Significant brake fade after front brake job

Hi everyone,

I did a front brake job a few days ago. I replaced rotors and pads. I however did not bleed the brakes. This is a low mileage 2015 Tacoma front disc brake job. I drove around the hills on a cool night and had a significant brake fade and spongey pedal. I can only assume it is from air bubbles in the lines? When I pulled over it clearly smelled like burning brakes as to be expected.

I bled the brakes today starting with the rear and moving up to the front. Is there anything else I should check?

Thanks!

 

You can adjust your rear brakes by applying the parking brake when reversing. This might help with the spongy pedal feel.

 

I also have been noticing my parking brake is not engaging as much as it used to. I’m assuming I’ll need to adjust the drums accordingly.

 

And did you bed the new pads? Guessing not.

Products used?

 

Adjust the drum brakes and it should stiffen up for you.

 

This^^^^^^^

 

Yes. I bed the pads.

 

Adjust the rears

 

Done and done.

 

Do you still smell the brakes after driving it? Can you feel any excessive heat at any one corner?

 

How do your calipers look? When I replaced my rotors & pads last summer, I also had the calipers rebuilt. My old pads were 4mm & 2mm & knew it was time to do all 3 at once. I went with OEM

 

After driving it a bit more, I no longer smell feel brake fade or spongey pedal. I think it was air in the rear lines.

I’ve always wondered how air can enter into a “closed system”?

 

The smell could have been the front rotors getting hot for the first time. Sometimes they'll have a waxy coating that needs to burn off.

Did you bleed?
Adjust the rears?

Small air bubbles can develop when the brake fluid down at the wheels gets extra hot and actually boils, like during a panic stop situation on the freeway. Not enough boiling to create huge pockets of air but enough to cause a noticeable soft pedal feel

Between the shoe adjustment and the bleeding, sounds like you got it sorted out

 

Yeah. A good reminder for me to do it right the first time. I rushed the job and should’ve done all this the other day. What can ya do? Thanks for all the help guys!

 

Great video I used while rebuilding my drums, link starts at adjusting the rear drum pads

 

Air cannot enter a closed system.

 

I have to agree with this. In all of my years of working on brakes, the only way air got into a closed system was when what we thought was a closed system - wasn't.

 

Unless the closed system wasn't actually closed or the brake fluid itself was contaminated (water) then I've never had a problem.

However if you live in an exceptionally humid or wet area then the likelihood of contaminating the fluid is higher.

A vacuum brake bleeder tool is a super fast way to do a fluid flush. For what the shops charge to flush the fluid you can buy the tool and do it yourself. As long as you have a decent air compressor.

This is the tool I use, bit expensive for just one vehicle maintenance though.

$214 Mityvac MV6835 Pneumatic Brake and Clutch Bleeding Kit with Clamp-on Refill, Air Operated, 1.9 Quart Reservoir, 2qt Per Minute, Swivel Air Inlet, Automatic Shutoff Valve, Variable Thumb Throttle

https://www.amazon.com/Mityvac-MV6835-Automotive-Accessories/dp/B0015POUXM