97 Rav4 - Soft brakes - Car Troubleshooting


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97 Rav4 - Soft brakes

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freakshow54
Novice

Feb 16, 2006, 4:30 PM

Post #1 of 3 (2483 views)

97 Rav4 - Soft brakes	Sign In

I recently replaced my front brakes in my 97 Rav4, and noticed that nearly half of my brake stroke was required before the pads began to compress on the rotor. The second half of my stroke felt about normal. I bled the brakes to no avail. What can I do to make my brakes respond earlier in the stroke?

Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Feb 16, 2006, 9:06 PM

Post #2 of 3 (2480 views)

Re: 97 Rav4 - Soft brakes	Sign In

If not bled properly you may have some air in there?? Also new brakes don't feel their best right away but half travel on you brake pedal doesn't sound right.

Just for ideas: Bleed brakes again. It's also possible that in doing so the master cylinder got trashed but you didn't state the classic symptoms of that. T

PS: A master cylinder is a finely bored hole with seals that only travels so far until you bleed brakes or a failure. When those seals may go into a crusty area they can fail. Usually you get a fading brake pedal if this has happened.

DanD
Veteran / Moderator
DanD profile image

Feb 17, 2006, 10:44 AM

Post #3 of 3 (2473 views)

Re: 97 Rav4 - Soft brakes	Sign In

If the brake pedal was fine before you replaced the pads and you didn’t open the hydraulic system then there shouldn’t be any air in the system to worry about.
If the rotors were not replaced, they should have been machined that’s so the new pads have a smooth surface to wear into.
I made some notes on this diagram if you didn’t do them that could be where your problem is.
Dan

Canadian "EH"

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