Changed brake master cylinder, bled 10 times, and the pedal is soft The rear brakes are not locked but close. Truck now running rough.

I changed my brake master cylinder on a newly purchased 1997 4runner due to a soft pedal (no leaks) and bled the brakes 10 times. I bench-bled the master cylinder and had no issues with the install. Saw a video on YouTube that said to run the vehicle to speed and jam on the brakes, thus pushing any air down so it could be bled. Did this in drive and reverse. Brakes made a strange noise when jamming on the brakes in reverse. Now the brakes aren't locked, but not free and the truck is running rough. No issue with the engine idle or rear brakes prior to replacement of MC. Bled the rears and t
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
You will have to bleed the brakes from the farthest location all the way to the master cylinder. There is still air in the lines causing the issue. Check the vibrations on the vehicle to see if the engine mounts are damaged or if the brakes are not releasing causing the engine to run harder than normal to overcome the braking force. If you need further assistance with your vehicle’s brake system, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.

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If you need to replace or install a brake master cylinder, you`re going to have to “bench bleed” it before bolting the assembly to your firewall. That`s because, due to the angle at which the master cylinder sits when installed, bubbles can become trapped in an un-bled master cylinder`s fluid passages.
Worn-Out Master Cylinder

The master cylinder holds the brake fluid to generate hydraulic pressure and sends the pressure to the front and rear brakes to stop the vehicle. A leak in the cylinder seals will reduce the brake fluid pressure resulting in spongy brakes.

Air in the brake line(s) is the most common cause of a soft/spongy brake pedal. If air gets into the brake lines, it can prevent brake fluid from flowing properly, causing the brake pedal to feel spongy or soft. If the brakes are soft or spongy, this is a good time to change or flush the brake fluid.
This is most likely due to the pedal mechanism or booster pushrod keeping the master cylinder slightly applied, impeding the capability of the master cylinder to allow expanding fluid back into the reservoir as the fluid warms up.
The master cylinder is a vital component of the car`s braking system. This cylinder is the principal valve through which brake fluid is pushed to make the calipers press brake pads on the rotors. In essence, this means it plays a significant role in making the car stop when you apply brakes.
This pressure travels from the master cylinder, through the brake line, and acts on the brake caliper and brake rotor. However, if air bubbles are in the brake line, hydraulic pressure is reduced, making your entire braking system less effective and your vehicle more difficult to control.
The vehicle should not be running at any time during the bleeding process. If you are using a DIY system, these steps require a partner: With your partner in the driver`s seat, have them slowly pump the brake pedal two times and then hold the brake pedal to the floor.
The answer is no. Bleeding brakes must be done when the car is not running. The reason for this is that the brake booster, which provides power assistance to the brake system, requires vacuum pressure from the engine to function correctly.
1. The Master Cylinder. One of the most common brake drag causes is that the brake pedal is too tightly adjusted, resulting in blockage of the master cylinder vent port. This blockage causes excessive pressure build-up on the braking system, resulting in brake drag.
In today`s video, the brake brainiacs at Raybestos explain why you should be mindful of not overfilling your master cylinder, because it can lead problems such as: Unwanted brake drag. Brake system overheating. Premature brake pad wear.
Most master cylinder failures are caused by leaks developing around the piston seals. As the piston seals wear or the cylinder bore becomes scuffed or pitted, piston seal leaks cause a falling or spongy feel in the brake pedal.
Bench bleeding is especially useful with new master cylinders. It`s a great way to get air out of the cylinder itself and begin your brake bleeding process quickly and easily. You can get bench bleeding kits from any number of places, but we picked ours up at Classic Performance Parts when obtaining a brake kit.
If a sensor goes bad, then you may experience wheel lock or notice that there is low fluid in the reservoir. The anti-lock brake system fluid level sensor monitors the level of the brake fluid in the reservoir in order to inform the driver if the level falls below the minimum safe level in the event of a malfunction.
Yes master cylinders can fail without leakage, the clutch master cylinder has a piston inside and there are separate channels for hi-pressure line and return(low pressure) line and their location in the cylinder differs for manufacturers.
It`s a crucial component for safe driving since all of your brake operation depends on the master cylinder working as it`s designed. But like any car part, there`s potential for the master cylinder to fail, and understanding what to look for can reduce the likelihood of a problem coming to a stop.
If the booster isn`t of the proper size, proper assist can`t be provided and the pedal will become hard due to the fact that the system is tapped out. At this point, the pedal becomes hard as the booster has done all it can but the vehicle still needs more.
If the brake pedal sinks to the floor when the engine is running then there may be a problem with the brake booster.
With the car turned off, pump the brake pedal four or five times until you get a hard brake pedal. Continue to hold the brake pedal down with moderate pressure and start the vehicle. The brake pedal should drop. If this brake pedal remains hard, there is a problem with the brake booster, such as a ripped diaphragm.
If you are having trouble bleeding the rear brakes on your, it`s most likely due to a damaged proportioning valve. This valve manages and directs brake fluid to the rear brakes. When this valve goes bad, there will be little to no brake fluid being sent to the rear brakes.
What happens if a master cylinder isn`t bench bled? You risk not being able to get a master cylinder to prime enough to start pumping if you don`t bench bleed it first. Then you end up bench bleeding it in the car, causing a large mess that might have been prevented if you had just used the BENCH in the first place.
Assuming a complete brake conversion is being completed, the first thing to do is bench bleed the master cylinder. Once that has been completed and everything installed, then the bleeding of the rest of the system can be done. Bench bleeding the master cylinder is the first thing that needs to be done.
Assuming a complete brake conversion is being completed, the first thing to do is bench bleed the master cylinder. Once that has been completed and everything installed, then the bleeding of the rest of the system can be done. Bench bleeding the master cylinder is the first thing that needs to be done.
Yes, you do need to bleed the brake lines as you are pulling the master cylinder off the booster backplate. The first step is always draining the master cylinder so that you would not spill corrosive brake fluid to mar the finish of your car.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Changed brake master cylinder, bled 10 times, and the pedal is soft The rear brakes are not locked but close. Truck now running rough.
ANSWER : You will have to bleed the brakes from the farthest location all the way to the master cylinder. There is still air in the lines causing the issue. Check the vibrations on the vehicle to see if the engine mounts are damaged or if the brakes are not releasing causing the engine to run harder than normal to overcome the braking force. If you need further assistance with your vehicle’s brake system, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.

Low brake pedal and anti-lock brakes are not kicking in.
ANSWER : The brake pedal is working to stop the vehicle, but there may be air in the controller unit causing the ABS brakes to not function. I recommend bleeding the brake system from the farthest location from the master cylinder to the master cylinder including the ABS unit. If the brakes are still spongy after a full bleed, then the controller will need to be replaced. If you need further assistance with your brake pedal being spongy, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.

Hard brake pedal and rear brakes locking up.
ANSWER : Hi. I will help you with this issue you are having with your 2001 Durango. Unless you bled the master cylinder, it is possible there is still air in the system. If you car is equipped with ABS, air could have also gotten trapped in the ABS modulator. If ABS equipped, a bi-directional scan tool would be essential to manually activate the ABS system to clear air from that segment of the lines while you are bleeding the system. It is also possible that in all of this work somehow the proportioning valve has been affected causing the desired pressure differential, front versus back, to get out of spec. Using a 2,500 PSI gauge, you can check the pressures at each wheel and that will definitely give you a clue as to which brake circuit is the issue (or both), whether the proportioning valve is working properly and whether the line pressures at each wheel are within spec. Should you need a second opinion, by all means feel free to contact YourMechanic for assistance and we will diagnose and repair the issue for you.

Soft brake pedal after replacing rear brakes and master cylinder 2003 Audi A4
ANSWER : Hello. If you have no pressure to the rear calipers at all and if the master cylinder is new then you may have forces some debris into the ABS unit when you compressed the pistons in the rear calipers. In some cases the system can be pressure bled to fix it but it may need a new ABS unit.

Supportive bar attached to brake pedal interrupts proper braking process
ANSWER : It’s possible to have someone alter the brake pedal or adapt a brake pedal from a different vehicle. You may call around to some customization shops to see if anyone is interested in taking on the project. But first, I would try reaching out to the selling dealer with your concern – especially since it is a new model. Good luck.

hard brake pedal with engine off no pedal when started replaced all brakes rear clyinders and master cylinder no air in lines
ANSWER : From the description provided, my first step would be double checking the connections at the master cylinder as well as double check the flexible brake lines at each wheel. A small leak can duplicate the brake pedal falling to the floor. If you are 100% certain there is no air in the system, it is very possible that your F-250 may have a faulty brake master cylinder.

The brake system on the your 1987 Ford is pretty basic and if there are no leaks, then it is VERY likely the master cylinder is the problem. If you are performing the work yourself, you may want to try exchanging your brake master cylinder for a new one.

Be sure to properly bench bleed your brake master cylinder before installing it on to the brake booster as well. I would then bleed the entire brake system at each wheel just to be sure there is absolutely no air in the system.

Of course if you did not perform the work yourself, or if you feel like you’re stuck, then I would recommend enlisting the assistance of a certified technician. They will be able to quickly determine the reason for your brake pedal falling to the floor.

Rear brakes not grabbing – 1995 GMC K2500
ANSWER : Hello. It is not in the ABS, but may be the proportional valve not giving the correct pressure split front to the rear. The vehicle never had enough pressure for the rear brakes. Have the rear shoes adjusted properly if you have drum brakes. You should check to see if there is an updated part to replace the old one. If you would like to have this done, a certified technician from YourMechanic can inspect the brake system and let you know what repairs are needed.

Could the brake servo booster that the master cylinder attaches to cause the brake pedal’s excessive travel?
ANSWER : Hi there. Typically, when a brake booster fails, the result is a hard to push brake pedal. The pressure release you hear is engine vacuum and may be normal considering, the brake pedal travels to the floor. With no apparent leak(s) in the hydraulic braking system, the master cylinder internally bypassing is the most common failure. Having replaced the master cylinder, this leads me to believe, there may be air trapped and a flush may resolve this concern. Assuming, the vehicle is equipped with ABS (anti-lock brake system). The ABS hydraulic modulator assembly may be internally bypassing. I recommend having your vehicle’s brake pedal issue diagnosed and repaired by a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic.