98 - spongy, mushy brakes

98 - spongy, mushy brakes

Hello all,

I have a problem with my brakes and I was wondering if someone could offer me some advice.

I just got new rotors replaced in the front, along with OEM pads since the rotors were warped and highway braking shook my steering wheel like crazy. the oem pads eliminated the squeak.

Anyhow, its been only a few days, but i noticed that i require more pedal effort than usual to come to a complete stop, especially downhill. this has been described on google as "mushy" or "spongy" brakes. It has also been discussed for my particular gen (98's, 99's) as a (common?) symptom.
it seems like i am supposed to bleed the brake fluid and get new fluid, since I dont think this car has been bled for at least 4 years.

one shop wants to charge $40 to bleed the lines.

my question is wehther it is a matter of bleeding the lines? and is $40 a reasonable price?

thanks all.

I'd do it myself if i were you it isnt that hard and it would save you 40 bucks. your gonna need someone to help you out though.

yea, i would bleed the brakes ur self, thats what it sounds like

thanks guys.

so the mushy brake symptom is a brake fluid issue after all huh?

guess i will look into doing it myself if i can save $40.

for others looking to do this, i found a popular site:
http://www.bmw-m.net/TechProc/bleeder.htm

i can bleed them for you. where are you located?

damn, i already got em done at a shopt today. i am in maryland.

anyways, after getting them done they seem to have improved only a little bit. i think the spongy feel is a natural symptom with OEM brake pads or something cause the generic ones i used before werent as "soft" when braking. With my dad's camry i just have to hit the brakes just a little bit and the car starts slowing down.

guess its a symptom of the 98's. anybody else?

just buy speedbleeders. Saves money rather than having a shop do it or buying those vaccum pumps

all you ahve to buy to bleed ur brakes is brake fluid...just have someone else with you...

all you have to do is open the bleeder, have someone hit the brakes, have htem hold the brakes till you close the bleeder, and have them release, keep doing this untill theres a solid stream of brake fluid comeing out. when the fluid gets to low in ur master cylindar, add some fluid. your also supposed to start from the farthest wheel from the master cylindar.

kensington meineke

i live in rockville

My cousin had the same problem on his elantra. We bled the brakes and it went back to normal.