Spongy brakes - need to bleed?

[Maroon5]

hi bros, lately brakes are getting incredibly spongy. in fact i jus did brake fluid change 4 mths back but it sort of worsen my braking. my car is a cs3 lancer coming 2 yrs old and 25,000km.

 

is it air?

is it brake pad due for changing?

 

can any bros recommend a reliable workshop for checking?

 

thanks for your attention.

[Apollo]

eh... checking can set u back by $20-30. wat sorta brake fluid did u change to?

 

silicone ones can give u spongy feel. if absorb water also give similar problem.

 

brake pad.. front is disc.. u can see the thickness. check if still ok? also, when original pads wear off (which wun happen ard 25k km, too early) it will emit loud noise.

 

so.... plenty of braking will also affect.

 

if really got air.. the faster cheapest method is total replacement, with new fluid. ask stamford do it for you. fluid need 2 small bottle more then enuff. then drive slowly, let the air out.

[Yeobh]

The last job is poorly done. There is still air bubbles trap within the system especially at loations where metal brake pipe makes a sharpe bend.The only way out is to go to a shop that has brake bleeding tools - either a vacuum or pressure bleeder. With ABS brake system -Do not allow mechanics to do brake bleeding using leg power to pump the master cylinder - chance of more dirts and rust getting into the master brake seals and system and more air will be trap in the ABS accumulator and pipings.

Edited November 13, 2007 by Yeobh

[Sfrtuscani]

ermmmm....i did my first brake fluid change at 90K Km.....

Edited November 13, 2007 by Sfrtuscani

[Maroon5]

im using mobil dot 4....not too sure if its silicone type....grey bottle...

[Maroon5]

mine was really done with "leg power" - aka the old school method...one person press the brake pedal and the other collect brake fluid at the wheel...previously my braking feel is very good, but i change at 20,000km according to the service recommendation...

[Maroon5]

wah liao eh

[Apollo]

then... mebbe the fluid expired. these r hydrothermic. ie absorb water. so they not supposed to b left open.

[Yeobh]

Only DOT 5 is silicon base, the rest are mineral.

[Yeobh]

I am not surprise, out there many mechanics are still using 1960's skill and tools in this age of high techology equipped vehicles.

[Maroon5]

thanks bro....

[Maroon5]

oic....thanks bro...will look out during the bleeding...

[Apollo]

there may b other associated problem.. such as tyre shines which is accidently applied to the brake pads or even brake dust removers sprayed onto the rims.. these have caustic action tat can result in damage to brake pads/ brake fade.

[Yuan]

I avoid the autoglym tyre shine and its rim cleaner. There was once I accidentally spilled over the solution onto my rotor...Wah....The shiny rotor becomes brown colour after that....

 

I asked my mechanic to check my rotors during servicing after that. Thank God! Nothing wrong with my rotors and brakes.

[Maroon5]

ya its possible bro....but i thk my case is highly due to the poor job done during my 20k servicing...

act i stopped using tyre shine a long time ago...

[Apollo]

tyre shine, soluble or spray sud not b applied directly onto the tyre, contrary to wat manufacturer say. get a cheap sponge, wear a plastic glove, apply the shine over the sponge and go over in clockwise/ anticlockwise, u'll neber go wrong doing it. the sponge sud hv it's own plastic bag to keep for future application.

 

dust remover... i guess is just abt the same with another sponge.

[Sfrtuscani]

wah liao eh

kekekeke...realise that i'm very lucky lor...as nothing happen to me.... but i learn my lesson ...next brake fluid chg at 130K Km.... its coming soon... kindly up date me ur progress lor...wana find a better workshop

[Maroon5]

sure bro