SPONGY BRAKE PEDAL

While it is possible the brake hydraulic system has air in it, that is usually because there is a brake fluid leak and if the brake fluid level hasn't needed topping up, the cause is probably elsewhere. Spongy pedal feel can be caused by a disc pad seizing so tightly in the carrier the brake disc is flexing. Seized brake caliper slides can also produce a similar thing with some designs. Do not attempt to adjust the brake pedal or linkage as that can cause other potentially very serious problems. Begin by removing the wheels and checking each brake is in good condition and working correctly and you will almost certainly find the cause of the trouble - insufficient or ineffective routine maintenance...

your ebrake is on try pulling the handle and push it back down or get the foot pedal to release. if that's not it. you have to check the fluid level. or you have air in the system. does the pedal feel spongy when you stop on the brake pedal. if it slowly goes to the floor you could have another problem with air or a leak

Air is getting into the system hence the spongy feel to the pedal. The problem may lie with the brake assist system - have it checked professionally - brakes matter!

This is most dangerous for you. I think that your power brake boost has failed, possibly due to a split vacuum hose. You can test this...
With the engine off, pump the brake pedal hard a few times. Then press down hard on the pedal and start the engine. You should feel the pedal sink perceptibly under your foot.
If this seems OK then your brake pads may be down to the metal on one or more wheels even though you here no noise. Remove the front wheels and have a look, as on p22 here (a later model).

http://www.turboninjas.com/camry/br.pdf

If the pedal feels spongy underfoot, and you can get better brakes by pumping the pedal vigorously, then there is air in the brake system, and it will need to be bled, as on p9

bleed the brakes so that there is no air
spongy pedal
apply the foot brake and use the hand brake to adjust the thread to the back of the piston
the slots in the pistons are only to screw the piston back along the thread to get the new pads in

loosen of the hand-brake adjustment and press the brake pedal a few times to self adjust the rear brakes.
Re-tighten the handbrake adj last.
Front brake sounds like a seized caliper,If possible remove caliper and clean and lubricate the piston.
This may work but replacement caliper may be the only other solution.Make sure the caliper slides are also clean and lubricated and the brake pads are in good order.(TRY THIS FIRST)
Also new brake shoes can make the pedal feel spongy for a couple of hundred miles until they have been run in.

Installing new brake pads on toyota camry solara 2006 front rotors and pads and rear pads. Steering wheel would shake while breaking on 50+ miles per hour speeds. All fixed now.

Hello, and welcome to FixYa. Please allow us to assist you.

It sounds to us like your rear brakes are out of adjustment. This does indeed give you the feeling that you are experiencing.

Here is a quick and easy way to tell if this is indeed the case:

In a safe location, like an empty parking lot, stop, set the park brake, and then give the car a little gas. If the car moves forward at all, your rear brakes are not adjusted properly. If the car moves, you will need to take the car to a professional that is capable of performing a brake adjustment for you.

Thanks for choosing FixYa for assistance today.

You gotta bleed your brakes and get all the air out dude.  Then put in new brake fluid.  Afterwards, make sure to pump the hell out of your brakes to build up brake pressure before you put this thing in drive or you will end up in the neighbors fence or a tree will stop you.

take off brake caliper, take off your brake pads. check the sliders. sliders are on the side of the bracket. see if they are moving freely in and out. im pretty sure they are seized. that's why your pedal is soft and sinks down really fast when applied.