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Brake Bleeding Newbie

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Old Sep 10, 2011 | 01:23 PM
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Default Brake Bleeding Newbie

OK -- I have never really done any of my own maintenance, but I want to learn to do so.

I have a 1978 Vette, and the brakes recently went south, to where the pedal would press, easily, all the way to the floor. The car is too dangerous to drive. I did the brake bleeding using the Motive Power Bleeder system, and the pedal feel came around to being nice and firm again. That is until the car is turned on. This may be normal, you have to tell me. Did I not bleed long enough to ensure no air is in the system? Or is there something else that may be going on?
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Old Sep 10, 2011 | 02:35 PM
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Before you started the bleeding process was the master cylinder low? Did you check all the pistons on all the calipers for signs of leaking? Did you lightly tap the calipers as you were bleeding them to dislodge any air bubbles? Did you bleed in this sequence, right rear, left rear, right front, left front? Any sign of leakage where the master cylinder mounts to the booster?
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Old Sep 10, 2011 | 02:39 PM
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Read this thread !

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...-question.html

Just finished mine today. Turned out to be a bad master cylinder and a caliper that needed rebuilding.
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Old Sep 10, 2011 | 03:00 PM
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Just one thing to add. Did you bleed all SIX bleeders?
Two front and four rear.

Last edited by garage-ghost; Sep 10, 2011 at 03:04 PM.
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Old Sep 10, 2011 | 04:53 PM
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Originally Posted by garage-ghost
Just one thing to add. Did you bleed all SIX bleeders?
Two front and four rear.
HOLY S&$* -- wow, I am the biggest noob.

Nope, I didn't. Went back and went around the car again and did them all and now it is working GREAT! I have no idea how I could not see something so clearly right in front of my face. LOL!

Last edited by Thunder7; Sep 10, 2011 at 05:01 PM.
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Old Sep 10, 2011 | 06:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Thunder7
HOLY S&$* -- wow, I am the biggest noob.

Nope, I didn't. Went back and went around the car again and did them all and now it is working GREAT! I have no idea how I could not see something so clearly right in front of my face. LOL!
You're not the first, and for sure, not the last. Glad it worked out.
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