samsonn25

Hello,

I have a 2000 ES300 with 135k it is my second one because I previously had a 1992 ES300 that went 235k.

The brakes are spongy and when I bought it (110k) there was some play in the brakes before they started to (stop/slow down the car), about 3 inches or so. I bled the brakes and it went down to about 1.5 inches of play. When the car stops there is still about 2-3 inches or more until the pedal reaches the floor.

Most other 92-01 ES300 I have driven have "normal" brakes with about 1 inch or less of travel before the brakes start to grab.

Now 2 yeas later and 25k more miles it seems the play has increased to about 3-4 inches. Now is only about 1-2 inches before the pedal reaches the floor after I stop. I have bled the lines again and this has not helped. The fronts pads have about 20-25% life left and the rear pads about 30% left. Is it possible that the lowered pad material is causing the increased brake travel because the system needs more fluid to push the pistons?

Also the pedal doesnt go to the floor and the system is not losing fluid, so that probably rules out a bad master cylinder or seized caliper.

The brakes feel normal when the car is not running, pedal goes half way. When I start the car and it is running is when pressure seems to be lost. Vacuum problem?

RXGS

iTrader: (2)

I had the same issue, but for me it was some slider pins were seizing, but you're also correct in that a pad with not much left on it will also increase pedal travel. Try taking out all the pins and cleaning them.

speedkar9

Try taking the car for a test drive on a slippery surface, activating the ABS, and then rebleeding the system again.
That helped big time for me on my Solara, which had pretty loose brakes when I bought it.

koreywill

+1 in my case for 02SDGS. Just took the 2003 ES300 with 310K miles on it from Missouri to San Diego and when I got there the rear brakes were grinding like crazy. Got new calipers, rotors, and pads and now the brakes come on like they should. I think the slider pins have been frozen for quite a while 'cuz the brakes have never felt this firm. Will do the fronts this week as the pads are worn to approx 3mm. What a surprise (sarc) as they've been doing just about all the braking for quite some time.