Brake bleeding questions
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 289
Likes: 62
From: Hanover Township PA
Brake bleeding questions
When I purchased the car the brakes were spongy due to a master cylinder change and the brakes weren't bled. So last night I put the car up on jack stands and started to gravity bleed the brakes. All the bleeders came loose except one which broke closed. I bled the backs at the same time then the fronts. I used about 1/3 of a big bottle of DOT3.
Now the brakes are still spongy. My question is, did I not bleed them enough? I felt like it was just fluid coming out but I have never gravity bleed brakes before so I'm not sure.
OR could the fact that I didn't bleed both sides of the passenger back brakes because of the broken bleeder be the cause?
Now the brakes are still spongy. My question is, did I not bleed them enough? I felt like it was just fluid coming out but I have never gravity bleed brakes before so I'm not sure.
OR could the fact that I didn't bleed both sides of the passenger back brakes because of the broken bleeder be the cause?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 289
Likes: 62
From: Hanover Township PA
I am 100% sure the fluid didn't get to low. It's hard to say if the brakes improved or not with the car still up on jack stands but if I had to guess I would say no to slightly.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,105
Likes: 96
From: Sunrise FL
Try the coke bottle method of one at a time. Fill a small bottle w fluid and run a hose into it. Have a helper slowly pump the pedal, watch for bubbles. Close the bleeder on the DOWN stroke. Tap the caliper to release trapped bubbles too.
Start at rear inner bleeder, then outer. Then fronts
Search internet for a stripped brake bleeder removal tool...I saw one somewhere.
Start at rear inner bleeder, then outer. Then fronts
Search internet for a stripped brake bleeder removal tool...I saw one somewhere.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 423
Likes: 25
From: Boca Raton Florida
If there is one wheel that has air trapped somewhere a good easy check is to have someone step on the pedal and try to turn each wheel. Many times you will find the side with air that way and it does not take more then a minute to do. Also look at all the rubber lines at each wheel. Any cracks or expanding of the lines is no good and can cause a sloppy pedal.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 289
Likes: 62
From: Hanover Township PA
Not sure it was done before I purchased the car
Harbor Freight has one for $20.00 that has some good reviews for so I think I might go that route.
Harbor Freight has one for $20.00 that has some good reviews for so I think I might go that route.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 289
Likes: 62
From: Hanover Township PA
I picked up a power bleeder and still a no go. I was able to bleed the fronts real easy but the back drivers side took a long time and a lot of fluid but I believe it's air free now. The back passenger side on the other hand isn't working for me. I must have sucked 20oz through the line and nothing but air. And when I say nothing but air, it's 90% air 10% fluid coming out. In fact there was so much air I had to pinch the bleeder line to build any kind of suction.
I have a feeling that caliper is shot. I don't have any leaks anywhere but I can push the brake pedal to the floor.
I have a feeling that caliper is shot. I don't have any leaks anywhere but I can push the brake pedal to the floor.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 289
Likes: 62
From: Hanover Township PA
Just a quick update on this. I have been battling a brake bleeding issues since way back in March. I have replaced everything except the master cylinder (new when I got the car) and hard lines but still kept getting air in the lines. Finally after pulling all my hair out I spent $20.99 on a rebuild master and sure enough my problems were solved.
Just a little word of advise to anyone out there, just because a part is new doesn't mean it's not broken.
It's good to see the car on all 4 wheels again.
Just a little word of advise to anyone out there, just because a part is new doesn't mean it's not broken.
It's good to see the car on all 4 wheels again.
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 116
Likes: 1
This might not help, but, for what it's worth, when I redid my entire system with new calipers and master cylinder, which was first bench bled, we could not get rid of the spongy pedal, even with a pressure bleeder. Went through 1/2 gallon of silicone fluid too. Then, when we cracked open the lines on the proportioning valve while bleeding, things got better and that solved the problem. Somehow air was trapped in the valve.
Viz
Viz
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,096
Likes: 15
This might not help, but, for what it's worth, when I redid my entire system with new calipers and master cylinder, which was first bench bled, we could not get rid of the spongy pedal, even with a pressure bleeder. Went through 1/2 gallon of silicone fluid too. Then, when we cracked open the lines on the proportioning valve while bleeding, things got better and that solved the problem. Somehow air was trapped in the valve.
Viz
Viz
