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08 Grand Caravan - Spongy pedal but stops well


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denniston
New User

Sep 19, 2019, 5:14 PM

Post #1 of 5 (1610 views)
08 Grand Caravan - Spongy pedal but stops well Sign In

2008
Dodge
Grand Caravan
4.0L
35,000 miles

I purchased this vehicle 3 months ago. It has always had spongy brake pedal since we got it, but it stops decently well.

This week I decided I wanted to firm up the pedal. I had it into a brake and muffler shop for muffler repair, and asked them what they thought. They said it was likely a bad Master Brake Cylinder. So I repalaced the Master Cylinder.
After several attempts to bleed the brakes, the pedal is only marginally improved.

Basically how the pedal feels is that you have to push between 1/2 and 3/4 before you get decent braking. When you get near the bottom of the pedal stroke you get a abrupt stop. It sounds like air in the lines, but we have ran a lot of fluid through it.

Any suggestions are appreciated.


(This post was edited by denniston on Sep 19, 2019, 5:34 PM)


denniston
New User

Sep 19, 2019, 6:17 PM

Post #2 of 5 (1597 views)
Re: 08 Grand Caravan - Spongy pedal but stops well Sign In

I just remember something.

The driver's rear caliper, when we were bleeding it, didn't have the same pressure as the other corners. What I mean is, when my assistant would press the brake pedal, on the other wheels the fluid would "geysure" up 1" - 1.5". But on this corner, it basically just ran out.

It leads me to wonder if it's possible for one of the valves in the ABS system is partially closed for that wheel. If that is even a thing. Would that also cause the long pedal travel?


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Sep 19, 2019, 6:18 PM

Post #3 of 5 (1597 views)
Re: 08 Grand Caravan - Spongy pedal but stops well Sign In

Many newer vehicles the "appearance" of a spongy pedal when tested at a standstill but in real situation when the vehicle is moving, it requires far less pressure to stop the car. This may not be the case for you as i'm not there and can't tell you.

You also may have to electronically bleed the ABS unit with a professional scan tool.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



denniston
New User

Sep 19, 2019, 6:42 PM

Post #4 of 5 (1592 views)
Re: 08 Grand Caravan - Spongy pedal but stops well Sign In


In Reply To
Many newer vehicles the "appearance" of a spongy pedal when tested at a standstill but in real situation when the vehicle is moving, it requires far less pressure to stop the car. This may not be the case for you as i'm not there and can't tell you.

You also may have to electronically bleed the ABS unit with a professional scan tool.


That's what I'm kind of wondering. Do any of the lower end scan tools "with ABS" have the ability to bleed the ABS, or is it more of a read and delete the codes situation?


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Sep 19, 2019, 6:45 PM

Post #5 of 5 (1590 views)
Re: 08 Grand Caravan - Spongy pedal but stops well Sign In

It takes a pretty high end "bidirectional" scan tool to have that capability.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.







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