Changed brakes now brake peddal too soft cant break..help???

[Dragz]

Hey guyz i changed my front brakes 4 the 1st time and now when i tryed driving the brakes basicly wouldnt engage i press and it just falls threw but when i brake harder feels like the car goies to one side, i have a commodore vz 04 executive....do i need to bleed em or sumfing? can some1 tell me step by step what i need to do help much apriciated thnx guys.

[greenacc]

supposing you fitted them properly and did not introduce any air in the system, perhaps you need to bed in the new pads. Did you do that ? drive up to 50 k's, brake nearly to a stop, accelerate and do this again about 5-10 times. This warms up the new pads and gets them working.

[Dragz]

i need to press it all the way to the firewall for it to do something it too scary

[Philthy]

When you say you changed the brakes, what did you change? Pads, discs, calipers?

[Dragz]

pads, n now no go :'(

[Philthy]

You shouldn't have gotten air in the lines by just changing pads. Did you bed them in like greenacc said?

Edit: How to: Change pads and rotors. - Have a look at the first page here for more info on bedding in new pads

[Dragz]

if i do have air what do i do?...i ddnt follow instructions just went for it and guess i made a mistake...what do i do if i do have air?

[Dragz]

need help asap

[spirto]

Hey there,

Bleeding quick steps.
(tools needed, jack, jack stands, a friend, flexible hose clear about the size of a pencil thick, 8mm ring spanner)
1. Jack up the car remove front wheels.
2. Support car on jack stands or put the tyres under the body (just incase it slips off the jack.
3. Chock up the back wheels to stop it sliding anywhere.
4. Locate a 8mm or similar ring spanner (for the bleeder nipple) located on the caliper.
5. Once you have loosened this nipple, tighten it again. (careful when un-doing it, can snap if it's rusty or old)
6. Place flexible hose over nipple, then place spanner back on hex part of nipple. The end of the pipe put it in a jar or something to collect the overflow. (saves on cleaning drive etc)
7. Have a mate/ girlfriend pump the brake inside the car. (works quicker with the engine running) just make sure it's in nutreul if manual, or park if auto
8. Tell them to press down, whilst pressing down release the nipple, brake fluid should flow. (repeat this a few times, if you see no air bubbles then that brake is done)
9. repeat for each wheel.
Note:
Keep an eye on the master reservior top it up each time when you see it getting just below half. Keep the lid on it when your bleeding to save your guard getting messed up.

The pedal should become harder the more air you get out of it.
If after all this it is still not a hard pedal.
- check discs might need machining, as said before u have to bed the disc pads in to start gripping but shouldn't be like your stating.
- have your master cylinder checked, if you put the pads in by pushing the piston in the caliper back with a g-clamp or similar, you might (although extreme) have pushed one of the cups out of the piston inside the master cylinder.

hope this helps.
sorry for being a long reply...