Spongy Brakes - help pls

[capri_rob]

OK after replacing front and rear disks, pads and rear brake pipes and after thoroughly bleeding the brakes through, there is still loads of pedal travel and the brakes are still pretty spongy.

Is this likely to be a knackered master cylinder or ABS pump or both ? which should I be replacing first ?

Its definately not air in the system as we spent a lot of time making sure that the system is fully bled through with new fluid.

The pedal goes about halfway down before any braking effect takes place - I know that the new disks and pads will take a while to bed in but they really should start to bite nearer the top of the pedal travel than they do.

What I don't want to do is spend money replacing the wrong bits so any help as to the most likely cause would be appreciated

[BillyW]

im sure you can actually adjust brake pedal hight on these, i may be talking rubbish though!

[daimlerman]

I had problems like this,as well.
My issue was little/no brakes at the rear,similar to bumhole's problems of a week or two back.
I established that fluid was reaching the ABS pump,was passing through the ABS pump and was suspecting the restrictor valve mounted on the l/h inner wing just below the brake master.
I was unable to prove that this was receiving fluid/passing fluid without destroying the pipework/valve,but found just in time that my problem centred around the output pipe from the ABS,and tightening this fitting properly solved my problem.

[Cook318IS]

your brake hoses aren't perishing are they?

[capri_rob]

Flexi hoses are all in reasonably good condition - I've had the car just over 2 Years and not had to replace them and they have passed an MOT just over a month ago without any advisory.

Brian I will check the fittings to the ABS pump and report back