wheel bearing/brakes help

[MMAFIGHTER121]

So after 8 hours of heating and hammering I finally got both old bearings out and the new bearings in. However, my first test ride went quite poorly as I now have extremely low brake pressure. I didn't push the brake pistons in like you do when you change brakes, could that be the problem? I don't see anyway I could have damaged the master cylinder. Any guesses foor me? Please help!

 

[MMAFIGHTER121]

I did swap the brake pads while I was under there, not with new pads but moved the pads from the outside of the disk to the inside and vise versa.

 

[bigstick1973]

because you moved the pads you may not be getting full contact over the full pad surface of the rotor untill they wear in. i always take my cap off the master cylinder and push the cal. in.

 

[MMAFIGHTER121]

Would them not settling lead to a soft pedal? There was no brake fluid on the ground anywhere so I didn't break the seal at all during the caliper and bracket removal.

 

[bigstick1973]

is the pedal going to the floor? or are you just pushing harder on the pedal? did you get any oil on the pads or rotor?

 

[MMAFIGHTER121]

it doesnt just fall to the floor but theres definitely a lot further distance of travel prior to the brakes engaging. they feel soft and spongy.

 

[joegr]

it doesnt just fall to the floor but theres definitely a lot further distance of travel prior to the brakes engaging. they feel soft and spongy.

You probably have let air in somehow. Try bleeding them and see if that resolves it.

 

[MMAFIGHTER121]

i reset the cylinders and it seems to have helped some. I probably need to bleed them, but its back to driveable now, so i'll let the pads settle for a few days and see how it works.

 

[MMAFIGHTER121]

pistons not cylinders. Derp.

 

[pragmatic]

See half way down in

http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/showthread.php?t=31764

for my method of removing bearing

 

[MMAFIGHTER121]

When I compressed the pistons I did notice a bit of brake fluid around on them. Some mustve gotten squeezed out at some point during this operation, so next weekend ill be doing a brake bleeding along with my oil change.