Brake pedal feeling soft after replacing rear calipers

[clapton924]

Hey guys,

This weekend I replaced both of the rear calipers on my 2003 EX coupe. The parking brake mechanism seized on one side, and I figured the other side wasn't far behind. I got everything back together, bled the brakes until I saw no more air bubbles and tightened everything up. Now the brake pedal seems to be "soft" or "light" the first 1-2 inches when I press the brake pedal, then it gets firm towards the bottom. The car seems to stop ok....just feels different to me. I can hear the shift-interlock click when I just tap the brake pedal in park...so something must be happening the first 1-2 inches that I press the pedal.

Anyone have a similar experience? Do you think I still have air in the system? I pinched off the brake lines and made sure the master cylinder didnt go dry while bleeding. I think I did it right.

Thanks!

[CrackerTeg]

You need to bleed the whole system starting with the closest caliper then moving towards the furthest. Once you pop open one of those lines, expect air to get in regardless of what you do.

[Mike]

Bleed with vacuum pump

[MyNameIsThien]

I hate using a vacuum pump. Vacuum pumps tend to add air into the system sometimes. I rather pressure bleed, or the old school way of having someone depressing the brake pedal and another opening the bleeder screw/valve.

[clapton924]

Thanks for the replies. I'm going to bleed the entire system tomorrow. Hopefully that does the trick. I just use the old school method of having a friend pump the brake pedal for me.

[clapton924]

I just wanted to report that I bled the entire brake system today, and my brakes now feel better. Thanks guys!

[MyNameIsThien]

More and likely, when your buddy was depressing the brake he might've released the brake just a tad which sucked in air before you closed off the bleeder valve. I see it quite often. Thats why I bought a $300 brake pressure bleeder tool. So I can bleed/flush my brake fluid by myself.

[NVA-AV6]

You need to bleed the whole system starting with the closest caliper then moving towards the furthest. Once you pop open one of those lines, expect air to get in regardless of what you do.

Actually you have that reversed, start with the furthest caliper (drivers/rear), then work to the closest (pass/front).

[CrackerTeg]

I was under the impression that Honda reversed it to what I said. I know the old way is how you're saying Paul and I've always done it that way. With this car, I read it was opposite.

[MyNameIsThien]

Per Honda, Z is correct, but if going by rule of thumb, Paul is correct.

[NVA-AV6]

LOL, yeah, just looked in a couple of my factory manuals, 6th gen was listed as the old way, but 7th gen they changed, why I have no idea and I just repklaced my ABS module and blead out the old way with no issues.

[CrackerTeg]

It happens man. I have no idea why Honda recommends this new way but bleeding is bleeding. Know what I mean?

[MyNameIsThien]

They switched it like that for the abs module from my understanding.

[CrackerTeg]

That's odd though. ABS has been around for a few years before. I'm guessing it was a module upgrade?

[MyNameIsThien]

I believe so. Its mainly because with the whole new "Traction Control" that runs on ABS module. Older 6th gen did not have traction control.