.

[Vulcan50]

I have been swamped with work, school, and house renovations. But while doing the brakes on our truck I figured out, what I'm confident is the problem. I had my wife pump the brake pedal, while I watched bubbles in the drain tube with the one way valve.

Well, what I saw was bubbles going right back up the tube. So much for a one way valve.

Once I get time to rebleed, I'll follow up.

[Phil325i]

Originally Posted by Vulcan50

I have been swamped with work, school, and house renovations. But while doing the brakes on our truck I figured out, what I'm confident is the problem. I had my wife pump the brake pedal, while I watched bubbles in the drain tube with the one way valve.

Well, what I saw was bubbles going right back up the tube. So much for a one way valve.

Once I get time to rebleed, I'll follow up.

Don't forget the ABS unit valves all need bleeding. Do you have access to the software for this..?

[Volasko]

Originally Posted by Phil325i

Vulcan you may find this of interest:

Where. The. #$@%/. Has. This. Video. Been. All. My. Life!

I've done so much brake work over the live of my vehicle and never new this process existed. I've always been fighting with all sorts of crap to get my pedal to tighten up and never even knew this procedure was even a thing until now. Now I gotta figure out how to get ISTA on my laptop!

[Vulcan50]

Originally Posted by Phil325i

Don't forget the ABS unit valves all need bleeding. Do you have access to the software for this..?

Yep, I did that and didn't get a good result. Now I know I still have a bunch of air in the lines

[Vulcan50]

So follow up (overdue). I did a combo of computer bleeding for the abs, and traditional bleeding. Definitely best to do both.