Canadian Nissan Truck Club

Hi I was hoping someone could help me with my trucks brakes. I have an 05 Frontier crew cab 4.0 with a 6 speed manual trany. After doing a complete brake job including master cylinder (bench bled) and bleeding the complete brake system 6 times I still have a soft brake pedal when I start the truck. When the truck is not running and you push the pedal its hard and works normal. I thought I did some thing wrong so I took it to Nissan and explained the story about the brake system. They said everything was fine and that\'s the way Nissan sets up the brakes. They went on to say, its because they don\'t want an over pressure during hard braking. So the pedal will also go to the floor!!! I find this absolutely ridicules. I found this problem all over the internet. Dose anyone know of a modification to brakes will get rid of this poor set up. I have a suspicion that this may be something electronically controlled through the ABS module/pump. Thanks for your help.

Welcome to the club. Was it the same before you changed the brakes?

Bleed it backwards. You might have to push fluid from the bleeder up into the system to cure the disease. You've got air in there somewhere. Had the same problem back in the fall. Pushed fluid into it and finally got the air out. Took ages.

I seriously doubt that Nissan wants a soft brake. Dd they drive it? Or did some guy just make up some story?


Sent from my iThingy.

Gravity bleed it perhaps.

Thanks for the response , to answer all your questions. Yes the brakes were that way before I changed them. I have gravity bled them. and Nissan did drive the truck and told me it was the same as the 2014 truck on there lot. I think that was very truthful. I haven't bled the system backwards . Do you need a power bleeder for that cus I've never done it? Oh the service guy said that the pedal was superposed to be like that.

Did you bleed the ABS pump too?

Welcome to the club!

Morpheus wrote:Did you bleed the ABS pump too?

Welcome to the club!

Is there a way to do that other than deliberately making the ABS come on? After replacing callipers I find I'm not happy with the brake feel until I've made the ABS engage a good couple of times.

I think you have to do that (get the ABS to kick in a couple of times) after the system is bled. I am not sure of the why`s or where I heard it from.

I've never heard of having to activate the abs to bleed the brakes.

To bleed the abs pump, you need to crack each output steel line and bleed it just like you do a bleeder screw at the caliper.

Not to bleed the brakes but after the brakes lines are bled. Maybe it was a figment of my imagination

Yes I bled the ABS pump , I've tried everything I know. Just want to have a good feeling brake system. I still have a feeling it's the abs pump and the way its set up, because the pedal is hard when the truck is off.

Could the master have leaked fluid into the booster?
I've seen masters do that and the only real fix is a new booster.

Does the abs work properly? Any diagnostic codes? You'll need a high end scanner to check the abs computer codes.

The master is new and made no difference. The abs works and no codes .

Only do this as a last resort, its pretty unlikely you will need to adjust the pedal but it can be adjusted. Follow the pedal underneath the dash to where the plunger hooks to the clevis, if you remove the pin you can adjust the pedal to bring it up more. Its very touchy, dont go more than a half turn at a time - A full turn on my truck put pressure on the brakes - Make sure you've got free play in the wheels before and after your test run - it makes a difference when the brakes are hot or cold. You also have to adjust the brake light sensor at the same time.

If they are still bugging you, swap out the flex lines to braided stainless - This eliminated almost all the sponginess for me. - I would actually try swapping the flex lines before you go adjusting the pedal.

I dont like these brakes very much either. But if you get everything in your brake system working perfectly these brakes arent 'terrible' . I can lock up 315/70/17's if need be

Sounds like you've had the same problem. I will look into new SS brake lines, as I've already done the brake pedal thing. I'll up date when I get around to getting parts and doing the job.Thanks again