MK4 Changed Rear Rotors and Pads and No Peddle Pressure Now

[keanenkGTI]

I changed the rear rotors and pads on my 04 GTi 1.8T and afterwards the peddle kept on going to the floor, but I don't get why this is happening as I never opened the system up. So then I bled all the calipers and I STILL have this problem where the peddle will go to the floor if I pull forward. If I pump up the brake peddle it comes back, but as soon as I go forward a little bit, it drops right to the floor. Is it possible I messed up the rear calipers somehow? I had to manually turn them in with large channel locks before I could get the tool on to turn them back in because they were out so far from wearing the pads down too far. Any help would be greatly appreciated as this is driving me nuts!

[germancarnut51]

If you didn'ypush the pistons as you turned them in, it's possible that you ruined the rear calipers.

But that would not account for a soft pedal.

I suspect that you didn't change the brake fluid every ofteh (supposed to every two years), and gunk build up was released into the master cylinder (which is now preventing the seals inside from working) when you retracted the rear caliper pistons.

In some cases you can salvage the brake master cylinder by bleeding a large voume of fresh brake fluid through the master cylinder in an attempt to flush out the debris.

If that doesn't work, you are going to have to replace the master cylinder.

[keanenkGTI]

All fixed now!

FYI - The retainer springs for the front calipers were on wrong (whoops) and it was causing the caliper to be pushed apart always, so when I would push the pedal and get the pressure up it would squeeze them shut to where they should be and then when I moved a little the pressure was released and it pulled the caliper apart and brought the peddle down. Haha, kind of crazy, but be advised - PUT YOUR FRONT CALIPER RETAINER SPRINGS ON CORRECTLY!!!