My brake pedal feels to soft to me under hard braking. Is there anything I can do to make it stiffer? It is a function of the brake fluid? I am using the stock DOT3 Ford fluid. I already have a SSBC front kit, SS lines and upgraded pads in the rear.

Thanks

 

Try bleeding your brakes first. I bleed mine about twice a month.

 

I would suggest bleeding the brake system again... with stainless steel lines your pedal should be very firm... it doesn't take much air in the lines to cause your problem... You might consider going to Modul synthetic brake fluid. I also like to install Speed Bleeders ( http://www.steeda.com/products/steed...d_bleeders.php ) when I upgrade the brakes.

Bobby M.

 

I have bleed the crap out of the brakes, so I don't think it is that. As an example, I did a full day of lapping yesterday and when I got home (1.5 hour drive), I could still push the brake pedal to the floor while at a stop light. That doesn't seem right to me. I check the master cylinder, no fluid is leaking so I dont' know what else it could be.

 

Your master cylinder may have an internal seal that has gone bad and bypassing fluid. I have this happen in another car a few years ago.
Scott

 

Hydralic fluid doesn't compress... if your pedal is going to the floor as you discribed... there must be air in the system or your have a failed part in the calipers... I would think there would be fluid somewhere.

It just doesn't make since that a closed system without air or a leaking seal would be spongy...

I'm assuming you bought the SSBC's as a kit..?? Contact SSBC about the parts you have installed on the front... give them part numbers if you have them.. you may have been sent the wrong pads for the SSBC calipers... you might want to check the bracket bolts on the calipers to be sure they are tight or you have a broken piece.. something has to be giving when pressure is applied in order for your pedal to continue traveling to the floor. Check the metering block where the brake lines from the master cylinder connect to the lines that run to each wheel... I believe there is a check valve in that block between the front and rear systems to prevent the loss of both front and rear brakes in case of a loss of fluid on one or the other systems... maybe that check valve has failed or has been activated to close off one of the systems.

Bobby M.

 

Did all this start after you did the brake and brake line upgrades? Sounds like air entraped somewhere. You might refer to some of the Ford service notes on the proper sequence to bleed that are posted in the forum. If you have air entrapped in the ABS unit it is more tricky to get the air out. Going to synthetic will be a worse solution, as synthetic fluid is more compressable than conventional brake fluid, which means it will be spongier. Bleeding technicque is easy enough, but it is also easy to do it incorrectly and get a bad result.

 

No fluid hydraulic or otherwise will compress. Since you've bled the system that's not the issue.
It is most likely that there as a leaking seal inside the master cylinder that is causing it too bypass just as someone else had mentioned.
It is also possible that you have a leaking caliper piston but if that were the case you'd have brake fluid visible from the outside. Take your wheels off and inspect the calipers for leakage.
If they are ok you need to look at the master cylinder.

 

Two Viagra pills dropped into the master cylinder will do the trick for at LEAST 2 days..

 

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I'll take a closer look at some things this weekend and see what I can find.

 

Check your physics book on the chapter about elastic modulus and compressability of fluids. Liquids are compressable, and depending on what they are, the compressability varies. There is a noticable difference betwen the compressability of conventional brake fluid vs synthetic, and hence pedal feel. The synthetic is more spongy. Its well documented, including all over the internet. Do your homework before you make a claim that liquids are not compressable w/o knowing your facts.

And since he did not answer the question about exactly when this problem started, we are all shooting in the dark. But if this started just after he did these brake mods, it is very unlikely the master cylinder spontaniously failed.

 

Cialis in the intake!

 

See above post about this. Brake fluid does compress. And to top it off, certain brake fluid brands and types compress LESS than others and bleed easier too.

I like ATE typ 200 gold. It seems to trap less air than other brands and is noted for its low compressibility, and temperature extremes over time. As well as its Low moisture absorbtion.