Brakes On Avensis

[AllyWilky]

Hi, Just changed the front brake pads on my 1999 avensis. Have bled the system in the sequence described in haynes manual but brakes are still very soft and spongy. Any suggestions?

[gazza1286]

Did you use any kind of brake bleeding kit? Vizi-bleed is a simple system available from Halfords which should solve your problem.

[AllyWilky]

Hi Used the old 2 man method, one pumping the pedal and the other with a tube and a jar collecting the run off

[gazza1286]

In actual fact there's no need to break into the hydraulics when changing the pads. The pistons can be pushed back and any surplus removed from the reservoir.

In your case air may be entering the system via the threads on the bleed valves. When you re-bleed smear some grease on the threads of the bleed valves to prevent this.

Good luck

[Exvec]

You need to use a pressure bleeding kit as system on these cars for whatever reason take some doing using the press pedal open bleed screw method.

Get hold of a Easi Bleed kit and you'll have no problems.

[Konrad C]

In actual fact there's no need to break into the hydraulics when changing the pads. The pistons can be pushed back and any surplus removed from the reservoir.

In your case air may be entering the system via the threads on the bleed valves. When you re-bleed smear some grease on the threads of the bleed valves to prevent this.

Good luck

You need to use a pressure bleeding kit as system on these cars for whatever reason take some doing using the press pedal open bleed screw method.

Get hold of a Easi Bleed kit and you'll have no problems.

Gary and Michael are correct. Some people make the mistake of trying to bleed brakes after changing brake pads, when they just need to pump the pedal!

Worse still the Avensis needs a pressure bleeding kit. I know this as I have bled the system after changing the rear wheel brake cylinders and the pressure has to be high. It might be because of the ABS system, but manual 2 man method does not work. It is much faster too.

The only time to bleed the brakes is when replacing the fluid, or changing a hydraulic component like the calipers, pipes or wheel cylinders.

[Druid Boy]

Alternatively this might be the common 'I have done something, did I do it right factor'*. You may just be focussing on the brakes more because you have worked on them. find a quiet car park or stretch of road and test them with a good squeeze. If your ABS kicks in then your brakes are overpowering your tyres and working fine.

*A mate of mine thought he had wrecked his bike engine by simply changing the oil. 'It sounds like a bag of spanners' says he. 'Put your helmet on and listen to it again' says I. 'Oh yeah' says he 'much quieter now'.