why are my brakes so crappy?

[tumtum]

so my brakes have been adjusted and bled properly. they all four have plent of meat on them. but for some reason they do not stop me very well at all. my chilton tells me how to perform two test. one: to see if there is a vaccuum leak in the system; and two: to see if the brake booster system is functioning. i did both tests and it pasts both of em. the pedal is spungy when the car is on but not when the car is off and it does lose some but very little pressure at a stop light. (i just have to bleed them a little more i guess) the car is an 80 malibu. what else can i try?.
thx

 

[outsider_27]

Try bleeding the master cylinder by itself, then rebleed the system.

 

[tumtum]

i messed with it a little last night and it helped ALOT!

 

[megaladon6]

i know this is a little contrary to normal book procedures but...after pressure bleeding the brakes i like to open the master and then the bleeders one by one and just let them gravity bleed for a minute. i don't know exactly why, but i've had amazing success with it on my cars and as a mechanic.

 

[outsider_27]

I have always gravity bled mine. Simply because I have nobody else around when I am ready to bleed my brakes. I have had very good results this way.

 

[atlbigboipimpin]

so when you guys say open the master cylinder do you mean open it on the top or do you mean open up the lines?

 

[megaladon6]

open the cover of the master, then open one bleeder at a time. just make sure tha master doesn't get too low!!!

 

[atlbigboipimpin]

Thanks a lot guys I did it yesterday and what a difference it made,you guys really came thru for me on this one 1.