brake problem question

Hi,I'm having trouble bleeding the brakes with my corolla.The system was left to drain over the winter as I robbed some parts.Anyways after putting it back together including caliper servicing I can't get the pedal back,I suspected the proportioning valve and when dissassembled proved to be very gummed up so it was cleaned and reinstalled,same problem so I removed the valves from it(have an aftermarket valve for the rear already so it was kinda reduntant)and it was improved. The pedal now is up and firm as normal but only if the pedal pressure is applied quickly,if you just put you foot on the pedal and push slowly it will go to nearly the floor before getting mushy and feeling like air.If you push quickly to attain the firm pressure and then back off a little the pedal will again drop to the floor. I had replaced the master with a new one a couple years ago,I have another one on the way for tomorrow but before I change it out has anyone had any similiar problems and a cure?.

i've had that problem before, its the master. probably while the system was dry the seals shrank or something. you could probably just do a m/c rebuild if you wanted to keep it cheap.

Yes, the key phrase is "left to drain over the winter" above. Lord only knows what is inside the system now in terms of condensation. At the very least, every seal in the system is at best suspect.

sure sounds like the MC to me.

AngryCorvair wrote: sure sounds like the MC to me.

Should we get James Walker here for a second opinion? (I kid, I kid.)

Thanks for the help guys,I swapped the master today with a remanufactored one and went backwards.I now have no pedal,bench bled the master to ensure all air was removed prior to install,checked all calipers(again) to ensure free sliding pins,pads aren't cocked,the pistons are adjusted fine.... I get a nice strong stream of fluid from all 4 corners,air seems gone and yet no pedal.The master is also giving a pretty strong hissing sound thats more pronounced than the one I just took off-could the master be defective and bypassing fluid?.

Any further words of wisdom is more welcome than you can understand,I'm trying to get to the next autox which is next weekend-if I miss it the season is over with not enough events for a comeback.

Hmmm. TIme to put the first MC back on the car and see if the problems associated with the remanufactured one go away.

I still believe the first MC isn't 100%. Unfortunately, the one you replaced it with seems to have also E36 M3 the bed, either from improper "remanufacturing" or some other reason.

I would've put the 1st won back on but it already was returned for the core charge.

OK, so gimme some more info on this car:

1. power brakes?
2. discs at all four corners?
3. what do you mean by "caliper servicing?"
4. describe your brake bleeding procedure? are you doing it with two people, or with "speed bleeder" bleed screws, or what?

thanks, PC