Changed back brakes, no longer functioning.

[JouJou]

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This isn't the first time I've changed my brakes, and I did the same thing I always do. After you change the brakes and replace everything, the brake lever feels "loose" as in there is no pressure. I just pump it a bunch of times and it returns to normal.

This time however, I keep pumping but it's not going back. There is no pressure, it feels like there is no resistance, so the pads aren't being pressed against the brake disc. I dunno whats going on? Any help would be appreciated please.

 

[carman]

I would check the following:

-you have enough brake fluid in the reservoir
-you don't have air in the brake line - bleed the brakes to get rid of air
-make sure you didn't accidentally puncture one of the lines
-take that caliper off and look at it while the brake is applied. Is it squeezing the pads together?

Try those things for a start

 

[JouJou]

I bled the brake fluid... no luck
Tons of fluid left in the reservoir
All the lines look fine, never touched any.
When I apply the brakes, the two thingies that push the pads together are barely responding, they itch closer then return to their spot once the brake lever is released...

I'm loosing my mind.

 

[Wingboy]

Are you sure you have the right pads in there? It's either you have the wrong pads,or you have somehow got air in there.

 

[S500K]

The two things that push them together - clean them...

When putting them back on the caliper, hook everything up, pump the brake to catch and it should be good.

 

[koalaKid]

Remove the pads and observe the pistons? If the pistons barely move, I would look to bleeding the brakes. Also, it is possible to "bleed the brakes" and still have air in the system.

 

[regder]

The majority of bike brakes are super simple. Piston at the brake lever/pedal pushes fluid towards the caliper, without anywhere to go, the piston at the caliper pushes out applying the brake pad. That's pretty much it, if the caliper is not applying pressure, I'd guess you have air in the line. Instead of just bleeding, run some fresh brake fluid through the line as now is a good opportunity. Personally I prefer using a vacuum bleeder (Princess Auto has them cheap), but gravity bleeding works if you know what you're doing.

 

[El Zilcho]

Did you drain the old fluid completely? It takes some time for the new fluid to accumulate in the caliper(s), but I guess you'd know what to expect if you had done it before.

If there is "no pressure" I doubt it's the air in the lines. Sounds more like an insufficient amount of fluid. Did you check for leaks? Did you check for more "silly" things, like: is the lever actually connected to the master cylinder? Does everything look fine all the way from the lever to the calipers?

Edit:
Does the piston in the master cylinder retract far enough to allow new fluid in?

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