Spongy brakes 1996 Chevy C1500

When you bled the system was fluid coming out the bleeder valves?
Where the bleeder valves closed off with the brake pedal fully depressed?
Is the fluid reservoir cap ok?
Is the master cylinder ok?

Hello Patricia,

Have you checked the master brake cylinder reservoir for brake fluid loss?

I don't suspect the master cylinder as you have replaced it... but am more suspect of a leaking brake line or fitting which should have
been discovered when you had the system bled.

The only time I ever had a rear brake problem with a 2500 series Chevrolet was due to seized rear brake caliper guide pins...as your calipers are also new that is not your problem.

If your brake pedal feels spongy and travels to the floor board you have air in the system, a brake fluid leak or a failure in the power steering system, such as a broken hose, broken power steering pump drive belt, or failed pump, would result in a loss of pressure to both the hydro-boost and steering.

Find more information here:

. Hydro Boost Power Assist Systems Operation Diagnosis and Repair

Check your lines going to the brakes the rubber hose on the 1993 chevy have a tendancy to crack and brake are you using an excess of brake fluid

If the car has Drum style rear brakes, make sure the adjustment is good. It takes a lot of fluid to activate them.
PS. I assume you did bleed the rears.

make sure you are bleeding them by doing them as an abs system,do the right rear then the left front,then the left rear then the right front,the opposite wheels are how the system brakes.

Did you adjust the rear shoes out? If the rear drum brakes are out of adjustment they will give you a lot of pedal travel. If the pads are worn have no fear of that U-CLIP brake spring, just change one shoe at a time. Take the spring off one side, change the shoe, put the spring back on the post and do the same to the other shoe, no problem.

adjust your rear shoes up so that the rear drums just turn, with them ajusted to a low setting the brake pedal will be low .
also when you start your engine it is noral for the pedal to drop because of the boster ! [ but not to the floor ]
Bruce Pike

I have a 2001 Chevy 1500 4 X 4 that recently had all new pads, rotors, and calipers installed. Since then my brake pedal goes almost to the floor before I get any brakes. I took it back to the shop and they bled the brakes with no better results. I bled them also with no results. I took the truck back and they installed a master cylinder with no results. It's now at the Chevy dealer and they say it's normal - BS! I had good brakes before I had all of the brake parts replaced, no one can figure it out. If you have a load in the truck or if you tow anything you better be looking at the ditch to avoid an accident. The original brakes would put you nose into the windshield and now I could stop it better the Fred Flinstone way. Anyone have an answer????????

I just went to Brake Masters this morning and had them replace the Master Cylinder since I was experiencing the pedal very spongy and going to the floor. When they replaced the Master Cylinder and they gave me back the car, the brakes were still spongy and going to the floor. I addressed this to them and they took another look at it, but when I took it for a second time, the brakes were extremely spongy. It was almost like they gave me back my car in worst condition to when I brought it in. Can you help?

possibly new master cylinder is defective