'03 Chevy Pickup with spongy brakes
 

Picked up this truck with 28,000 miles. Brakes engage normally, but the pedal is just about at the floor when the truck comes to a stop. Lots of bleeding didn't improve it. Didn't see anything obvious like warped pads. Are they all like this? It's hard to describe, but after driving hundreds of thousands of miles in a ton of different vehicles, you know when something's odd. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Meanwhile, I'm trying to find a cpmparable vehichle to see if they're all like this.

Re: '03 Chevy Pickup with spongy brakes
 

Drums or discs on the rear?

My Tahoes w/ drums on the rears were all like that... scary to tow with.


Have you purged and replaced brake fluid? If you get contaminated or wet fluid you'll have sponginess. Use a silicone fluid to replace

Re: '03 Chevy Pickup with spongy brakes
 

There is a recall for that, check with a dealer. My 92 did the same thing till I put on new rear shoes and it fixed it, don't know why???

Re: '03 Chevy Pickup with spongy brakes
 

Four wheel discs...

Re: '03 Chevy Pickup with spongy brakes
 

did you vacum bleed or the old fashioned way(pump pedal) alot of the new abs brake systems wont bleed right except by vacum can check tomorrow for you on alldata at the shop can also check for recalls if you email vin

Re: '03 Chevy Pickup with spongy brakes
 

Joe-Good to hear from you again. Brakes were bled using both techniques. I'll email or PM you the VIN tomorrow (I've got the flu bug). I appreciate all the help from you and all the other folks. Is the ABS system a possible contributor to these kinds of problems? Lou

Re: '03 Chevy Pickup with spongy brakes
 

yes

Re: '03 Chevy Pickup with spongy brakes
 

The reason I ask is that I had an ABS "mis-fire" problem on our Expedition where the ABS would engage on every stop. The brake pedal would pulse and just before coming to a stop, the pedal would drop almost to the floor. The vehichle wasn't safe to drive that way so I pulled the ABS fuse and got a normal pedal.

Re: '03 Chevy Pickup with spongy brakes
 

I had the same problem with my 95, put in a new master cylinder and all better. Was like 95 bucks, bench bleed it and your done in half an hour...

Re: '03 Chevy Pickup with spongy brakes
 

The master cylinder is sometimes the culprit but pretty unlikely with a vehicle this new.