I replaced the front brake pads on my daughter's 1990 Civic LX (4dr) and now the brake pedal goes down much farther than it did before. The car still stops fine, but you shouldn't have to push the brake pedal down 4" before you get any braking action. Any ideas?

-Shawn

 

Check the fluid level (though you probably did already) and bleed 'em.

 

yep, bleed em. also check the back brakes and adjust htem...

 

Did you open the bleeder valves to spread the caliper pistons? Ifs so you will need to bleed them. I usually use a c clamp to spead the pistont so I don't have to mess with the brake fluid.

 

I did not open any of the bleeder valves - was actually able to compress the pistons by hand forcing the brake fluid into the master cylinder. I will adjust the rear brakes and then bleed them all if necessary. Thanks for the advice!

 

Adjust the rear brakes cause that is gonna help. When you pushed the piston in the with the c-clamp you did remember to absorb the fluid out of the MC before hand right? Cause if you didn't you might have broken something, like a seal in the caliper.

 

UPDATE:

Thanks for the advice everyone - the brakes are good as new now. I went ahead and replaced the rear shoes and then adjusted them. Then I bled the brakes thoroughly (figured I might as well flush all the ancient brake fluid out of the lines while I was at it). Pedal is now firm and brakes engage when they're supposed to. Oh yeah, and the parking brake only goes up half as far as it used to!

 

If you want to, you could adjust the parking brake so it goes up all the way. There is a bolt behind the e-brake, you have to take out two screws that are on the bottom of the trim that the E-brake sticks out of. Your suppose to pull the brake up 2 or 3 clicks and tighten the bolt until the rear wheels don't turn (i think).