There's probably a little air in the system . . . (archive)

The twisty bits in the piping on a modern ABS system are a nightmare to bleed. But if this is the case, the pedal (brake &/or clutch, whichever is affected) should get higher if you pump it a few times. You may have to rebleed the entire system. Start with the wheel furthest from the master cylinder and work your way toward it, then do the clutch.

If whoever bled it drained the fluid down instead of sucking it out of the reservoir, air could have gotten into the master cylinder. I've had a few that had to be removed and "bench bled" because I couldn't get the last little bubbles out any other way.

One of your bleed screws may be a tiny bit loose. Check them and wipe any fluid away thoroughly. If there's moisture around one the next day, there's a leak. Overtightening them can cause this, too, as does a metal shaving or a tiny particle of dirt on the seating surface.

Last resort - remove the new pads and check to be sure there isn't a tear in a caliper piston seal. You can get a piston "cocked" while pushing them back into the housing, and damage the seal trying to get the piston to retract. I once saw one that was just unfolded, so it didn't seal against the piston.

Follow Ups:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Z3 Coupe Message Board ] [ Msg. Board FAQ ]

Questions, comments, or problems, please visit the Roadfly help desk.