Spongy brakes - FIXED!!!
 

I know there's a few brake threads but felt it was better to start a new thread because a lot of people won't revisit those old threads. I read those threads and there was never a definitive answer as to why those brakes became spongy after new brake pads were installed. I myself installed new ceramic brakes and began to experience the spongy braking. I didn't feel it was safe to keep driving in the hopes my brakes bedded eventually. I dismissed the idea of air or moisture in the line because I never even opened the lines to begin with. Stainless steel brake lines, I read, was not needed. So the only other option I could do was go to my garbage can and dig out the old brakes and put them back on to see if that solved my problem. Not only did it solve my problem, I discovered that I had put one of the ceramic pads on incorrectly. Now, I know I'm admitting stupidity, but I'm doing so for the sake of safety for the others who are having spongy braking. I'm usually pretty careful about the orientation of the pads when I put them on, this time I was rushed and made a mistake. For the time being, I'm leaving the old pads on because they still have a lot of life left and I don't want to mess with the new pads just yet.

A few things I want to point out: When I initially put on the ceramic pads, I had just done some driving so rotors/brakes were hot. This time I made sure they were cool. May not have made a difference. It may also not have anything to do with the ceramic brakes. I know someone brought that up as a possibility in one of the threads. My guess is the orientation is the cause. Thanks for reading. Hope this helps.

In the pictures, you can see how the same brake pad facing the same way could go on wrong if turned incorrectly.