Barke Booseter, Master Cylinder Air in Lines or 7 tons of TNT?

[GooseBooty]

So lets start on a good note. I love my ford edge. Its my first ford and has been great...until now.

 

Now the bad note.Two weeks ago my brakes started acting funky. Alternating between spongy and hard. Spongy when first applied but when traveling slow like in a parking lot got real stiff. I knew my pads and rotors werent the best so I went ahead and replaced them. No change in brake behavior. Took it to firestone because it was the closest place to me to get the brakes diagnosed, called me the next day to tell me the brake calipers were misaligned (replaced the pads and rotors myself) and wanted 200 dollars to realign the calipers and would not test the master cylinder or even the vacuum seals on the power booster until they did so. Told them to pound sand and check the pads myself. Well they were slightly misaligned and I fixed that. Drove it around the subdivision, brakes were real stiff and barely stopped the vehicle. Figured what the hey and bought a master cylinder and brake booster from rock auto. replaced both and bled the brake system. Drove it around the block again, brakes are soft, stop the vehicle better but not like they should peddle returns slowly. My question is, do I still have air in my system or did I get a bad part. I am letting it sit overnight with the brake fluid reservoir cap off and I will bleed the system again in the morning. If that doesnt help I am going to call it a faulty part and try to get a new booster and master cylinder. If that still doesnt help. who wants to see a firework show?? any help is appreciated.

[todd92]

I've never heard of aligning calipers.

 

Why would you leave the cap off the brake fluid reservoir? Exposing brake fluid to humidity is a definite no-no.

 

Honestly, I've replaced pads and rotors many time, flushed fluid even more times and have never had any issues. Both are simple tasks. It sounds like you have no idea what you are doing. Take it to a professional.

[GooseBooty]

On the rear pads, there is a small nipple and the caliper has to be twisted to align with that. Ive replaced many pads and rotors myself and this is the first car I have seen it on. As for leaving the cap off the reservoir, thats hoping that any air will work its way up and out of the system, the little humidity that it will be exposed to is worth the risk to me.

[enigma-2]

Brake booster. (Isn't there a recall or procedure on the 2011?)

 

As you exposed the brake fluid to the outside air, and that it's several years old, I'd change the fluid.

[GooseBooty]

Update real fast. I bled the brakes again today and managed to get a little more air out. Test drove again and car stops almost exactly like it should and peddle returns I want to say normally if not just a hair slow. However to me the brakes still feel soft, that could just be me being paranoid and used to them being hard however. I am going to drive it to work for a week and see if there are any problems. If you guys have any ideas on what else I should check please keep them coming.

[WWWPerfA_ZN0W]

If there is air in the system, and is unresolved, it could wind up being in the ABS module/HCU. You would need to have it bled by a shop or at a dealer, OR possibly use Forscan for Windows Extended License to DIY. The old trick of hard stops on gravel roads may or may not work.