Bleeding Brakes

[Taycan-Gentian]

Hi Guys,

I have had my Taycan for a few weeks, and notice that the brakes feel a little spongy.

It had a 111 point health check by Porsche prior to me collecting it and everything on the report is good. All recalls and updates carried out.

Am I able to bleed the brakes myself the old fashioned way? Or is this braking system one that needs the dealer to use a pressurised bleeding system and the PIWIS software to achieve success?

Any ideas? Anyone bled their own brakes?

Thanks

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[r553]

Be aware that there is a bit of different pedal behavior from an ICE car as the Taycan transitions from regeneration to the hydraulic brakes. My 2020 4 S is not as slick doing this compared to a 2026 Macan EV I had as a loaner. Your car should be current with it's brake fluid changes as the 111 point inspection ought to reveal. Sometimes these inspections are "pencil whipped" by a salesman at his desk for expediency. I've bled my brakes myself every two years as required, no PIWIS. I use a Mighty Vac pressure bleeder and Porsche DOT 4 brake fluid. You can also have a family member pump the pedal for you as you bleed both bleeder fittings on each caliper. I've seen dealer technicians only bleed one of the bleeder fittings rather than both. You can also make a technician drive your car with you in it to attest to it's "normalcy". You also should ask the dealer to allow you to drive another Taycan, the same year as yours, to see if you feel any different pedal behavior. The Taycan brake booster is a marvel of German engineering. It is electric, no vacuum, and transitions from regeration to hydraulic braking. Good luck.

 

[Taycan-Gentian]

Thank you for the detailed response. Massively appreciated.

I tried to edit the original post to say "and Of course, could this just be how the Taycan brake pedal feels".

It just feels like it needs that little extra push to make it stop, as it seems to not stop briskly enough under what you would consider normal foot pressure. If that makes sense. Don't get me wrong, it stops, it isn't to a dangerous level.

Thanks for the tips re the bleeding. I will have a look for the Mighty Vac bleeder.

I have my Porsche Centre calling back hopefully today, and will ask them the questions.

 

[Shug]

You need PIWIS or another advanced system to activate the ABS if there is air in that.

Pressure bleeding is so much simpler than pumping the brakes, makes an excellent job and only requires one person.

These systems are not expensive and are well worth the money IMHO.

 

[figure1a]

Thank you for the detailed response. Massively appreciated.

I tried to edit the original post to say "and Of course, could this just be how the Taycan brake pedal feels".

It just feels like it needs that little extra push to make it stop, as it seems to not stop briskly enough under what you would consider normal foot pressure. If that makes sense. Don't get me wrong, it stops, it isn't to a dangerous level.

Thanks for the tips re the bleeding. I will have a look for the Mighty Vac bleeder.

I have my Porsche Centre calling back hopefully today, and will ask them the questions.

On a normal day, regen plus mechanical braking seem/feel like regular brakes to me. What will throw you for a loop/minor heartattack is a rainy day. Since the car is using regen to slow you down most of the time, that last bit where it uses the mechanical brake to bring you to a stop will feel very soft/defective in the rain because the brakes are so cold since they are not being used very much. At least on the Turbo S this is how it feels.

 

[Taycan-Gentian]

Just on this

You need PIWIS or another advanced system to activate the ABS if there is air in that.

Pressure bleeding is so much simpler than pumping the brakes, makes an excellent job and only requires one person.

These systems are not expensive and are well worth the money IMHO.

Thanks mate,

Where would you get PIWIS from?

 

[Taycan-Gentian]

On a normal day, regen plus mechanical braking seem/feel like regular brakes to me. What will throw you for a loop/minor heartattack is a rainy day. Since the car is using regen to slow you down most of the time, that last bit where it uses the mechanical brake to bring you to a stop will feel very soft/defective in the rain because the brakes are so cold since they are not being used very much. At least on the Turbo S this is how it feels.

Thanks for the response and insight.

Just for clarification, I have regen switched off.

So I assume, it's using the pads at all times??

 

[figure1a]

Thanks for the response and insight.

Just for clarification, I have regen switched off.

So I assume, it's using the pads at all times??

No, I don't think so. Regen off just lets the car coast when you left off the pedal. But even with regen off, it still uses the motors for most of your braking when you push the brake pedal.

 

[Shug]

Just on this

Thanks mate,

Where would you get PIWIS from?

A PIWIS 3 for only $75 - Rennlist - Porsche Discussion Forums

 

[hifi239]

No, I don't think so. Regen off just lets the car coast when you left off the pedal. But even with regen off, it still uses the motors for most of your braking when you push the brake pedal.

This is correct. The regen button is really “turn on mild lift-off regen” and is good for stop and go driving. But the real regen occurs when you apply the brakes. If you brake hard, or are going slower than a few miles an hour, or it’s the first few pedal pushes of the day, the mechanical brakes are applied. You can see the regen happening via the green side of the power ring display. Re softness, there was at least one brake feel reprogramming early on. You might ask the dealer if they did all the brake-related TSBs and recalls. Mine felt better after the update and new lines and flush a few years ago. As said, you will slightly feel the transition to mechanical brakes. But the pedal should not feel mushy.

 

[mystermykee]

You need PIWIS or another advanced system to activate the ABS if there is air in that.

Pressure bleeding is so much simpler than pumping the brakes, makes an excellent job and only requires one person.

These systems are not expensive and are well worth the money IMHO.

This.

To do a proper bleed there are three systems you need to do, two of which you need PIWIS. Traditional reservoir bleed you can obviously do yourself. My brake pedal never felt solid with barely any play until you also do the brake booster and ABS/PSM unit.

 

[Taycan-Gentian]

Thanks everyone for the responses, really appreciate it.

Interesting to hear how the braking system works on the Taycan!

 

[TonyR]

Bleeding the brakes won’t help. That is how the pedal feels. Apart from the first mile after a cold start, the final few mph of a stop the car doesn’t use the mechanical brakes. It’s all done by the electric motors not the disks and pads. The only exception is if the braking exceeds the power absorption capacity of the electrical systems which is rare and when it brings in the mechanical brakes to supplement the electrical ones.. But the pedal feel is typical Porsche IME. Many cars you push the pedal, it goes hard and then brakes harder but doesn’t move as you put more pressure on the pedal. On a Porsche, the further you depress the pedal the harder it brakes. And on a Taycan there is plenty enough electrical braking power to squash your nose on the windshield. HTH

 

[Taycan-Gentian]

Bleeding the brakes won’t help. That is how the pedal feels. Apart from the first mile after a cold start, the final few mph of a stop the car doesn’t use the mechanical brakes. It’s all done by the electric motors not the disks and pads. The only exception is if the braking exceeds the power absorption capacity of the electrical systems which is rare and when it brings in the mechanical brakes to supplement the electrical ones.. But the pedal feel is typical Porsche IME. Many cars you push the pedal, it goes hard and then brakes harder but doesn’t move as you put more pressure on the pedal. On a Porsche, the further you depress the pedal the harder it brakes. And on a Taycan there is plenty enough electrical braking power to squash your nose on the windshield. HTH

Really interesting, thanks

 

[mystermykee]

Bleeding the brakes won’t help. That is how the pedal feels.

This is incorrect. Regen and mechanical braking systems aren't completely decoupled, even within the threshold of regen only while depressing the brake pedal. Every time you step on the brake pedal, you're moving fluid within the master cylinder. How do you explain the force pushing back against your foot when braking?

Apologies in advance, but the general "that's just how it is" conclusion is lazy, and for car owners who look to this forum for advice, end up living with a suboptimal, sloppy car.

Edit* If you haven't already done so, get the PSM update (which includes a full brake bleed) https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2024/MC-11007026-0001.pdf

If you're still unsatisfied, then well yea...that's just how it is

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