Brakes Hard When Car Off, Soft When On

[Hanaldo]

I'm amazed you guys are having problems with the ABS unit when you haven't done anything upstream of the ABS module. I have removed my calipers numerous times, and bled the brakes successfully every time. The only time I had issues with the ABS module is when I removed the brake lines from the master cylinder, letting in air up stream of the ABS module. When I tried to bleed the brakes afterwards, I of course pumped all the air into the ABS module and that caused some problems, but if all the air is downstream then you should be able to get it out without bleeding the ABS.

Anyway, I managed to bleed my ABS properly without a power bleeder by just cracking the lines on the module. Got the ABS working a couple of times before I tried, and that seemed to be enough.

[AshR34GTT]

I've never yet managed to get a car to get firm brake pedal by repeatedly pumping the pedal while the engine is running.Reason... The motor keeps sucking the master cylinder into vacuum.If you're braking and then do a big down shift so you go from low RPM to high RPM you'll actually feel the pedal sink a little as the engine sucks into a deeper vacuum.

+1 (y)

When the car is off the pedal should be hard.

When the car is on the brakes will be soft/softer due to power assist (Brake booster)

one way valve from the plenum? to the booster.

There may still be an issue but hard when off /softer when on is the way it should be.

+1 (y)