Okay to start I am a new owner of a 1998 TL 2.5 with 170K, I bought the car and it had rims on it. Someone lost the lock to the aftermarket rims so instead of trying to buy another one they just kept driving the car until there was no brakes. So I have changes the rear brakes and rotors, front brakes and calipers. I have bought front rotors but so far haven't been able to take off the axle bolt, which I need help with also. But after doing all this my brakes still feel soft...ooh I have bleed the brakes. I'm certain that there is no air in the line, but unless you pump the brakes during stops you get a soft pedal. I was considering changing the master cylinder. Do you guys think this can be my problem?

 

I read this someplace.

Booster: No power assist. Very hard pedal, normal or close to normal travel.
Master cylinder (or caliper) leak: Pedal goes to floor, little or no braking power.
Air in line: Pedal goes to floor, but can be "pumped up" to achieve near-normal braking temporarily.

If you're sure the brakes have been bled sufficiently, I wonder if it could be a bad seal in a caliper? I don't know how to diagnose that though.

 

I changed the front calipers so I know they are good, I'm sure I can bleed them again and see what that does, but when I bleed the pressure coming off the cap of fluid shoots out hard and strong. I just wonder if the master cylinder is bad. Like I said you have to pump the brakes if you don't you get a soft peddle. But if you pump you get good pressure, I know the brake should be a lot more stronger than they are.

 

Okay got a new master cylinder, and put it in, bleed the brakes....now I have about 70% to 80% braking power....to me still the brakes aren't stiff enough. Wold anyone suggest changing the brake booster at this point. I did rebleed all the lines so I know that was done properly.