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08-19-2018 | 04:30 PM

guppy

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Senior Member

Joined: 10-19-2013

Posts: 359

From: Dallas Texas

No brakes

So i decided to change the front brake pads on my 2008 HHR. I did not open tge resevoir cap. The pads had about 1/3 material left on them, but i put new ones on anyway. I merely compresed the caliper pistons back in using a c-clamp. I NEVER opened the bleeder valves. When i press the brake pedal with the engine not running, it feels good. When i start the engine tge brake pedal goes almost to the floor. What did i do wrong? When i opened thr master cylinder, no fluid overflowed.

08-19-2018 | 05:05 PM

guppy

Thread Starter

Senior Member

Joined: 10-19-2013

Posts: 359

From: Dallas Texas

Took it for a spin and the brakes stop just fine. But when I am at a complete stop the pedal is closer to the floor board. What's wrong with this thing?

08-19-2018 | 05:10 PM

donbrew

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Joined: 01-23-2009

Posts: 25,339

From: Fredericksburg,VA

Is the fluid full now? If there was no groove left the were ready.

08-19-2018 | 05:23 PM

guppy

Thread Starter

Senior Member

Joined: 10-19-2013

Posts: 359

From: Dallas Texas

Quote:

Originally Posted by donbrew

Is the fluid full now? If there was no groove left the were ready.

Fluid is full, I never added any, nor did I seem to loose any. That kinda makes me wonder, after compressing those two pistons, where did all that fluid go? The wear groove on the old brake pads range from 2.5mm to 3.5mm deep.

08-19-2018 | 06:15 PM

tiapetra

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Joined: 04-03-2018

Posts: 247

From: Florida

You should have opened the cap and fluid should have overflowed out the lid IF the level was full when you started.
The only place it could have gone would be into the booster if there were no overflow anywhere.

08-19-2018 | 07:50 PM

whopper

Platinum Member

Joined: 04-09-2006

Posts: 7,039

From: Vancouver, BC, Canada

If the pads have grooves 2.5 to 3.5mm deep, you need more than just brake pads.

08-19-2018 | 08:09 PM

sleeper

Platinum Member

Joined: 01-09-2007

Posts: 15,983

From: SE USA

Agree with Whopper.

Anytime I have replaced disc pads without opening the bleeder. The first pump of the pedal does go to the floor, then it is fine. It a matter of getting the fluid back into the caliper, that you squeezed out for new pads.