86 GL brakes spongy

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pheasant - 20 Dec 2007 15:07 GMT

Haven't been here for a good long while.

The old girl is getting real tired, but refuses to quit.

Below zero weather was making pedal spongy. Lots of air in left rear
line. Bled all lines. Happened again, so replaced both rear wheel
cylinders.

Is better, but pedal still travels farther than it does when warm. No
leaks to be found anywhere, hill holder is fine. Before I go getting
mad and putting in a new master cylinder, am I missing something?

Haven't worked much on cars since college days (30 years ago) so am
definitely out of practice and rusty. Plus the joints don't work as
well anymore, so may farm this one out, but looking to see if I missed
something simple first.

Thanks
Mark

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Rick Courtright - 20 Dec 2007 22:10 GMT

> line. Bled all lines. Happened again, so replaced both rear wheel
> cylinders.

Hi,

Out of curiosity, did you bleed the lines alone, w/ a vacuum pump or one
of the "one man bleeders", or w/ two people? I've always found I get
better results when a real person is pushing on the pedal...

Also, I assume you kept an eye on the m/c reservoir so it didn't get too
low and suck "new" air into the system?

Rick C

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Rick Courtright - 20 Dec 2007 22:22 GMT

Hi,

Add a thought: "old" brake hoses can give a softer feel than fresh ones,
too. I'd consider 10 yrs or so as a good service life--some say less.

Rick

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pheasant - 21 Dec 2007 13:33 GMT

> Hi,
>
> Add a thought: "old" brake hoses can give a softer feel than fresh ones,
> too. I'd consider 10 yrs or so as a good service life--some say less.
>
> Rick

Thanks Rick

Am gonna take it to my "big job" guy, tell him spongy brakes, tell him
what was done and let him figure it out.

Getting too old to lie on the ground when the weather is single digits
anymore.

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pheasant - 21 Dec 2007 13:30 GMT

> Hi,
>
> Out of curiosity, did you bleed the lines alone, w/ a vacuum pump or one
> of the "one man bleeders", or w/ two people? I've always found I get
> better results when a real person is pushing on the pedal...

2 people, me on the ground (of course)

> Also, I assume you kept an eye on the m/c reservoir so it didn't get too
> low and suck "new" air into the system?

Tried to overfill, the remove to max line after done. Suppose some
could have snuck in between sides.

The thing I don't get is, when I lightly "double pump" I have firm pedal
feel, no spongy feel at all. I do this out of habit, but when I get in
a different vehicle, find myself overcompensating and braking harder
than I should.

My knees are screaming at me for last week, so am gonna throw my "major
repair" guy a bone and let him figure it out.

Merry Christmas!!

> Rick C

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