Brake improvement = Mystery

[DJCV]

A few months ago I went to PoweSlot rotors with Akebono ProACT pads all around. Not a might vs. day change, but a noticeable braking improvement over my worn OEM set up.

Saturday I left my vehicle at the shop for some non-braking related service. Soon as I'm backing the vehicle out of the parking spot at the shop that afternoon, I notice the brakes feel different----only slight pedal effort stops the car NOW, and the pedal is nice and firm, much firmer than it has ever been before. :)

I pull out onto the road and begin braking as I get in the left-turn lane at the traffic light. I'm NOT slamming on the brakes at this point and yet the vehicle is decelerating so quickly that I'm noticing brake-dive. It's been like this ever since, and I kind of feel like the brakes are finally performing the way I'd initially hoped they would. (Time for me to put some firmer springs in up front, too!)

I contacted the shop to ask if they would have done anything, anything at all, to impact the braking performance or pedal feel. Nothing but shrugs. :confused:

I LOVE the way the brakes perform now, but I'm still very curious as to what could cause this.

Any ideas from you brake experts?

[blazen71]

You may have worked an air pocket out?

[Blackened300a]

Did your work have anything to do with vacuum lines?

[DJCV]

I had the trans flushed.

[Jim_Rockford]

The mechanic probably bedded the pads for you without realizing it when he did his spirited test drive..lol

[musclemerc]

The mechanic probably bedded the pads for you without realizing it when he did his spirited test drive..lol
+1 I think he may have bedded the brakes for you. You should have the brake fliud flushed completely with new stuff

[Spectragod]

you may have worked an air pocket out?


^^^^^^^^+1^^^^^^^^

[Jim_Rockford]

You may have worked an air pocket out?
Sorry, air in the brake system doesn't just go away, its a closed system. If he had air before it would still be in there causing a problem unless it was bled out, but I do agree on a good brake flush as brake fluid absorbs moisture and do get nasty from Rubber parts wearing .

[SpartaPerformance]

Sorry, air in the brake system doesn't just go away, its a closed system. If he had air before it would still be in there causing a problem unless it was bled out, but I do agree on a good brake flush as brake fluid absorbs moister and do get nasty from Rubber parts wearing .

+1 on everything quoted. I tend to agree with Blackened300A That something happened while the vehicle was being serviced. Perhaps while on the lift the tech noticed a vacuum line off and plugged it back on but I've experienced weirder things myself. I remeber one time on an older Nissan p'up it wouldn't stop no matter what we did. We wanted to check all the vacuum lines so my tech pulled the booster line and we heard a pop like a gun shot, all of sudden that truck stopped on a dime and made change. I love making customers happy..... even accidentaly! :D