I need your help

"Big Bubba Ray" (eganward01) 05/04/2014 at 00:16 • Filed to: None

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Just got done replacing the brake pads all around on my mom's '01 Grand Cherokee.

As you can see, the pads were extremely worn. Comparison of new/old rear inner pads for ya. Here's my problem. The brakes were so worn that I had to use a big C clamp to push the brake piston back to the bottom. When I did that, I guess there was extra brake fluid in the reservoir and it overflowed.

I put the wheels back on, backed out of the garage and the brake pedal had to be all the way to the floor to get the car to merely slow down. What should I do to fix this? I know the brakes will need more fluid, but should I drain the system and bleed it and all that jazz? This is my first time doing brakes on this car so I want to make sure it's done right. Also the fact that it's my mom's daily driver, it needs to be working by Monday. Help? Here's a big ol' Cherokee for your time.

lone_liberal > Big Bubba Ray 05/04/2014 at 00:19

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You don't have to drain them but since air has been introduced I think you're going to have to bleed them.

Nibbles > Big Bubba Ray 05/04/2014 at 00:20

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PROTIP: When doing brakes, you're likely gonna lose fluid. Always undo the cap and wrap the reservoir with a towel to keep it centralized. On to the rest:

When idling, can you press the pedal multiple times without any better response? If so, then you do have a problem getting fluid to the calipers. Check to make sure the cap is tight. If the reservoir still has fluid visible to or above the minimum line, you won't need to bleed. Just fill it back to full. If it's well below the minimum line, bleeding will probably be in your future.

Big Bubba Ray > Nibbles 05/04/2014 at 00:24

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Ya, definitely should have thought to put a towel around the reservoir when I clamped the piston.

I had the car idling for a minute or two while I depressed the pedal multiple times thinking that would work, but it didn't. It was dark in my garage and I couldn't see how much fluid was left, but I'm going to top it off tomorrow after work and see if that does the trick. Thanks!

Nibbles > Big Bubba Ray 05/04/2014 at 00:29

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In that case, you'll probably be in for a bleeding. Also if it got on the paint, do please clean that shit off quick! Brake fluid is corrosive yo

Big Bubba Ray > Nibbles 05/04/2014 at 00:34

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Ah, shit. I really don't want to bleed, but you gotta do what you gotta do. Thanks for the help!

Garrett Davis > Big Bubba Ray 05/04/2014 at 00:34

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Yeeeeep you'll have to bleed the brakes. I always drain some fluid into an empty water bottle first before taking a C clamp to the calipers. Keep checking the fluid levels as you compress the caliper pistons, and soak up additional fluid if necessary. Then you need to bleed the brakes. It really helps to have someone in the car to pump the brake pedal, but it is possible to do yourself (it just takes 4 times as long).

I won't go into detail explaining it here, but there are a multitude of helpful YouTube videos on how to do it that would help you more than I could anyway.

Good luck!

Big Bubba Ray > Garrett Davis 05/04/2014 at 00:37

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Ya, Nibbles said I'd probably have to bleed them, so I'm going to do it after work tomorrow. I'm gonna be dragging my brother to the garage to pump the pedal while I bleed haha

Thanks for the input!

Big Bubba Ray > lone_liberal 05/04/2014 at 00:38

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That's what I figured. It will be my first time bleeding brakes, so wish me luck!

Garrett Davis > Big Bubba Ray 05/04/2014 at 01:13

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Good luck!

cluelessk > Big Bubba Ray 05/04/2014 at 03:39

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It's pretty intimidating the first time but just don't rush it.

I did it last year. Brakes still seem to be fine.

Also the worn inner pads could be from the caliper pins could be seizing. I had the same issue with my car. The brakes didn't compress evenly and the inner pads wore to steel while the outer looked new. Lube them up and it should be fine. Mine don't come lubed from factory.

Cajun Ginger > Big Bubba Ray 05/04/2014 at 08:19

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You can do it!

It is much easier with two people. We do call outs when bleeding brakes. I'm usually the one in the car. So I'll call out "down" he replies "ok" I call out "up" he replies "ok" etc until he calls out "done". It doesn't take all that long. Just watch a few YouTube videos like others have suggested.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Big Bubba Ray 05/04/2014 at 21:31

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Wait before going to bleeding; Try turning on the car and pumping the brakes. What happened is, when you pushed the pistons back in you pressed all the fluid back up. Everytime you press the brake pedal down you only push a very small amount of fluid. This fluid is equal to (pi (D/2)^2 X pedal travel). However the fluid on the other end is Area pi (4d/2)^2 X 1/4 pedal travel. So if you moved the pistons back all the way, it may take more than 1 brake pedal push to get the caliper pistons pressing up against the brakes.

Big Bubba Ray > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 05/04/2014 at 21:38

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I actually tried just pumping the brakes, but it didn't work unfortunately. I just finished bleeding the brakes about 10 minutes ago haha

crowmolly > Nibbles 05/05/2014 at 10:40

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Protip #2: Go to the pharmacy and get a large plastic syringe like the ones used for children's medicine. Use that to suck out some of the fluid in the master so you don't piss brake fluid everywhere. Then just top it off when you are done. A turkey baster works but won't last. Always make sure every bleeder opens before you mess with the lines.

Why did you break the bleed to begin with? Shouldn't be necessary with pads and rotors unless the fluid was dark and used up.

Did you get the last bleeder open? What did the fluid look like coming out of the plastic tubing? You can get a lot of little bubbles in there.