Brake repair on Durango gone bad.....help?

SirFshAlot

Elite Member
Apr 11, 2000
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I have replaced disc pads several times on other vehicles I have owned, always seemed like a pretty simple straight-forward task.

This time, on my 98 Durango, the pads seemed easy enough to replace. Did the C-clamp compression on the piston to fit the new pads in. Had the cap off the brake fluid reservoir.

Got done, started engine, and the pedal was really spongy.
I have bled the brakes, rear to front.
Still spongy.

I called a mechanic, he tells me I was supposed to clamp off the brake lines, and release the fluid through the bleeders at each wheel, otherwise the fluid can back-up into the ABS system and cause problems. OOOOPSSS

Any advice at this point on any home fix-it solutions?????

 

OrganizedChaos

Diamond Member
Apr 21, 2002
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i've heard of this happening in some jeeps. the nasty ass cooked fluid backs up into the ABS pump and valving and screwes it up. i'd find out if its possible to bleed the abs yourself(some vehicles you cannot bleed yourself without a thingy that plugs into the abs system) then flush the crap out of

example of vehicle the cannot be bled without special tools
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/sho...ad.php?t=152085&highlight=bleed+brakes
 

ultravox

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
2,072
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Originally posted by: MX2times
Stop messing with it and bring it to a mechanic. Be safe.

I'm always amazed with some of the helpful posts one can find here ......... Fish with that?
 

MDE

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
13,199
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Originally posted by: MX2times
Stop messing with it and bring it to a mechanic. Be safe.
Yeah, take it to a mechanic while the brakes either don't work or barely work. Real bright...
 

Number1

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2006
7,881
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Originally posted by: MX2times
Stop messing with it and bring it to a mechanic. Be safe.

That would be my advise. Just make sure you have some braking power before driving.
 

Number1

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2006
7,881
549
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Originally posted by: ultravox
Originally posted by: MX2times
Stop messing with it and bring it to a mechanic. Be safe.

I'm always amazed with some of the helpful posts one can find here ......... Fish with that?

If you have a better idea, why don't you share it with us instead of complaining.
 

MX2

Lifer
Apr 11, 2004
18,651
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Originally posted by: MDE
Originally posted by: MX2times
Stop messing with it and bring it to a mechanic. Be safe.
Yeah, take it to a mechanic while the brakes either don't work or barely work. Real bright...

Its called a tow-truck/flat bed smart guy:roll:
 

Iron Woode

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 10, 1999
31,278
12,793
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Originally posted by: ultravox
Originally posted by: MX2times
Stop messing with it and bring it to a mechanic. Be safe.

I'm always amazed with some of the helpful posts one can find here ......... Fish with that?
you'd prefer some backyard mechanic crashing into you because he didn't want to do the commonsense thing?


 

Pikachu

Golden Member
Oct 10, 1999
1,178
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Thanks nutxo, that's good info. I suspect I still have air in some section of my system. and my first guess would be the stinkin' ABS. God I hate this high tech crap!

I had my rear brake lines replaced by my mechanic last winter. Too cold for me to screw with at the time. When I drove it home, the pedal seemed spongy. I called him from home and said it seemed low. He said he thought it was adequate. So much for taking it to a mechanic. :roll: I bled the back calipers, which didn't help. Bled the whole system, and that didn't help. Replaced the master cylinder, then vacuum bled it all thoroughly, but that didn't help. Still driving it that way several months later. I've pulsed the ABS several times since then. Not sure if that would move the air to a section where it could be bled. I wonder if I could just bypass that ABS crap? :confused:
 

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
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www.slatebrookfarm.com
Wow, same problem my son is having with his dirt bike... we've bled the system several times, but it remains soft... taking it to a bike specialist to see what he can do.