Brakes feel... different after Macan Caliper upgrade...

[Valleyrally_01]

Just replaced OEM calipers with new Macan Callipers from ECS. Redstuff pads and ECS SS lines. Upgraded the front rotors as well, same size as OEM, just better. I used a Schwaben pressure bleeder to bleed the system afterwards.

Initially I just bled the front callipers (and only the inside of each as I forgot that Macan callipers have bleeders on the inside AND out!). Bled them until no more air came out... which took maybe 500ml of fluid between the two.. maybe a bit more.

Took it for a test drive and as you can imagine, the pedal was soft to the floor almost. The second time I bled in sequence: Rear Pass., Rear Drvr., Front Pass, Front Drvr. (indie and outer) Only the slightest bit of air on a one calliper. Ran another 500-750ml of fluid through between all four callipers.

Took it for test number two... much better..buuuuut, something feels off to me. Pedal is soft-ish at first, but you can feel that there is brake pressure being applied, just not a ton. A bit more and it starts to grab proper... push a little harder and bam! She bites! Also, If I pump the pedal at all it get stiff right away.... Like I was expecting it to feel from the get go.

All of that to ask: Does this upgrade affect the feel at all or is it simply that there is still some air trapped in there somewhere. If air, whats next? I've read on other threads that the ABS module might need to be bled as well, but dosen't seem to be universal across the board. That job sounds like a VCDS is required, which I do not have.

At any rate, any insights would be helpfull.

Cheers

[Audibot]

While not the same calipers, when I swapped 18Zs on my B7, I was experiencing some of the same feeling you are. It wasn't until I did a 2-person bleed that I got them to firm up nicely and apply a very linear brake feel. I recommend doing this. Also remember you need to bleed outer bleed screw first and then the inner.

If you did not have the system open for long when swapping the lines and then bleeding, I wouldn't worry about the ABS. But if you want to do it, you can cycle it through VCDS (or similar) or I think it cracks at ~30 psi on a pressure bleeder.

[BrokeBichB8]

Bleed the abs module through VCDS is the common denom

[Sean@TAG]

Definitely worth a shot with the ABS bleed.

[Maimonea77]

I have the same exact issue, I will give it a shot with someone manually pumping the brakes as I bleed them but I did use a power bleeder to avoid needing 2 people to do it.

[eurojunkjon]

As others have mentioned, need to run the abs through a cycle. My past 3 brake upgrades I’ve had to run several bleed sessions and abs cycles

[Maimonea77]

As others have mentioned, need to run the abs through a cycle. My past 3 brake upgrades I’ve had to run several bleed sessions and abs cycles

What do you mean By running the abs cycle? Don’t you use the abs cycle to bleed the brakes? Or do you run the abs cycle through vids and then have someone pump the brakes with the bleeders cracked?

[eurojunkjon]

What do you mean By running the abs cycle? Don’t you use the abs cycle to bleed the brakes? Or do you run the abs cycle through vids and then have someone pump the brakes with the bleeders cracked?

Cycle the abs with vcds or obd11 if it lets you, I use vcds, follow the prompts, it tells you to pump the brakes 10 times and then bleed. I also do this with a power bleeder.

[iCrap]

I had the same impression as OP after doing my Macan brake swap as well. It took several rounds of bleeding as well as the VCDS ABS module bleed for it to finally feel corret.