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[osealy]

My spare omega seems to have developed spongy brakes after being idle for a year. I did have to borrow a disc for three months so I compressed a front caliper to refit. Is it air in fluid or cos the discs are pretty rusty? I can stop if I really stand on the pedal.
Any ideas as 11yr old TD's are virtually worthless in ireland!! Offers 99 Td auto est elite 130K UK reg Mot exp less than 1k mls since last mot no advisories.

[Lizzie_Zoom]

Sponginess of the brakes usually means air has entered the brake system, or at least the brake fluid is shot.

Check system over and bleed the brakes using new fluid.

[osealy]

I'd imagine the nipples would shear !

[Andy B]

I'd imagine the nipples would shear !

get some Plusgas/easit on  them then 

[Lizzie_Zoom]

I'd imagine the nipples would shear !

Why?

Are they that corroded? :-/ :-/

[osealy]

They usually do IIRC

[Lizzie_Zoom]

......................................How bad is the brake system when visually inspected?

Was the car kept in a dry place when out of use?

[Lizzie_Zoom]

They usually do IIRC

No, the ones I have worked on have been caked in greese and road dirt!

[osealy]

Parked beside the sea. The air is cleaner here!

[Andy B]

Parked beside the sea. The air is cleaner here!

Cleaner  :-? I thought it was salty-er!       

[Lizzie_Zoom]

Parked beside the sea. The air is cleaner here!

Is this a wind up?

If it has really been parked near the sea, the car has probably been badly affected by salt water.  The underside of your car requires a good inspection!   Not just for the braking system either!!

[Omegatoy]

sorry guys and girls but it aint air in my experience!! after standing for a year you can bet on of the pistons is sticky and this is causing the spongy pedal, what happens is you use the pedal after a long layoff, and th piston comes out ok but is to corroded to go back in properly!! so next time you use the pedal it sems spongy as the fluid has nothing to push cos the piston is already out!! fix is easy just remove wheels and work the pistons in and out a few times after cleaning them with something like plusgas or wd40 before you push them back in!!

[Lizzie_Zoom]

sorry guys and girls but it aint air in my experience!! after standing for a year you can bet on of the pistons is sticky and this is causing the spongy pedal, what happens is you use the pedal after a long layoff, and th piston comes out ok but is to corroded to go back in properly!! so next time you use the pedal it sems spongy as the fluid has nothing to push cos the piston is already out!! fix is easy just remove wheels and work the pistons in and out a few times after cleaning them with something like plusgas or wd40 before you push them back in!!

With any car that has been left unused for a year, with now spongy brakes, should have a thorough brake system inspection and overhaul, to lubricate, free up, and adjust, with new brake fluid installed.  With brakes take no risks; it is not worth it, and worth giving the system a thorough overhaul.

[osealy]

Not wind up. In the driveway 100m from sea.
I'd go sticky piston but I don't follow the logic, if the piston is out the caliper is full of fluid the reservoir is fine the brakes aren't binding, could it be the pads cleaning the surface rust ooff  the discs, and rust not a good pad material.??

[Omegatoy]

yep caliper is full of fluid for sure BUT it aint under pressure till you push the pedal again, hence the spongy pedal