ScottUKDM
Member
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2023
- Threads
- 1
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- 32
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- Location
- UK
- Vehicle(s)
- '17 Civic Sport, '21 e advance, '00 Prelude 2.2VTi
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- #1
Hopefully someone has a similar experience. Car is a 2017 UKDM Civic Sport (1.5t CVT), 45k miles, we've owned since it was 22k miles old.
Around 30k miles, I replaced all the discs and pads (both brembo branded) as the pads were low and the discs were half worn. The rear callipers were retracted using the disconnect multiplug, power to the motor directly method (rather than remove the motor and turn the spigot method). The car is fitted with the ATE callipers if I recall correctly.
I replaced these with no issues (I consider myself a competent diy mechanic). Given all 4 corners were replaced, it was expected it would take a few miles to bed in and get back to good/hard pedal feel. The hydraulic side of the system was not touched at this time. After a week or so, the pedal feel still never improved back to the original feel, so I assumed that perhaps some harder braking was required. Still no improvement. Considering the hard / hot braking sessions, I decided to then change the fluid using the 2 man bleeding method. Still no improvement. The feeling matches exactly that of having air trapped.
I have since changed all the pads for a different brand (pagid), rebled the system and still no improvement.
I then read the workshop manual regarding the 5x handbrake apply/release, and rebled yet again quite recently. No air came out at all. I was using dot4 ESP fluid (ESP fluid being of lower viscosity to help ABS/VSA systems work properly in lower temperatures).
The brakes still feel spongy, as if air is in the system. When driving If I give the brake pedal half a push, not quite fully release and then re-brake, the pedal feels acceptable for that moment only.
Otherwise, the brakes work fine - I can still stop fine, I can still stop with decent braking power, it still passes all the UK MOT tests regarding braking power/efficiency/balance etc. Just the pedal feel is bad, and the pedal has an increased travel.
I'm leaning towards master cylinder issue but find that hard to believe given the age of the car. I have not yet checked what the flexible hoses do when the brake pedal is pressed whilst the engine is running - I guess there could be a bulging hose but again I didn't notice anything specifically when doing the 2 man bleed with the engine off - but appreciate that does not put the flexible brake lines under working pressure.
I'm waiting for the CTA Tools pressure bleeding cap to arrive so I can perform a pressure bleed, just in case there is trapped air in a hard to bleed place (I find this hard to believe but cannot rule it out).
Any thoughts or experiences appreciated.
Many thanks,
Scott
Around 30k miles, I replaced all the discs and pads (both brembo branded) as the pads were low and the discs were half worn. The rear callipers were retracted using the disconnect multiplug, power to the motor directly method (rather than remove the motor and turn the spigot method). The car is fitted with the ATE callipers if I recall correctly.
I replaced these with no issues (I consider myself a competent diy mechanic). Given all 4 corners were replaced, it was expected it would take a few miles to bed in and get back to good/hard pedal feel. The hydraulic side of the system was not touched at this time. After a week or so, the pedal feel still never improved back to the original feel, so I assumed that perhaps some harder braking was required. Still no improvement. Considering the hard / hot braking sessions, I decided to then change the fluid using the 2 man bleeding method. Still no improvement. The feeling matches exactly that of having air trapped.
I have since changed all the pads for a different brand (pagid), rebled the system and still no improvement.
I then read the workshop manual regarding the 5x handbrake apply/release, and rebled yet again quite recently. No air came out at all. I was using dot4 ESP fluid (ESP fluid being of lower viscosity to help ABS/VSA systems work properly in lower temperatures).
The brakes still feel spongy, as if air is in the system. When driving If I give the brake pedal half a push, not quite fully release and then re-brake, the pedal feels acceptable for that moment only.
Otherwise, the brakes work fine - I can still stop fine, I can still stop with decent braking power, it still passes all the UK MOT tests regarding braking power/efficiency/balance etc. Just the pedal feel is bad, and the pedal has an increased travel.
I'm leaning towards master cylinder issue but find that hard to believe given the age of the car. I have not yet checked what the flexible hoses do when the brake pedal is pressed whilst the engine is running - I guess there could be a bulging hose but again I didn't notice anything specifically when doing the 2 man bleed with the engine off - but appreciate that does not put the flexible brake lines under working pressure.
I'm waiting for the CTA Tools pressure bleeding cap to arrive so I can perform a pressure bleed, just in case there is trapped air in a hard to bleed place (I find this hard to believe but cannot rule it out).
Any thoughts or experiences appreciated.
Many thanks,
Scott
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