Hey everyone,
I just replaced my front pads, rotors, and calipers. We bled the front two brakes while the truck was turned off, and we got up to consistent liquie coming out of the bleeders, and solid pressure. We started the car and set off for a test drive. Very little preasure, and poor braking. So I think it comes down to two questions:

1. Do we need to brake all 4 wheels, even though we only worked on the front ones?
2. Does the car need to be on when we bleed the brakes, does that matter at all, and if so, why?

Please let me know what you know, I need to get this done tomorrow afternoon at the latest. Thank you!

 

No, you only have to bleed the wheel or wheels worked on as long as Master cylinder didn't run dry.

Engine off is fine as long as you push hard on the pedal, the ratio for pedal to Master is setup for power brakes so.............you gotta push hard with no power assist

But you will feel pedal go down to the floor when bleeder is opened so it isn't that hard, lol.

When I replace calipers, or cylinders, have master cover off and topped up and then open the bleeder to let it gravity bleed most of the air out
Once fluid is coming out of the bleeder I close it and then have helper push on the pedal.to do forced bleed

Check that calipers and pads are tight on both front wheels, if one slider gets stuck then pedal travel increases