Need some help with Brake problem

[ravi189]

Hi, I have an 02 P5. Basically don't have experience, but am pretty good at doing DIY's so your advice is appreciated. I have changed my brakes, but i'm fairly certain i did it properly.

My E-brake light came on. I checked the fluid, and it was at the MIN level so i refilled it. The next day (yesterday) the light came back on. About 10 hrs later, w/ about 2 hrs of driving in between, the light was back on. THe brake pedal would go way too far into the ground.

I'm going to lay out some newspaper by all 4 of my tires, refill the fulid, and try to figure out where the leak is.

I know it's not possible to diagnose like this, but any advice on what the problem may be or what i should do??

Im going to inspect all the lines myself (i have no experience but i'm guessing i'll be able to follow the brake lines and inspect them).


thanks

 

[GoFast]

what did you replace on the brakes? it sounds like either you are losing fluid somewhere or you didnt bleed the brakes properly.

 

[bgibb68]

where are you located at??

 

[MazdaSpeeder]

Sounds like the brakes were not bled properly to me as well.

 

[ravi189]

sorry, i should have been more clear.

I changed my brake pads, that's it. And that was more than a few months ago, and I haven't had any braking problems until now. I've replaced both front and rear pads before with no problems.

I have a problem with my shocks or struts, or something in my front passenger side tire. I hear a noise that sounds like it's the rotor or something. I say this because i hear the noise go faster and faster, the faster the tire rotates.

I tried the wheel bearing check by jacking car up and seeing if the tire "gives."

As for bleeding, i didn't bleed them at all. I was under the impression that I didn't have to if I was just replacing pads.

The other info slipped my mind, and i apologize for not being more clear.

thanks

 

[grindMARC]

Have you ever changed the fluid or bled the brakes on this car? If not, I'd start there. There are a bunch of good threads on here about how to do that easily. You'll probably figure out where the fluid loss is while you're doing that job.

You did loosen the cap on the reservoir when you replaced the pads, right?

 

[ravi189]

Have you ever changed the fluid or bled the brakes on this car? If not, I'd start there. There are a bunch of good threads on here about how to do that easily. You'll probably figure out where the fluid loss is while you're doing that job.

You did loosen the cap on the reservoir when you replaced the pads, right?

i went to the place with the free brake check and they said my pads and everything were fine. THis was before I had any problem, other than the noise from what i think is the rotors.

I've never bled/ changed fluid, which I will do. I was actually already looking at the how to's, but never did it, because I was just changing the pads. I know it's still a good thing to change so I'll try that.

I didn't loosent the cap. I followed a how-to from this thread, and they didn't mention so I didn't know i was supposed to.

Do you think me not opening the cap months ago would give me problems now?

I checked my brake fluid level this morning and it's topped off. It's been sitting there for about 12 hrs. I guess I'll let it run for a while and see if the level goes down.

It's gonna be real hard to find a leak because it rained and the ground is wet.

 

[bgibb68]

even if it is wet you will see the brake fluid on the ground....you can't miss it....do you have a stick or auto.....while you let it run make sure you pump the brake

 

[ravi189]

even if it is wet you will see the brake fluid on the ground....you can't miss it....do you have a stick or auto.....while you let it run make sure you pump the brake

Stick. I'll be sure to do that.

 

[bgibb68]

Stick. I'll be sure to do that.

pump the clutch pedal too....it pulls fluid off the brake res for the clutch

 

[ravi189]

pump the clutch pedal too....it pulls fluid off the brake res for the clutch

I forgot about that. thats a good point

I did it for about 20 minutes (brake pedal, not clutch). The only thing i saw was a little fluid under the master cylinder (i guess that's what it is, where you pour the fluid), but i think it may have been left over from when i spilled some fluid last night.

The fluid didn't go down even a little bit.

I'm just gonna drive short distance and see if it goes down. If the problem was that I didn't open the valve and there was air in teh lines or something, is it possilbe the problem would go away once fluid goes throught the whole system (more than an entire small bottle of fluid)?

ALso, would i still have to bleed the lines? It's all brand new fluid in there

thanks again

 

[bgibb68]

yeah bleed the lines just to be sure there is no air....best to get one of the bleeding kits with the lil hand pump and just make to keep the res full

 

[ravi189]

I'ma just try the 2 person method. This wouldn't solve the leaking problem thought right? Just get any air that may be trapped.

I drove for about 1 1/2 hrs and my fluid level did drop. I'm just not sure how to figure out where it's from. It barely leaks when i'm parked (even when i pump brakes and clutch), and if i'm driving, i don't see how i could possibly figure out where it's coming from because it'll just drip while i'm driving.

 

[GoFast]

I'ma just try the 2 person method. This wouldn't solve the leaking problem thought right? Just get any air that may be trapped.

I drove for about 1 1/2 hrs and my fluid level did drop. I'm just not sure how to figure out where it's from. It barely leaks when i'm parked (even when i pump brakes and clutch), and if i'm driving, i don't see how i could possibly figure out where it's coming from because it'll just drip while i'm driving.

bleeding wont solve the leaking problem and you cant really properly bleed the system if it is leaking. if you have a leak in your brake system and fluid/air can escape then you will continue to get air in the system. you need to do things in this order:

1. find leak
2. fix leak
3. re-check for leaks
4. bleed system

#4 is useless if you dont do 1-3 first

 

[ravi189]

bleeding wont solve the leaking problem and you cant really properly bleed the system if it is leaking. if you have a leak in your brake system and fluid/air can escape then you will continue to get air in the system. you need to do things in this order:

1. find leak
2. fix leak
3. re-check for leaks
4. bleed system

#4 is useless if you dont do 1-3 first

Yeah. Basically what i figured. Thanks.. I think i'm just gonna have to have a mechanic look for it.

 

[GoFast]

great idea! you cant be to safe when it comes to your brakes

 

[P-Funk!]

Could be the clutch slave cylinder (by the tranny).

 

[ravi189]

I took it to the mechanic and he said it was my rear brake caliper. There was a lot of fluid dripping from it.

I've never done it before, but i replaced the caliper, hopefully correctly.

I didn't bleed the brakes yet, I tried real hard but couldn't get the lugnuts off the 1st tire i have to bleed.

I tried driving it around the block, and it definetly felt MUCH better, but my E-brake is real loose unless I press the brake pedal.

I just put back the old brake pads and didn't tighten the piston bolt. I figured that when i pump the brake pedal, the piston would close and it would tighten to fit the Slightly worn out brake pads. I know when you change pads, you pump the brakes and the pistons close, i ffigured it would be the same thing.

I thought that once the pistons close the e-brake would work properly, but it's still loose.

ANy suggestions?? I THINK/HOPE the leak is fixed.

 

[ravi189]

I didn't bleed the brake that i replaced the caliper on because i was going to do it in the proper order, but couldn't. I'm going to go back and bleed the problem brake. Hopefully that'll help, but any suggestions are still welcome

 

[bgibb68]

why can't you get the lugs off??too tight? do you have a breaker bar and a piece of pipe??