my brakes are kicking my butt
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CF Beginner
Joined: Mar 2023
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my brakes are kicking my butt
long time listener, first time caller.
I have a 2001 Silverado 1500, RWD with a 4.8 liter engine.
I needed to change the brake pads all the way around, and the rear rotors. While I was doing that, I wanted to make sure the calipers were ok, so I removed them to clean them and reinstall. The caliper pistons were not moving in and out like they should and the brake fluid was extremely dark, and kind of 'sticky' or burnt. I went and got 4 calipers as well. then noticed the master cylinder had some type of algae in it. Bought a new master cylinder, with reservoir. cycled clean brake fluid through the entire system. the brakes were bleeding properly at the calipers and they felt strong at the pedal, but when I start the truck and the vacuum booster engages, they brakes feel spongy and the pedal goes to the floor. I ran the automated abs bleed with the computer and it shows successful. I rebled the brakes at the calipers and still, spongy. I purchased an abs pressure modulator 'used' because it was the only component I thought could still have any type of contamination or particulates in it. Again bled the brakes at the calipers, and once more at the master cylinder. One caliper was giving trouble (left front). went and changed it out at the store, installed it and bled it, no problems. ran the automated bleed procedure again, bled at the calipers AGAIN. brakes feel a lot better, but still not good. the pedal has to be most of the way down to engage and the truck takes too long to come to a complete stop. AT THIS POINT I AM STUMPED. Does anyone here have any ideas?
I have a 2001 Silverado 1500, RWD with a 4.8 liter engine.
I needed to change the brake pads all the way around, and the rear rotors. While I was doing that, I wanted to make sure the calipers were ok, so I removed them to clean them and reinstall. The caliper pistons were not moving in and out like they should and the brake fluid was extremely dark, and kind of 'sticky' or burnt. I went and got 4 calipers as well. then noticed the master cylinder had some type of algae in it. Bought a new master cylinder, with reservoir. cycled clean brake fluid through the entire system. the brakes were bleeding properly at the calipers and they felt strong at the pedal, but when I start the truck and the vacuum booster engages, they brakes feel spongy and the pedal goes to the floor. I ran the automated abs bleed with the computer and it shows successful. I rebled the brakes at the calipers and still, spongy. I purchased an abs pressure modulator 'used' because it was the only component I thought could still have any type of contamination or particulates in it. Again bled the brakes at the calipers, and once more at the master cylinder. One caliper was giving trouble (left front). went and changed it out at the store, installed it and bled it, no problems. ran the automated bleed procedure again, bled at the calipers AGAIN. brakes feel a lot better, but still not good. the pedal has to be most of the way down to engage and the truck takes too long to come to a complete stop. AT THIS POINT I AM STUMPED. Does anyone here have any ideas?
CF Monarch
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 5,920
Likes: 139
From: kevinkpk
long time listener, first time caller.
I have a 2001 Silverado 1500, RWD with a 4.8 liter engine.
I needed to change the brake pads all the way around, and the rear rotors. While I was doing that, I wanted to make sure the calipers were ok, so I removed them to clean them and reinstall. The caliper pistons were not moving in and out like they should and the brake fluid was extremely dark, and kind of 'sticky' or burnt. I went and got 4 calipers as well. then noticed the master cylinder had some type of algae in it. Bought a new master cylinder, with reservoir. cycled clean brake fluid through the entire system. the brakes were bleeding properly at the calipers and they felt strong at the pedal, but when I start the truck and the vacuum booster engages, they brakes feel spongy and the pedal goes to the floor. I ran the automated abs bleed with the computer and it shows successful. I rebled the brakes at the calipers and still, spongy. I purchased an abs pressure modulator 'used' because it was the only component I thought could still have any type of contamination or particulates in it. Again bled the brakes at the calipers, and once more at the master cylinder. One caliper was giving trouble (left front). went and changed it out at the store, installed it and bled it, no problems. ran the automated bleed procedure again, bled at the calipers AGAIN. brakes feel a lot better, but still not good. the pedal has to be most of the way down to engage and the truck takes too long to come to a complete stop. AT THIS POINT I AM STUMPED. Does anyone here have any ideas?
I have a 2001 Silverado 1500, RWD with a 4.8 liter engine.
I needed to change the brake pads all the way around, and the rear rotors. While I was doing that, I wanted to make sure the calipers were ok, so I removed them to clean them and reinstall. The caliper pistons were not moving in and out like they should and the brake fluid was extremely dark, and kind of 'sticky' or burnt. I went and got 4 calipers as well. then noticed the master cylinder had some type of algae in it. Bought a new master cylinder, with reservoir. cycled clean brake fluid through the entire system. the brakes were bleeding properly at the calipers and they felt strong at the pedal, but when I start the truck and the vacuum booster engages, they brakes feel spongy and the pedal goes to the floor. I ran the automated abs bleed with the computer and it shows successful. I rebled the brakes at the calipers and still, spongy. I purchased an abs pressure modulator 'used' because it was the only component I thought could still have any type of contamination or particulates in it. Again bled the brakes at the calipers, and once more at the master cylinder. One caliper was giving trouble (left front). went and changed it out at the store, installed it and bled it, no problems. ran the automated bleed procedure again, bled at the calipers AGAIN. brakes feel a lot better, but still not good. the pedal has to be most of the way down to engage and the truck takes too long to come to a complete stop. AT THIS POINT I AM STUMPED. Does anyone here have any ideas?
Thread Starter
CF Beginner
Joined: Mar 2023
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Thanks for responding. I am looking into that online right now to see what the procedure would be. Just to clarify, I have a vacuum booster, not hydraulic, and it was changed a couple of years ago because every time I would hit the brakes I could hear it pissing air loudly in the cab, Also, is there a way to adjust the brake pedal position to engage higher up? My wife is a lot shorter than I am and she sometimes drives the truck to work.
CF Monarch
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 4,605
Likes: 268
From: USA
Thanks for responding. I am looking into that online right now to see what the procedure would be. Just to clarify, I have a vacuum booster, not hydraulic, and it was changed a couple of years ago because every time I would hit the brakes I could hear it pissing air loudly in the cab, Also, is there a way to adjust the brake pedal position to engage higher up? My wife is a lot shorter than I am and she sometimes drives the truck to work.
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