Brake Pedal Goes to Floor after Bleeding

You just bleed the brake of your car to fix the fluid issue. But if this creates a new problem with the brake pedal going to the floor, that’d be upsetting! You need to get to it right away to see the causes and resolve them.

Any type of issue with your car’s brake pedal will be prone to causing fatal accidents. The brake pedal sinking down into the floor is what causes a huge problem. So, you can not just let it be like that.

Now, to know more about it, you need to read along. You get to know about the solutions to this issue as we got this here in detail. Jump into the main part right away!

Brake Pedal Goes to Floor after Bleeding

Why Does The Brake Pedal Go to the Floor after Bleeding?

The brake pedal goes to the floor after bleeding due to leaks and loss of brake fluid. Moreover, it may also happen due to a bad master cylinder and a faulty brake booster.

Seeing the brake pedal going to the floor after bleeding is just sad and annoying as well. But we can not just ignore and rant about it without taking a look at the problem.

Now, to know about the causes of the brake pedal sinking to the floor after bleeding, you need to jump into the details. Here, we have covered the causes of it along with the solutions, take a look.

Reason 1: Loss of Brake Fluid

When someone bleeds the brake of the car, they basically take off the extra air out of the hydraulic brake system.

While doing this, some brake fluid is also emitted and removed from the system. Now, if you are someone new or inexperienced, you might not know the right way to bleed your car.

Due to this, the hydraulic brake system loses some brake fluid and the brake pedal sinks down.

Solution

To fix this problem you need to refill the brake fluid of your car. This is a very simple procedure that you can do alone.

You just have to open the bonnet and take off the cap of the brake fluid tank.
Now, pour brake fluid and refill the tank accordingly.

Put back the cap of the tank again once you are done refilling.

Reason 2: Brake Fluid Leakage

As mentioned above, some brake fluid is lost in the process of bleeding the car brakes. However, there can be another issue very similar to this.

While bleeding, some people hit the brake fluid reservoir which makes a hole in it. Due to this, there is a leakage for which the brake fluid starts leaking with time.

As a result of this, the brake pedal goes down to the floor.

Solution

If you have got a leakage on the brake fluid cylinder, it won’t work refilling the fluid. Rather, you have to replace the fluid reservoir which would cost around $250.

You have to go through the following steps to replace the fluid reservoir.

Empty the fluid reservoir
Then remove the roll pins

Take off the reservoir
Replace it with a new one.

Reason 3: Malfunctioning Master Cylinder

The master cylinder of your car is one of the most crucial parts of the braking system. This enables the entire process of manual force from the brake pedal to convert into hydraulic pressure.

Now, during the process of bleeding, some people hit the master cylinder by mistake. Due to this, the functioning of this cylinder goes out of order.

As a result, the master cylinder malfunctions, and the brake pedal goes down to the floor.

Solution

For a malfunctioning master cylinder, you need to replace it. To do this,

Take a wrench and take off the small bolts to disconnect the brake lines.
After that, you need to take off the 2 big nuts to remove the master cylinder from place.
Now, replace it with a new master cylinder.

Note that to replace a master cylinder, you will have to spend about $300 to $500.

Reason 4: Faulty Brake Booster

The brake booster increases the power when the driver presses the brake pedal. Now, if this part of the brake system fails to work properly, the brake pedals will not get enough pressure from down.

Due to this, the pedals will get mushy and fall downwards to the floor. You will feel like pressing on air with this.

Solution

To replace it, you need to assess the entire brake system. So, replacing a faulty brake booster is not a very easy thing to do and is not recommended for an amateur.

Thus, you need to talk to an expert to get help to fix this issue. Note that the replacement cost would be around $400.

Consequences of the Brake Pedal Being Sunk to the Floor

This segment talks about the consequences of a brake pedal sunk to the floor. Take a look below to know about probable situations that you may face.

The efficiency of the hydraulic braking system will fall to a significant extent. You have to exert more and more pressure to let your car brake properly.
Your car will have more tendencies to slip and slide on the roads. The car will be more prone to complications while running on slippery surfaces.

The car may be having sudden shakes at times while you are driving.
You may feel more warmth while driving. This is because the engine might be affected due to it as it is related to brake fluid.

Tips To Prevent The Brake Pedal Sinking to The Floor

We have got a few tips for you here to prevent the brake pedal from sinking to the floor again. Take a look.

You need to have a tendency to intuitive driving. That means you have to be well concerned about the roads so that you do not slam the brake pedals.
Try to take breaks, especially if you are going for a long drive. It is good to take a break after a 2 or 3-hour continuous drive.
Make sure you keep it gentle while pressing the brake pedals.

Try to check the brake fluid tank every 2 to 3 months to ensure sufficient fluid level.
Never use incompatible or cheap brake fluids for your car.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here, we have got a few relevant pieces of information regarding the issue you had. Take a look.

How Often Should You Refill The Brake Fluid?

You should refill the brake fluid every 2 years on average. However, this varies at times due to fluid leakage and other relevant issues. Keep an eye on it all the time as insufficient fluid can cause issues.

How To Understand If The Brake Fluid Is Running Low?

The main symptom that would alarm you with low brake fluid is the brake warning light on the dash. Other than that, you will also notice the brake pedal becoming mushy and loose. The brake will also be less effective.

Can I Mix The New Brake Fluid With The Existing One?

No, you should not try to mix new brake fluid with the existing brake fluid in any way. This will jam the fluid tank and affect it over time. Your car brake will also lose its effectiveness due to this.

Final Words

Now you know why the brake pedal goes to the floor after bleeding! We believe you can now go for the solutions without any issues following our drills.

So, before we wrap up, here is a tip for you. Try to inspect the brake fluid tank every 2 months to check if the fluid level goes below the required point.

This is because you should always keep the fluid above that point for which it stays sufficient and good for your car.

Zayan

Meet Zayan, the mechanical genius behind the highly acclaimed brakes problems and solutions website. With over a decade of hands-on experience in the automotive industry, Zayan has become a trusted authority in the realm of brake systems.

His passion for cars, coupled with his expertise in solving complex brake-related issues, has earned him a devoted following of car enthusiasts, mechanics, and everyday drivers seeking reliable guidance.

Brake Pedal Goes to Floor after Bleeding – Reasons To Check