Brake pedal squishy/brakes tampered with. - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Ashen L99 · 10-03-2020, 07:56 PM

So, this is why I generally like to take my own car into service so I can state what needs to be done and what not to touch.

Thursday: my mom calls me, says that she wants her car detailed and wondered if I can come grab it after work. (She lives about 80 miles one way from me.) I say sure no problem, I’ll just trade her out and let my Camaro sit at her place for a day. I get off work, around 6, went and grabbed it and was back to my place by 10:00. I specifically told her the ABS light is on because of a broken wheel speed sensor so, if you drive it be careful. On my way back I was worrying about my car, but it’s my mom and I trust her. I trust her to the point where I thought hey my car needs an alignment and the people I normally take it to are located where she is at. I call her and tell her hey if you can please take it to the alignment shop tomorrow and have it aligned. I SPECIFICALLY tell her to tell them not to touch my brakes or worry about any lights on the dash, just tell them to align the car. She says okay.

Friday: car gets aligned, she drive it home, nothing to report

Saturday: she drives car to me and switches me out for hers. Tells me that the brake pedal feels funny. And that it feels different then when she dropped it off. Alarm bells are going off in my head. I asked did you tell them not to worry about the dash lights and all that. She says yes, she told them. I get it this evening drive it for approximately 25 miles and can for sure tell that the brake pedal is sponges/squishy and that on the intital press the brakes don’t bite until the very end. I pop the hood and find brake fluid on my master cylinder and all over my master cylinder cap. This tells me that someone had brake fluid on their hand when they tightened the cap. If I pump them twice or three times they feel normal but on that initial press it’s all sorts of messed up. Not to mention where the tech put the wrench he messed up the powdercoat.

I need Suggestions on how to proceed. I don’t have any factual proof that they touched the brakes, but some very strong indicators.

I got my calipers painted back in June and have the invoice from the dealership when they, for $220 dollars mind you, used their special diagnostic tool to bleed the ABS system.

Pictures:

davidscamaro · 10-03-2020, 08:58 PM

Check the bleeders on the calipers for leaks , if the pedal is soft its because your loseing fluid or air is getting in

ariZona28 · 10-03-2020, 11:45 PM

This needs to be addressed by someone you trust. Time to fix that speed sensor and then bleed the system properly. It sounds like somebody tried to do you a "favor" by bleeding your system old school and then when it didn't turn out as planned they thought they could just pretend nothing happened. I know I'm stating the obvious when I say minimize driving this vehicle until all your brake issues are remedied. Hope your E-brake is in good working order.

Ashen L99 · 10-04-2020, 03:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidscamaro

Check the bleeders on the calipers for leaks , if the pedal is soft its because your loseing fluid or air is getting in

Checked and they are all tight. I’m pretty sure air got in the system like Arizona stated.

Ashen L99 · 10-04-2020, 03:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariZona28

This needs to be addressed by someone you trust. Time to fix that speed sensor and then bleed the system properly. It sounds like somebody tried to do you a "favor" by bleeding your system old school and then when it didn't turn out as planned they thought they could just pretend nothing happened. I know I'm stating the obvious when I say minimize driving this vehicle until all your brake issues are remedied. Hope your E-brake is in good working order.

Yeah, it will be going to the dealership again for another beak bleeding procedure and I’ll have them order A new sensor. What you stated are my thoughts exactly. A phone call is in order.

redcoats1976 · 10-04-2020, 07:46 AM

im taking this to mean you cant bleed these brakes the old school way,or did someone screw up and leave an air bubble in the system?

larry_g · 10-04-2020, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redcoats1976

im taking this to mean you cant bleed these brakes the old school way,or did someone screw up and leave an air bubble in the system?

It's hard to bleed the ABS module if air gets in there. Sometimes you can get the air out by braking hard enough to trigger the ABS a few times.

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mikeman · 10-04-2020, 10:16 AM

If you can, just buy a scanner that has the ABS bleed function capability. More lower priced scanners are coming with that feature. In fact, I'd probably do that instead of going back to the stealer and getting ripped off again.

Silveradoss573 · 10-04-2020, 12:13 PM

I used this setup and had excellent results. Now I didn't have air in the system like you may have. But I would check the calipers for any leaks first. Then clean and check around the brake resivoir area for anything suspicious. Definitely clean up any brake fluid if any from painted surfaces by flushing with clean water. You may need to cycle the abs module as mentioned already.

https://www.motiveproducts.com/

Moto-Mojo · 10-04-2020, 01:46 PM

Dude, you saddled your mom with taking your car to the alignment shop? There’s nothing near you? Where you could have monitored the situation? Cool mom but man, you kinda asked for this one in my opinion. Classic air-in-system symptoms to me. You can compress air, not brake fluid.

LimaCharlie · 10-04-2020, 04:22 PM

Why is your master cylinder cap all black? The factory cap has 'DOT 3' on it and some symbols.
Makes me think they installed a junk aftermarket cap on your car for some reason. Maybe that's why the brake fluid is leaking and causing air in the system...

Ashen L99 · 10-05-2020, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moto-Mojo

Dude, you saddled your mom with taking your car to the alignment shop? There’s nothing near you? Where you could have monitored the situation? Cool mom but man, you kinda asked for this one in my opinion. Classic air-in-system symptoms to me. You can compress air, not brake fluid.

I have had the car serviced there since I bought it... they know who’s car it is. They know me. So when I said hey mom, would you mind dropping it off and to USE MY ACCOUNT, I figured it would go smooth. 5 years of service history there....

Badbubba · 10-05-2020, 05:45 PM

Bleeding brakes for a wheel sensor code. ?????

Russell James · 10-07-2020, 12:30 PM

how to proceed?

Bleed brakes, replace master cylinder cap.

Buy Mom chocolates and flowers.

10-03-2020, 07:56 PM	#1
Ashen L99 Drives: Ashen grey, 1SS, L99 Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 527	Brake pedal squishy/brakes tampered with. So, this is why I generally like to take my own car into service so I can state what needs to be done and what not to touch. Thursday: my mom calls me, says that she wants her car detailed and wondered if I can come grab it after work. (She lives about 80 miles one way from me.) I say sure no problem, I’ll just trade her out and let my Camaro sit at her place for a day. I get off work, around 6, went and grabbed it and was back to my place by 10:00. I specifically told her the ABS light is on because of a broken wheel speed sensor so, if you drive it be careful. On my way back I was worrying about my car, but it’s my mom and I trust her. I trust her to the point where I thought hey my car needs an alignment and the people I normally take it to are located where she is at. I call her and tell her hey if you can please take it to the alignment shop tomorrow and have it aligned. I SPECIFICALLY tell her to tell them not to touch my brakes or worry about any lights on the dash, just tell them to align the car. She says okay. Friday: car gets aligned, she drive it home, nothing to report Saturday: she drives car to me and switches me out for hers. Tells me that the brake pedal feels funny. And that it feels different then when she dropped it off. Alarm bells are going off in my head. I asked did you tell them not to worry about the dash lights and all that. She says yes, she told them. I get it this evening drive it for approximately 25 miles and can for sure tell that the brake pedal is sponges/squishy and that on the intital press the brakes don’t bite until the very end. I pop the hood and find brake fluid on my master cylinder and all over my master cylinder cap. This tells me that someone had brake fluid on their hand when they tightened the cap. If I pump them twice or three times they feel normal but on that initial press it’s all sorts of messed up. Not to mention where the tech put the wrench he messed up the powdercoat. I need Suggestions on how to proceed. I don’t have any factual proof that they touched the brakes, but some very strong indicators. I got my calipers painted back in June and have the invoice from the dealership when they, for $220 dollars mind you, used their special diagnostic tool to bleed the ABS system. Pictures: Attached Images __________________ Roto-fab CAI, Nick Williams 102mm TB, LOD X1 V3 intake manifold, GMPP LS3 heads, Night Fury cam, TSP 2” long tubes, Corsa ZL-1 catback, Nitrous Outlet 102mm plate kit/150 shot, NGK BR7EF plugs with Taylor plug wires, DSX flex fuel kit, ZL-1 fuel pump and injectors, B&M deep trans pan, Yank 3400 converter, 3.45s with BMR Delrin bushings, mishimoto 169° Thermostat, GM ground effects, T-Rex upper grill, Z/28 Spoiler, Lolly pop Lime brake calipers, ZL1 10 spoke wheels, 12” subwoofer, and custom paint matched interior. Last edited by Ashen L99; 10-05-2020 at 11:34 AM.

10-03-2020, 08:58 PM	#2
davidscamaro Drives: 2010 SS/RS M6 BIG cam Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: McDonald's DT Posts: 857	Check the bleeders on the calipers for leaks , if the pedal is soft its because your loseing fluid or air is getting in __________________ BIG cam ...... 305 45 18 Mickys ...... BMR suspensions

10-03-2020, 11:45 PM	#3
ariZona28 Give speed a chance Drives: 2015 Camaro 2LS, 2015 Camaro Z/28 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Mesa, Az Posts: 2,234	This needs to be addressed by someone you trust. Time to fix that speed sensor and then bleed the system properly. It sounds like somebody tried to do you a "favor" by bleeding your system old school and then when it didn't turn out as planned they thought they could just pretend nothing happened. I know I'm stating the obvious when I say minimize driving this vehicle until all your brake issues are remedied. Hope your E-brake is in good working order. __________________ 2LS: a TREMENDOUS machine. Z/28: it's a BIT MORE POWERFUL, of course.

10-04-2020, 01:46 PM	#10
Moto-Mojo Fast Cars and Old Guitars Drives: 2015 2SS RS (L99, baby!) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: N. CA Posts: 3,974	Dude, you saddled your mom with taking your car to the alignment shop? There’s nothing near you? Where you could have monitored the situation? Cool mom but man, you kinda asked for this one in my opinion. Classic air-in-system symptoms to me. You can compress air, not brake fluid. __________________ “I don’t want to belong to any club that would have me as a member.” - Groucho Marx

10-04-2020, 04:22 PM	#11
LimaCharlie Drives: 2011 Camaro SS/RS - 2004 Silverado Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 2,989	Why is your master cylinder cap all black? The factory cap has 'DOT 3' on it and some symbols. Makes me think they installed a junk aftermarket cap on your car for some reason. Maybe that's why the brake fluid is leaking and causing air in the system... __________________ 2011 Summit White Camaro 1SS/RS -6.2 LS3, TR6060, 3.45, G80 2004 Black Silverado 1500 2WD Regular Cab, Short Bed -5.3 LM7, 4L60E, 3.42, G80 2014 White Caprice PPV -6.0 L77, 6L80E, 2.92, G80

10-04-2020, 07:46 AM	#6
redcoats1976 Drives: LT W/2LT,blue metallic Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: central florida Posts: 4,915	im taking this to mean you cant bleed these brakes the old school way,or did someone screw up and leave an air bubble in the system?

10-04-2020, 10:16 AM	#8
mikeman Banned Drives: 2015 Camaro Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: My Garage Posts: 1,125	If you can, just buy a scanner that has the ABS bleed function capability. More lower priced scanners are coming with that feature. In fact, I'd probably do that instead of going back to the stealer and getting ripped off again.

10-04-2020, 12:13 PM	#9
Silveradoss573 Drives: Camaro 1LE Join Date: May 2018 Location: USA Posts: 1,348	I used this setup and had excellent results. Now I didn't have air in the system like you may have. But I would check the calipers for any leaks first. Then clean and check around the brake resivoir area for anything suspicious. Definitely clean up any brake fluid if any from painted surfaces by flushing with clean water. You may need to cycle the abs module as mentioned already. https://www.motiveproducts.com/

10-05-2020, 05:45 PM	#13
Badbubba GrINned & JUICEd Drives: 15STI, 10Expy, 10 2SS/RS M6, 47KB1 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,247	Bleeding brakes for a wheel sensor code. ????? __________________ GPI SS3 Cam & stuff,N.O. Plate(dedicated fuel tank,progressive,fuel hose upgrade,remote opener,heater,console switches),LNC2000,CTAP,ARH 1 7/8" LTs/gutted cats/X pipe/mufflers,Jet Hot coated LTs,GPI HPT Tune,CAI, Scoop,Rx Catch Can,Gates heater hose relocation, Remote clutch & auto brake res,Metco loop,Momentum Tunnel Brace,TSW Nurb 18",555 & 05,Pfadt trailing arms & toe rods,Autometer WB,Fesler Pillar Pod,LED strips (int),Lloyds floor & trunk mats,LED DRL/front turn & license plate,DRL harness,VLEDs tail lights,Plasticoat Bowties. Ord: Oct 5, 2009 Rec: Nov 19, 2009 13.17@112.6 stock

10-07-2020, 12:30 PM	#14
Russell James Drives: '15 SS 1LE, '69 Z28 drag car Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Mich Posts: 4,482	how to proceed? Bleed brakes, replace master cylinder cap. Buy Mom chocolates and flowers.