allright i changed the brake pads , and pushed this round thing in so the brakes would fit when i close the pad holder.i turned the nut in with the hole in it so its facing the brake line.i then replace the brake fluid,and turn on the car.the brake is real soft when its on but when i turn it off the brake pedal feels hard.somethings not working.i think maybe the brake fluid isnt going into the caliper ,therefore not pushing in the circle thing.help please i need to leave in an hour.im a newbie with a civic 1997 4 dr automatic.any help would be great!

 

start the car. the brakes are vacuum assisted, thats why its hard with the car off. then pump the brakes a few times. it takes a few pumps to get that circle (piston) pushed back out firmly against the new pads.

 

thinking you need to bleed the brakes also.
I'm guessing you took the banjo bolt off the calipers to do your work...this means air inside.
Get a friend...have them pump and hold the brakes down. Back off the bolt on the caliper (brake line) and retighten. Have your buddy pump and hold again. Repeat until no air is bubbling out. Just brake fluid. Check your resevoir so it doesn't go empty..or you'll have to do it again. DON"T get brake fluid on yourself or the paint. Clean up the mess with brake cleaner spray....
Good luck.

 

^ what they said. Sounds like air in the brake lines.

 

oh yeah, I didnt catch what he meant by the nut with the hole in it. you need to bleed it, and next time you replace your pads, just use a ziptie to hold the caliper up out of the way, and leave that line attached.

 

Just use the brake bleeder fitting... that's what it's there for.

 

If you bleed your brakes and it's still soft then it's your master cylinder. It's easy to remove/replace simple bolt off and bolt on after you bench bleed it.

 

10/30/2005 3:01:06 AM - he said he had to leave for work in an hour.

I wonder if he drove it with bad brakes.......hope not.

 

Thanks Kappa....my brain wasn't running on all 4 cylinders...LOL