Brake Bleeding Help!

[MisterSkiz]

Thanks for corroborating. I casually loathe the brake feel on this car, and a BBK didn't do much to change that. The bite is great, but the pedal travel still sucks just like the day I got it: nothing, nothing, nothing, BRAKE.

I alternate weekends with the Supra and a Genesis Coupe to make sure they both get driven, and the Hyundai absolutely embarrasses the Supra in the brake feel. Was wondering if it was just me.

You are not alone - I noticed it right when I drove the car for the first time after buying it and even bought a Versus Brace to see if it would help with the feeling....

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[MisterSkiz]

I haven't tinkered with the Supra yet and its brakes....however, I basically stopped using my power bleeder when I change my fluid on my other cars, now I just suck out some of the old fluid the master cylinder reservoir using turkey baster, refill it to over full with the top off the reservoir and gravity bleed everything while I hang out and drink a beer and watch the level...

 

[theQuaybee]

TLDR try bleeding the brakes with the car running.

Interesting indeed! I have had suboptimal brake pedal feel, even with stainless lines, master cylinder brace, and even using ISTA bleed procedure. Different brands of fluid, too. I'm going to try this next. Were you actually pushing the brake pedal or really just bleeding with the power bleeder like you normally would with a power bleeder? It sounds like you were pushing the brake pedal to bleed, AKA the "old fashioned" way, and had the power bleeder hooked up with pressure?

 

[gixxersixxerman]

Interesting indeed! I have had suboptimal brake pedal feel, even with stainless lines, master cylinder brace, and even using ISTA bleed procedure. Different brands of fluid, too. I'm going to try this next. Were you actually pushing the brake pedal or really just bleeding with the power bleeder like you normally would with a power bleeder? It sounds like you were pushing the brake pedal to bleed, AKA the "old fashioned" way, and had the power bleeder hooked up with pressure?

Yes sir, I had the pressure bleeder hooked up and car running I bled the brakes pressing the pedal.

 

[baagel]

Just pitching in with my own experience. Last year, I had my brake calipers powder coated and rebuilt, and new brake lines installed. I had good shop do the work and they've bled my brakes many times in the past. When I got the car back, they noted that the pedal feel was pretty mushy despite bleeding the fluid multiple times.

We all agreed that the stopping power was there but the feel was off. I had a track day the next morning, so was extra cautious when braking. Pedal still felt like crap but the braking performance was totally fine. A couple days after the track day, pedal feel just magically returned to normal and has been fine since. Still not really sure what that was, just glad I didn't have to go down a rabbit hole to solve it.

 

[FLtrackdays]

Just pitching in with my own experience. Last year, I had my brake calipers powder coated and rebuilt, and new brake lines installed. I had good shop do the work and they've bled my brakes many times in the past. When I got the car back, they noted that the pedal feel was pretty mushy despite bleeding the fluid multiple times.

We all agreed that the stopping power was there but the feel was off. I had a track day the next morning, so was extra cautious when braking. Pedal still felt like crap but the braking performance was totally fine. A couple days after the track day, pedal feel just magically returned to normal and has been fine since. Still not really sure what that was, just glad I didn't have to go down a rabbit hole to solve it.

Well said. I get mine bled all the time and that’s exactly the case. That really hard initial pedal feel is hit or miss and they work themselves out. I was left foot braking just for fun in town, practice I suppose for maybe someday, anyway the bite & feel was almost like my wife’s GTI. Barely touch it and she’d chomp down hard. Any firmer and it wouldn’t even be worth me attempting left foot braking.

 

[Afterfire]

Thanks for all the info in this post. Ive done multiple bleeds on this car and line changes and bleeds on another track car for years. This one put me on a hunt to figure out why I couldnt get past the sponginess of the first 75% of brake pedal travel after swapping lines. What fixed it for me was starting the car and letting it run while I bled. Thanks all who contributed. Long live forums.

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