[Shotimes] brake spongy

[Hartberger, Jason M. AT2 (AW)]

Ok, well, having not used the brakes at all and still having had the
spongy pedal, what does that mean? I mean, I was pushing it all the way
to the floor, and braking power was decent but certainly nowhere near
locking up. Did air get in somewhere? Did I lose fluid? I didn't think
to check the MC fluid level but I'll check it when I get back. I heard a
snapping sound when I first backed up but I assumed that was the pads
breaking contact with the (really really rusty) rotors (and my wife had
the parking brake on for 3 mos. too, so that probably got a little rusty
as well). Any ideas? I won't be able to check until I check out on leave
later today as I'm on duty right now. Thanks!

Jason

-----Original Message-----
From: Donald Mallinson [mailto:dmall@mwonline.net] 
Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2006 9:02 AM
To: Hartberger, Jason M. AT2 (AW)
Cc: shotimes@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Shotimes] brake spongy

The brake system, good as they can be, is not totally sealed.  Air can 
get past the best seals on the master cyl and moisture gets in the fluid

as it tends to want to absorb moisture.  That is why it makes good 
maintenance sense to flush and bleed the brakes every year or two.  
Moisture is made up of oxygen too, and once there is moisture, and you 
add heat from braking, you get boiling and that creates air bubbles and 
that is where a spongy brake pedal starts.

Don Mallinson

Hartberger, Jason M. AT2 (AW) wrote:

>So I discovered that when you leave my SHO sitting for six months, the
>brake fluid accumulates a lot of water and attempting to brake is an
>interesting, if not too fun, experience. What can cause this? One of my
>buddies says it's a master cylinder gasket or something? Anyway, I'm
>bleeding my brakes today but how hard is it to change one of those out?

>
>V/R
>AT2(AW) Jason "Hoser" Hartberger
>USS Theodore Roosevelt CVN-71
>AIMD/IM-3/Shops 8&10
>01-54-0-Q/j-7877
>Carpe Carp... Seize the fish.
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