New Brake Caliper problem
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 923
Likes: 4
From: Austin Tx
New Brake Caliper problem
Just replaced the RR brake caliper. Trying to bleed the brakes, but no fluid is coming out when my partner pumps the brakes.just a few drops, then nothing, no bubbles, no fluid, no pressure. When I remove the conn at the line at the frame, fluid is just dripping out, but when partner pumps, nothing coming out except a trickle. What is going on?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Check for collapsed lines of any kind.
Jack up the rear, and check to see if the LR caliper has stopping force when the pedal is pressed. If not, there may be a blockage on the rear circuit somewhere.
Jack up the rear, and check to see if the LR caliper has stopping force when the pedal is pressed. If not, there may be a blockage on the rear circuit somewhere.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 416
Likes: 40
From: Swansea IL
Did you fill the caliper before you bolted it on?
There is a lot of fluid in a caliper and if you are relying on the fluid flow from the MC then it will take awhile to get fluid flow started from a bleeder.
Before I put the caliper on the car, I have a very small funnel that will fit the inlet pipe port. Holding the caliper vertical (in a vice) I poor fluid into the funnel and work the pistons back and forth. You can really fill the caliper this way and when you attach the hard line, there is very little bleeding necessary. Just let it gravity bleed and then go drive.
Usually results in a very firm pedal.
HTH
Bob
There is a lot of fluid in a caliper and if you are relying on the fluid flow from the MC then it will take awhile to get fluid flow started from a bleeder.
Before I put the caliper on the car, I have a very small funnel that will fit the inlet pipe port. Holding the caliper vertical (in a vice) I poor fluid into the funnel and work the pistons back and forth. You can really fill the caliper this way and when you attach the hard line, there is very little bleeding necessary. Just let it gravity bleed and then go drive.
Usually results in a very firm pedal.
HTH
Bob
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 4
From: New Baden Illinois
It should not have gotten any air in it if the fluid stayed above the brake lines leaving the MC. If the level dropped below that, then you probably took in some air.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 923
Likes: 4
From: Austin Tx
the fronts are not getting hardly any fluid out either. The brakes were fine until on caliper broke, now I'm not getting any pedal and no fluid anywhere....fluid looks dirty too, it was clear before
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 923
Likes: 4
From: Austin Tx
I took the MC out and put it on a vice. Began bench bleeding (never done this before) As I push the bore in with screwdriver, awful lot of air coming out, a little fluid. how did all this air get in?
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
You did cycle the fluid through with a pair of nipples and some plastic tubing right?
All that air is in the bore, where the two front to back pistons are. One front and one back. They both will have air and that's what you're pushing out.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 923
Likes: 4
From: Austin Tx
replaced master cylinder, bled the brakes again, now i have a solid pedal and great brakes...I guess the mc went out on me and was sucking air. Nice thing is the new mc came with bleeder screws so i don't have to remove it from the car to bleed it.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
The plungers inside, or pistons, if not sealed right, can let all kinds of air get by. Glad to hear it's all good now.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,738
Likes: 2,485
From: Buckeye, AZ
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
I would follow the GM factrory bleed sequence. I have read where the proportioning valve will allow a large bubble to just move back and forth continually if not bled properly. I think if you go through and bleed them in the correct sequence the air will push out. If you had a restriction I would think after bleeding you would still get a hard pedal, but a pull when braking due to inaction of the brake. The other thing could be is that you are sucking air in from someonwhere on a pedal depression and release. If you replaced hoses or lines check all of the fittings.