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Steel Brake Lines, Softer Pedal? WTF

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Old Dec 1, 2012
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Steel Brake Lines, Softer Pedal? WTF

I have a 98 Civic EX with the SI rear disc brakes. I've never had trouble with these brakes the entire 9 months I've owned the car.

Today I put braided steel brake lines on the rear ONLY. I did them one at a time and made sure that they had the appropriate washers and were bled thoroughly. The bolts are tight on the caliper and there are no visible leaks.

Now the problem is my pedal is softer than when I had the stock rubber lines on.

Please help if you know what could be the problem!
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Old Dec 1, 2012
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Re: Steel Brake Lines, Softer Pedal? WTF

You have metric **** tons of air in your lines...did you bleed them?
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Old Dec 2, 2012
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Re: Steel Brake Lines, Softer Pedal? WTF

Yes, I put up there that I bled them thoroughly while making sure the reservoir was kept filled. The brakes still grab well and it isn't intermittent at all.
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Old Dec 2, 2012
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Re: Steel Brake Lines, Softer Pedal? WTF

Do you have ABS?
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Old Dec 2, 2012
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Re: Steel Brake Lines, Softer Pedal? WTF

Today I put braided steel brake lines on the rear ONLY.
Did you have the system opened up long enough for the brake fluid to empty out of (half of) the reservoir?
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Old Dec 2, 2012
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Re: Steel Brake Lines, Softer Pedal? WTF

Originally Posted by Blue_SI_Boy
Yes, I put up there that I bled them thoroughly while making sure the reservoir was kept filled. The brakes still grab well and it isn't intermittent at all.
Hahaha i re-read it to make sure you didnt say that....dont know how i missed that twice

Odds are you didnt bleed them enough...heres a guy that had the same experience
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1324280
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Old Dec 2, 2012
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Re: Steel Brake Lines, Softer Pedal? WTF

If you have abs you will need to use a scan tool to bleed the abs system.
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Old Dec 2, 2012
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Re: Steel Brake Lines, Softer Pedal? WTF

Originally Posted by Kenres
If you have abs you will need to use a scan tool to bleed the abs system.
why would you need a scan tool?
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Old Dec 4, 2012
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Re: Steel Brake Lines, Softer Pedal? WTF

Nope, no ABS thankfully. It does seem like I'll need to bleed more the more I read. It has to be it. I'll give it a shot and post up the results
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Old Dec 4, 2012
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Re: Steel Brake Lines, Softer Pedal? WTF

No ABS, start with the wheel furthest from the master cylinder and work from longest line to shortest line. Mity Vac will pay for itself if you aren't already using one
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