Did everything I can think of but brakes still soft (Honda Element 2007)

Asked by Dave Jan 25, 2020 at 09:02 PM about the 2007 Honda Element LX

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

We had some extreme cold weather and my brakes started getting soft. By
the time I got home I was having to pump them to stop. I got to my home and
my fluid level was low. I figured I had a leak and searched everywhere but no
leak. I changed out my front calipers as the old ones looked like maybe they
had a bulge in the rubber near the piston and I thought maybe they leaked in
the cold weather - bled my brakes again, still no brakes. Replaced the
master cylinder, bench bled, then bled my brakes again. I get some pressure
with car off, no air bubbles after bleed, but it's still soft and not stiffening
during bleed process. When I turn on the car the pedal just goes to the floor,
if I pump it quickly I can build up a tiny amount of pressure but can't even get
enough pressure to stop car. What the heck is going on. No leaks with
bleeding or tests now - why can't I get brake pressure? I was told that with
Honda Element the sequence is RF, LF, LR, RR.

1 Answer

159,355

Did you put the calipers on the correct side. Getting them mixed up puts the bleeder at the bottom of the caliper and not at the top where they should be. That makes it impossible to get all the air out. I would think the RR,LR,RF,LF makes more sense. Always bleed from the farthest from the master cylinder first.

Best Answer Mark helpful

Your Answer:

CarGurus Experts

  • #1
    Dave DeSimone
    Reputation
    390
  • #2
    Ankhorite
    Reputation
    350
  • #3
    Kakit Fan
    Reputation
    310
View All

Find great deals from top-rated dealers

Search

Related Models For Sale

Used Honda CR-V
88 Great Deals out of 4,524 listings starting at $440
Used Honda Pilot
36 Great Deals out of 1,300 listings starting at $2,995
Used Honda Accord
55 Great Deals out of 995 listings starting at $2,000
Used Honda Fit
11 Great Deals out of 225 listings starting at $4,250
Used Toyota RAV4
100 Great Deals out of 2,715 listings starting at $2,500
Used Honda Civic
195 Great Deals out of 4,054 listings starting at $440
Used Honda Ridgeline
28 Great Deals out of 553 listings starting at $9,950
Used Honda Odyssey
48 Great Deals out of 1,043 listings starting at $5,490
Used Toyota Camry
60 Great Deals out of 1,072 listings starting at $3,995
Used Toyota Highlander
26 Great Deals out of 777 listings starting at $6,500
Used Toyota Tacoma
46 Great Deals out of 1,074 listings starting at $9,995
Used Toyota FJ Cruiser
37 listings starting at $11,995
Used Toyota 4Runner
19 Great Deals out of 300 listings starting at $10,800
Used Subaru Outback
40 Great Deals out of 953 listings starting at $1,795

Content submitted by Users is not endorsed by CarGurus, does not express the opinions of CarGurus, and should not be considered reviewed, screened, or approved by CarGurus. Please refer to CarGurus Terms of Use. Content will be removed if CarGurus becomes aware that it violates our policies.