Soft/Spongy brake

[sidclaim]

95 Toyota Corolla, replaced both rear wheel cylinders and pads. Bleed-off all four wheels. The brake feels like spongy. When approaching stop light, pressing on brake pedal and there's a light drop or softness. Is this normal? I have to re-pump the brake.

[Rip The E Brake]

There is still air in the lines... bleed them again... if still the same result, check for hairline cracks in the calipers, or drips in the connecting lines...

If to no avail, check booster.

[modernage]

I have this same problem on my Explorer right now and have bled the brakes 3 times to get all air out. I've also replaced my brake master cylinder and it was the same. My next step is to replace the brake lines since they're the original.

[speedy25]

When bleeding brakes always start with the FURTHEST wheel from the master cylinder. Easiest way is to use a mityvac pump, but when you use a second person pushing the pedal for you make sure you close off the bleeder before the pedal reaches the bottom.

These rules will be different for vehicles with ABS.

Old brake HOSES can make for a "soft"pedal as the rubber ages BUT you wont get any change in pedal feel when you pump it. Pumping compresses the air bubble(s).

-SP

[Steelballz]

random thought, but are both driveshafts completely tight?
had a similar problem on my corolla lately, tried changing all pads to start with and problem kept coming back, air-gunned the 30mm drive nuts into place and that solved the problem.

just as food for thought

[speedy25]

That wouldnt cause "spongy" brakes but it would cause excessive pedal travel from more than typical runout of the brake disks.

-SP

[Steelballz]

I had it in my car, and usually had to pump the breaks to have normal breaking, so I stand by my statement

[JDMprizm]

Same thing happend with my Prizm...

Replaced everything to do with brakes.

[brown0809]

I had that problem with my 96 Corolla, I changed the master cylinder and that fixed it.