03 Escape- brakes spongy after a climb

[RMKcowboy]

I noticed over the holidays that after making a good pull up the hill with the flipper pinned, if I'd hit the brakes right after a climb they would be real spongy at first and not work very well, if at all. But if I just pumped the lever 1-2 times they'd come right back and work fine until the next pull. Is this normal?

 

[ullose272]

how is the fluid level in your master cylinder? if its low its possible that the port in the bottom of the master is getting uncovered by fluid causing air to get in the system.

 

[RMKcowboy]

how is the fluid level in your master cylinder? if its low its possible that the port in the bottom of the master is getting uncovered by fluid causing air to get in the system.

I'll have to check again, but IIRC its fine. Its just funny to me that they come right back and work fine by pumping the lever, seems like if the fluid was boiling for some reason or there was air in the line they wouldn't work worth a crap all the time.

 

[rmkboxer]

if there is air in the line it will work if you pump it

 

[RMKcowboy]

if there is air in the line it will work if you pump it

Wouldn't the brakes suck all the time though with air in the line? I'll buy some fluid and flush it just because I've never done it, but wondering if there isn't something more to it.

 

[ullose272]

most likely, but after a while the air will float to the top. i would bleed and flush the system. if that doesnt work, something could be spreading the caliper open, say if a bearing was bad or something where under very high load it allows the shaft to move and the rotor not being in straight? i dunno an idea

 

[BB454]

brake

Open up the brake resevior and look down inside. Hopefully you can see through the fluid. There are 2 holes in the cylinder that the piston moves in. one charges the cylinder and the other lets excess escape. I have seen one of them plugged that can cause what you have seen. BE CAREFUL when you squeeze the lever, it will squirt you in the eye. There may be a rubber disc on top of the holes that you can pick out carefully with a small screwdriver.

Set the park brake overnight and it will force the air to the top too.

 

[RMKcowboy]

Open up the brake resevior and look down inside. Hopefully you can see through the fluid. There are 2 holes in the cylinder that the piston moves in. one charges the cylinder and the other lets excess escape. I have seen one of them plugged that can cause what you have seen. BE CAREFUL when you squeeze the lever, it will squirt you in the eye. There may be a rubber disc on top of the holes that you can pick out carefully with a small screwdriver.

Set the park brake overnight and it will force the air to the top too.

Speaking from experience? Thanks for the info, maybe I can get some garage time this week and take a look at it.

 

[devilrmk]

It needs bled. The air will only come out if its only in the line, if its in the caliper it needs to be bled out. Good idea to bleed and flush it anyway, they suck up a lot of moisture and the fluid gets pretty nasty after about 2 seasons.