So I replaced my brake pads and rotors last week, and I believe I did everything correctly. I decompressed the clindoid and everything, and got them bolted back up fine after putting the new pads and rotors fine. I checked my brake fluid and its full. But when I go to use the brakes, my car stop nowehere near as fast as it did before. Im not sure if maybe it had betterpads on it before or what there was barely anything left of them and my rotors where getting warped. It's even hard to do a decent burnout because when I spin the tires, the car lurches forward-I cant keep it in one spot very well. It is possible I didnt get the bolts tight enough? The brake fluid is black, and that doesnt seem normal...any ideas?

thanks

Did you bleed the brakes afterwards? Also, did you seat the brakes properly by heating them up and cooling them down several times without slamming on the brakes or coming to a complete stop?

Matt

Sometimes brakes take a while before they start working thier best. I'd give it a week or so and see how it does as long as it's safe to drive now. And if your brake fluid is black it needs to be changed. Suck all the fluid out of the master cylinder and fill it with fresh fluid. Bled the passenger rear brake till clean fluid comes out making sure the master cylinder does not get low and suck in air. Then do the drivers side rear, passenger front,and finally drivers side front. And be forwarned...brake fluid burns like nothing else when it gets in your eye so be careful.

do you just bleed the brakes by decompressioning the clyinoids one by one and drawing the fluid from the resevoir with like a turkey baster or something? Is there a "good" way to do it?

I did pump the brakes a few times in the parking lot before to set the calipers and pads back into place before I even started the car. I didn't slam on them b any means I tired to ease them in. I've put a few hundred miles on the brakes and they still seem "soft". The old ones I could power brake all day long and not move and inch...I still found myself sliding when I tried it again tonight.

do you think changing the brak fluid would help the car stop better?

It is easy to bleed the brakes, but a friend will help. You pump the brakes a few times then hold it. Looses the bleeder screw in the caliper until fluid flows. Do this about 2 times in the order that Tyler posted.

Matt

I did finally have a day off, and a buddy who did as well, so I did go ahead and bleed my brakes. as my car is in storage, I cant tell if it helped the "slower" stopping I had been experiencing, but the fluid was dark brownish/black so it was definately time for a change. Kind of fun actually. I made sure not to get any air in the lines, so it should be ok. The resevoir was filled up and was a nice vegetable oil color.

thanks guys