Brake bleeding problems
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 81
Likes: 2
From: Hanover Park Illinois
Brake bleeding problems
My 77, that I recently bought, had all 4 calipers leaking at different rates. I bought a Wilwood master cylinder and caliper kit. I bench bled the master cylinder and bled all the calipers twice (gravity bled clear). The brake pedal doesn't pump up pressure. No leaks under the car. Am I missing something? Thanks ahead of time, for your advice.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 926
Likes: 2
From: Castle Rock CO
It usually takes two people in my experience to bleed out the brake system. One to sit in the car and pump it up about 5 times slowly and a person on the caliper bleeding them out. I have tried pumps in the past and gravity.
Have a person sit in the car and pump five time than hold while you release the bleeder valve. Perform this at least two to three times on each wheel. It may take longer on the passenger side to get all the air out.
Start in the farthest position from the Master Cylinder which is usually passenger Side Rear than work your way around the car. Refill the resevour as needed and check it often. Always put the cover back on the Master Cylindar each time you refill it.
I have always had pretty good results using this method.
Have a person sit in the car and pump five time than hold while you release the bleeder valve. Perform this at least two to three times on each wheel. It may take longer on the passenger side to get all the air out.
Start in the farthest position from the Master Cylinder which is usually passenger Side Rear than work your way around the car. Refill the resevour as needed and check it often. Always put the cover back on the Master Cylindar each time you refill it.
I have always had pretty good results using this method.
Last edited by MakoJoe; Apr 30, 2013 at 09:02 PM.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 502
Likes: 6
From: Chesterfield Virginia
Save yourself a lot of time and headache, buy a Motive Power Bleeder for about $68 bucks and be done with it. I have spent many painful hours on corvette brakes and this is the only system that has worked for me. Very simple and a one person job. I have also bled the brakes on all my other vehicles just to flush out old fluid and clean the system. You will never go back to the old pump, pump, pump, method!!!!
Norm
Norm
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,189
Likes: 111
From: Tolland CT
Save yourself a lot of time and headache, buy a Motive Power Bleeder for about $68 bucks and be done with it. I have spent many painful hours on corvette brakes and this is the only system that has worked for me. Very simple and a one person job. I have also bled the brakes on all my other vehicles just to flush out old fluid and clean the system. You will never go back to the old pump, pump, pump, method!!!!
Norm
Norm
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 926
Likes: 2
From: Castle Rock CO
I could see how a power bleeder may help in a one person job but the other inexpensive hand pumps never worked for me.
Looking at the Motive Power Bleeder kits and they are not that expensive unless you buy the deluxe kit for about $250.00 online.
Looking at the Motive Power Bleeder kits and they are not that expensive unless you buy the deluxe kit for about $250.00 online.
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Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 12,239
Likes: 19
From: Chino CA
Motive....a lot of questions come up about brake bleeding problems...
Number 1 answer (and thru personal experience - the BEST) is get a motive bleeder....
If you own a C3, you're gonna need a Motive bleeder....
Number 1 answer (and thru personal experience - the BEST) is get a motive bleeder....
If you own a C3, you're gonna need a Motive bleeder....
Pro
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 523
Likes: 4
From: Calgary Alberta
My 77, that I recently bought, had all 4 calipers leaking at different rates. I bought a Wilwood master cylinder and caliper kit. I bench bled the master cylinder and bled all the calipers twice (gravity bled clear). The brake pedal doesn't pump up pressure. No leaks under the car. Am I missing something? Thanks ahead of time, for your advice.
On my 77, I replaced my calipers with Wilwood D8-4 and also replaced my master cylinder with a Wilwood unit. In addition I also, replaced all the rubber hoses with stainless steel. Then needed to bleed the whole system. Could not do it manually. Eventually gave up and bought one of these systems below. 20 minutes later had a hard pedal and no air in the system. It was easier to buy this system then the Motive brake bleeder as those are hard to get to Canada.
http://www.speedibleed.com/
Pro
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 502
Likes: 6
From: Chesterfield Virginia
Summit has a pretty good deal at $68 for the basic kit. Your best bet is the deluxe version that works on almost any reservoir for $86. Better to pay a few extra bucks and then you can service all your toys. Part numbers MVP-0105 and MVP-0252. Best purchase you will ever make for a plastic car. Hope this info does not break any forum rules.
Thanks,
Norm
Thanks,
Norm
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 230
Likes: 4
From: Woodbridge VA
I wish I could speak from experience. The forum tells me the gravity system works if you're patient; I just bought the Motive system (based on recommendations here) and will bleed this weekend after replacing the brake lines.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 12,239
Likes: 19
From: Chino CA
It flat out works....
Don't forget the inboard bleeders on the rear.....I got in a hurry once and totally forgot them....
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,192
Likes: 343
From: Allenton Wisconsin
Save yourself a lot of time and headache, buy a Motive Power Bleeder for about $68 bucks and be done with it. I have spent many painful hours on corvette brakes and this is the only system that has worked for me. Very simple and a one person job. I have also bled the brakes on all my other vehicles just to flush out old fluid and clean the system. You will never go back to the old pump, pump, pump, method!!!!
Norm
Norm
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 99
Likes: 3
From: Salem Ohio
Install the master cylinder leaving the lines loose fill it with fuild and with the cap on have some one push down only on the pedal easy. then tighten the lines repeat until no more air. Then Gravity bleed the right rear outter first then the inner then move to the left rear outter then the inner then the right front then the left front. filling the fluid each time. Then 3 pumps for each rear and 3 pumps each front in this same order. You more than likely did not get the air out of the master cylinder. This is an not an easy system but compared to anti lock BS it is not that bad. Good luck
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,838
Likes: 13
From: Kingman AZ
speed bleed
helpful tool. My lines were so bad it was ridiculous. The brakes were all new but old azz fluid gave out. Foot went to the floor. Bought these pumped clean never looked back.
http://speedbleeder.com/
http://speedbleeder.com/
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,683
Likes: 34
From: Working on the car NY
Chances are you'll never be able to bleed empty calipers by gravity or pumping - at least I couldn't more than a few times. I was too lazy last week to hook up my Motive bleeder and tried gravity on empty calipers - no go even after many hours. I then tried pumping with an assistant - no go again, couldn't get fluid going. Hooked up the Motive with 5 lbs - not enough, I needed 8 lbs to get it going but then all was OKFor those that like photos
Last edited by TWINRAY; May 1, 2013 at 10:36 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 12,239
Likes: 19
From: Chino CA
Chances are you'll never be able to bleed empty calipers by gravity or pumping - at least I couldn't more than a few times. I was too lazy last week to hook up my Motive bleeder and tried gravity on empty calipers - no go even after many hours. I then tried pumping with an assistant - no go again, couldn't get fluid going. Hooked up the Motive with 5 lbs - not enough, I needed 8 lbs to get it going but then all was OK