Bleeding brakes?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,096
Likes: 15
Bleeding brakes?
Ok over that two years I've been fighting the battle with spongy brakes on my 82 and finally found the culprit. Two of the four pistons were leaking in the right front caliper so I replaced both front calipers, new pads and brake lines. My question is do I have to bleed the complete system minus the MC or can I get away with just bleeding the fronts?
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 45
From: Cameron Park CA
Ok over that two years I've been fighting the battle with spongy brakes on my 82 and finally found the culprit. Two of the four pistons were leaking in the right front caliper so I replaced both front calipers, new pads and brake lines. My question is do I have to bleed the complete system minus the MC or can I get away with just bleeding the fronts?
Since it's a dual system, you can bleed either the front or rear first (flame suit is on). Within each system, bleed from the most distant bleed screw to the closest to the master.
You can go through two or more quarts to get all the air out. In the end, it's just a hydraulic brake system, so you CAN remove all the air.
Pete
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,096
Likes: 15
Well not the results I was looking for, same spongy brakes. If fact went out in the country and did a emergancy stop from about 40 mph and did not lock up and the brake light came on. I'm going to replace the rear calipers in a couple of days and see if that makes a difference. This is one thing I do not like about this car, it gets scary at times..
Pro
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 557
Likes: 3
From: El Sobrante CA
Well not the results I was looking for, same spongy brakes. If fact went out in the country and did a emergancy stop from about 40 mph and did not lock up and the brake light came on. I'm going to replace the rear calipers in a couple of days and see if that makes a difference. This is one thing I do not like about this car, it gets scary at times..
I think when they're working well, these brakes are quite good. My car stops reliably in a straight line. But, for how long they'll remain that way- I can't say. From all I've read, brakes are among the top frustrations of C3 ownership.
Stay with it; success will be yours.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 45
From: Cameron Park CA
....
I think when they're working well, these brakes are quite good. My car stops reliably in a straight line. But, for how long they'll remain that way- I can't say. From all I've read, brakes are among the top frustrations of C3 ownership.
Stay with it; success will be yours.
I think when they're working well, these brakes are quite good. My car stops reliably in a straight line. But, for how long they'll remain that way- I can't say. From all I've read, brakes are among the top frustrations of C3 ownership.
Stay with it; success will be yours.
When well and properly maintained, these brakes are excellent. They didn't really start giving problems when the cars were newer and driven regularly. Later when most of them were parked is when the problems started.
Pete
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,096
Likes: 15
I agree just wish I could get the spongyness to go away. I have replaced the booster, mc (twice) front calipers and hoses and now I'm going to replace the rear calipers. Go from there I guess.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 45
From: Cameron Park CA
I replaced my +35 year old hoses with braided stainless hoses. Made a huge difference in pedal firmness.
Pete
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,096
Likes: 15
Well last night when I replaced the calipers the original black hoses where blacking my hands badly but last year I bought a stainless hose kit from one of the vendors and replaced them with those just for the front. So when I do the rears those lines will get replaced as well. Yea the hoses seemed brittle.