Brake Bleeding Problems..
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
From: WV
Brake Bleeding Problems..
Working on a friends 81 that had a leaking rear driver side caliper... Well I have been trying like hell to get the damn things bled but just can not get the peddle to stiffin up... Here is how I am going about things tell me if I am doing something wrong... First I filled the master cylinder up second i cracked the bleeder open and then used the vacuum pump I bought from autozone I would pump til the little container on it was about half full close the bleeder with it still attached empty the container refill the cylinder and then do the same thing with the bleeder on the other side of the caliper... Continued this process 5 times and the peddle still goes clear to the floor... Now if you take the car out on the street depress the brake peddle clear to the floor the front brakes will hold the car in place and burn the tires but the rear rotors remain cold so what am I doing wrong with getting the air out of the rear brakes??
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6,390
Likes: 1,225
From: Tampa Florida
I also use a vacuum bleeder that I bought at Autozone. Mine has a vacuum gauge attached. I connect the hose to the bleeder screw, pump until I get a good vacuum, then open the bleeder screw and close it before the vacuum gets to zero. I continue doing this until I'm satisfied that all the air is out of the system, making sure the master cylinder is filled with brake fluid.
I'm not saying that my way is the right way, but my brake pedal is full and hard.
I'm not saying that my way is the right way, but my brake pedal is full and hard.
Last edited by 71 Green 454; Jul 20, 2008 at 09:28 PM.
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 277
Likes: 19
From: Angleton, Tx
Did you prime the master cylinder? Also did you ever pump up the brakes before bleeding originally? May need to see if it will pump up before doing any bleeding. May have a master cylinder problem if you can't pump it up.
Race Director
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 17,140
Likes: 3
From: Houston (NW of) Texas
I also use a vacuum bleeder that I bought at Autozone. Mine has a vacuum gauge attached. I connect the hose to the bleeder screw, pump until I get a good vacuum, then open the bleeder screw and close it before the vacuum gets to zero. I continue doing this until I'm satisfied that all the air is out of the system, making sure the master cylinder is filled with brake fluid.
I'm not saying that my way is the right way, but my brake pedal is full and hard.
I'm not saying that my way is the right way, but my brake pedal is full and hard.
Having said all of that, if you never get a firm pedal I would suspect your MC went bad. Mine did the same thing last month when I was working on my calipers. Too much bleeding can lead to an old MC going bad - even if that wasn't originally the problem. I replaced mine and the problem was solved!
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
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From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
http://www.superchevy.com/technical/...nch/index.html
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,672
Likes: 329
From: Scottsdale Arizona
Here's a paper on the subject to help you. There should have been instructions with the m/c and the tools to bench bleed it.
http://www.superchevy.com/technical/...nch/index.html
http://www.superchevy.com/technical/...nch/index.html
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 439
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
About the best one I ever seen on the subject. I put it in my vault of articles. 
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Long Jetty NSW
I like the good old fashioned way ......... the missus sitting in the car, me yelling out pump 6 times, hold, pump again etc. etc. That way I get to see the bubbles in the clear plastic tube & know when to stop.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,652
Likes: 80
From: Lakeland Florida
That was a good link to the article. It doesnt matter how good you bleed the brakes if you have air trapped in the master cylinder.
Will continuing to bleed the brakes eventually get the air out of the master cylinder?
kdf
Will continuing to bleed the brakes eventually get the air out of the master cylinder?
kdf
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 439
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
