Brake Bleeding unsuccessful??
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 914
Likes: 14
From: Aberdeen, Scotland
Brake Bleeding unsuccessful??
I have done several brake jobs on C-3's with fair success. Presently I am up at my Dad's trying to get his brakes back up to stuff to little avail.
The problem is that I can NOT seem to get the air out of the system. My Dad left the brake system "open" and NO fluid was in the MC. I replaced a few lines and the rear calipers, but when bleeding with a vac pump and or the old way, pump and bleed I just can not get a firm pedal.
Any ideas? Is there too much air in the system, do I NEED a pressure bleeder or do I just need to carry on?
carbster
The problem is that I can NOT seem to get the air out of the system. My Dad left the brake system "open" and NO fluid was in the MC. I replaced a few lines and the rear calipers, but when bleeding with a vac pump and or the old way, pump and bleed I just can not get a firm pedal.
Any ideas? Is there too much air in the system, do I NEED a pressure bleeder or do I just need to carry on?
carbster
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,173
Likes: 5
From: Paducah Ky
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 914
Likes: 14
From: Aberdeen, Scotland
Using DOT 4
As luck would have it my Dad never put in DOT 5! I hate the stuff and I will be replacing it with DOT 4 in my own vette soon.
At any rate I figured my biggest problem is the fact that the car was left to sit for over a year with NO fluid in it. Do I need to bleed the MC?
I am running out of time I really only have two more days to work on this beast.
carbster
At any rate I figured my biggest problem is the fact that the car was left to sit for over a year with NO fluid in it. Do I need to bleed the MC?
I am running out of time I really only have two more days to work on this beast.
carbster
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 403
From: Nashville TN
St. Jude Donor '09
I had similar problems with mine. Could not get fluid to come out the rear lines. I rebuilt my calipers, put on new S/S lines and flex hoses, and replaced the master cylinder. Still nothing. I tried a hand vacuum pump, I tried pump and bleed, I tried gavity feed, still nothing. I even had my kids and wife pumping the pedal (not sure that was much help though 
)
I finally had a friend come over and we eventually got it flowing. I had my buddy pump the pedal as HARD and FAST as he could, and FINALLY got the fluid flowing. Persistance won!!!! Good luck!
) I finally had a friend come over and we eventually got it flowing. I had my buddy pump the pedal as HARD and FAST as he could, and FINALLY got the fluid flowing. Persistance won!!!! Good luck!
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 223
Likes: 1
From: Kennesaw GA
If the MC was left dry, you will need to bench bleed it to get all of the air out, and it has to be done on the bench since regular pedal travel cannot fully actuate the full travel of the piston.
Another option is a pressure bleeder system, mine was about $50 (Motive Pressure Bleeder), and I was able to pressure bleed my '69 with a dry MC and got a great firm pedal after two laps around the bleeders.
Another option is a pressure bleeder system, mine was about $50 (Motive Pressure Bleeder), and I was able to pressure bleed my '69 with a dry MC and got a great firm pedal after two laps around the bleeders.
Last edited by GruntyPants; Dec 28, 2006 at 12:08 PM. Reason: Remembered name of pressure bleeder.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,334
Likes: 4
From: Midland TX
I used the vac pump after bench bleeding new MC and it worked fine.
I did use DOT 5 and it took a while to get the bubbles out. Pedal is very firm.
