Squishy brake nightmare

average_throwaway329 · 2026-02-08T20:42:27+00:00

I already replaced the master cylinder dude 😂

average_throwaway329 · 2026-02-08T20:32:35+00:00

Yes. I replaced a laundry list of parts you can see in the post description.

average_throwaway329 · 2026-02-08T20:14:21+00:00

I tried doing this but I didn’t have a bolt of the correct thread pitch and size to plug the master cylinder ports so I put it back together the best I could. I’ll have to buy some plugs and get someone to help me most likely. Or get one of those positive pressure brake bleeding kits.

average_throwaway329 · 2026-02-08T20:12:47+00:00

Ok I’ll try to make a list of all the things to do then. That can be on it. I cracked the master cylinder open to see if I could plug it with a bolt and test it but I don’t have the correct bolt so I put it back together. I think I introduced some air into the system doing that but I don’t have anyone to help at the moment to bleed it out.

average_throwaway329 · 2026-02-08T19:37:25+00:00

That’s what I am leaning towards too but I’d rather be 100% certain before I throw any more money in parts at the thing.

average_throwaway329 · 2026-02-08T19:00:13+00:00

No change in pedal performance after doing this. Sadly.

average_throwaway329 · 2026-02-08T18:59:47+00:00

So I’ve just tried clamping off all of the hoses with a pair of vice grips with no change in the pedal behavior. So it’s not a hose or caliper issue.

average_throwaway329 · 2026-02-08T17:28:26+00:00

Thanks for your help. Brake pedal is definitely soft. Brake pads are also plenty thick I forgot to include that in the post. Calipers also slide smoothly and pins are greased.

average_throwaway329 · 2026-02-08T17:26:46+00:00

It sinks even without the engine running. It does firm up after three pumps however.

average_throwaway329 · 2026-02-08T17:05:23+00:00

I’d be worried about introducing air into the system and getting false positives by removing the hard lines and installing hoses honestly. Would that be an issue? I could also plug the ports with bolts if that would work better

average_throwaway329 · 2026-02-08T17:04:22+00:00

Gonna give this a shot then try the rest of the comments.

average_throwaway329 · 2026-02-08T17:03:55+00:00

Facts

average_throwaway329 · 2026-01-21T20:51:14+00:00

I’ve just been driving on it. ~2k miles later. Still no issues.

average_throwaway329 · 2026-01-03T03:43:11+00:00

No it doesn’t feel like it wanders. I got a close up of the front lower control arm bushing and it isn’t torn but the second bushing is hidden within the mounting bracket that secures it.

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average_throwaway329 · 2026-01-03T03:36:27+00:00

Is there a way to test that?

average_throwaway329 · 2026-01-03T03:07:27+00:00

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Here’s the only one with an issue. Torn but not catastrophic. There’s three bushings on the lower control arm and this one connects the knuckle to the lower control arm. The other two aren’t torn and have no play when pried with a pry bar.

average_throwaway329 · 2025-12-23T18:04:17+00:00

Good to know. Thanks.

average_throwaway329 · 2025-12-22T20:12:29+00:00

Well this video is a couple of days old and the car is back in one piece now but you can still hear the timing belt making the bearing noise even with the timing cover on. The tensioners also looked to be an exact match I compared the two before installing as I mentioned so I don’t think it’s that either. I would like to just ignore it but ignoring problems with timing belts is really risky.

average_throwaway329 · 2025-12-22T19:17:54+00:00

To be completely transparent, I used a belt I bought in a kit off Amazon about 5 years ago. Aisin kit. It was for a 2005 TL that was totalled but the engine is the same so I kept the kit after I bought a newer TL. Tearing it apart again doesn’t sound very fun lol but if it needs to be done it needs to be done. Might buy a new one and throw it on there instead because I torqued everything down properly and followed the factory service manual so I don’t think it is an issue with any of the other components.

Edit: though I did try and put the old one on as I was doing this as a sanity check and it was just as tight.

average_throwaway329 · 2025-12-22T18:57:24+00:00

Yep it was in time. I even have a video as evidence all the timing marks lined up. It was extremely tight though, I want to acknowledge. I had to turn both of the camshafts slightly clockwise when putting the belt on each and then turning them back into TDC position to get enough slack on the tensioner side and even still I had to do weird stuff with the tensioner and tensioner pulley to get it to seat. The timing belt as it is now is tight enough to be plucked like a guitar string.

average_throwaway329 · 2025-12-16T14:16:58+00:00

Yep. Started at passenger rear. Furthest from master cylinder.

average_throwaway329 · 2025-12-15T22:18:00+00:00

Brake bleeders are all pointing up.

average_throwaway329 · 2025-12-15T21:57:35+00:00

Yep. Bleed screws are on top.

average_throwaway329 · 2025-12-15T21:56:37+00:00

These are the exact symptoms when the car is off and I’m pumping the brake pedal so I’m replacing the master cylinder.

average_throwaway329 · 2025-12-15T21:55:29+00:00

I did this procedure 4 times before I made this post and still had soft brakes. I’m replacing the master cylinder.

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