Re: Spider front brakes spongy.

[Kevin Trent <trentkc@domain.elided>]

Someone posted here that even after brake overhaul and steps in between 
such as pad replacement, bleeding, and/or turning rotors, a brake system 
needs a little time to "bed in" and somehow "season" the rotors to 
new/different pad composition.

This summer, I bleeded (blead?) three different 105 alfa with the same 
brake systems.  Two went without any noticeable changes on pedal feel.  But 
the spider felt spongy after the bleed and new pads, and it took awhile for 
the system to firm up.  It was a gradual process, but now they are quite 
firm.  I attribute most of that to less than perfect rotors that should 
have been turned.

It was not clear from your message if your spongy pedal was under static or 
driving conditions, but I would recommend putting on a few miles and see if 
the feel improves.
//kct


At 11:11 AM 10/15/01 -0400, you wrote:

>Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2001 16:11:35 +1000
>From: Marty Wilson <martin.wilson@domain.elided>
>Subject: Spider front brakes spongy.
>
>Greetings,
>
>My 5 year rebuild and conversion of my Ex USA Spider is down to the last
>job. The bloody brakes.
>The braking system has been rebuilt with resleeved and rebuilt underfloor
>master cylinder and rebuilt dual booster. However the brakes were spongy and
>not up to the standards of fellow 105 dual booster systems.
>I checked where the fault lay by clamping off the flexible hose to the rear
>brakes, no difference, still spongy so therefore fault in front brakes.
>Clamped off front flexible brakes hoses one at a time, still no great
>improvement.
>Clamped off both front hoses near callipers, fantastic, lovely hard pedal.
>Deduced front callipers the problem.
>Rebuilt a spare set of calipers and put them on the car, bled the system
>till the cows came home and no air coming out when bleeding. Tested brakes,
>absolutely bloody hopeless, still spongy and crappy.
>Clamped off both flexible hoses again next to calipers, beautiful hard
>pedal.
>I can only conclude there is still air in the calipers, they are up the
>right way with the bleed nipples at the top.
>What am I missing here? Anyone had this problem before and solved it? Can
>anyone fault my logic?
>Any contributions gratefully accepted.
>
>Marty Wilson
>Newcastle Australia

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