Stupid stupid stupid!!!!!!!
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 87
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From: Davenport Iowa
Stupid stupid stupid!!!!!!!
I think this is by far the dumbest thing I've ever done. Rebuilt all 4 brake calipers with o-rings put a new master cylinder bench bled it off the car on the car, each wheel at least 4 times, put three quarts of fluid through it had no air at all but could not get any brake pedal went all the way to the floor I was stumped my wife kept telling me it was some thing stupid I wasn't doing. Guess what had to move the vette out of the garage had my sons there to push the car when we started the car I took the emergency brake off put my foot on the brake best hardest pedal I've ever had. Why didn't I think of that I should have thought of it because I knew better. But finally i have the brakes I always wanted.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
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From: Fernandina Beach FL
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Ummmmm- I don't think the emergency brake would have anything to do with it....It's a total separate mechanical system....
Richard
Richard
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,229
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From: Thunder Bay
That would certainly make it easier to depress the pedal, but I don't think it explains what the OP was describing. He stated that the pedal continued to go all the way to the floor even after all the bleeding he had done. Without vacuum to the booster, the pedal would be even harder.
Last edited by drwet; Mar 18, 2012 at 11:03 PM. Reason: More info
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 87
Likes: 1
From: Davenport Iowa
I think this is by far the dumbest thing I've ever done. Rebuilt all 4 brake calipers with o-rings put a new master cylinder bench bled it off the car on the car, each wheel at least 4 times, put three quarts of fluid through it had no air at all but could not get any brake pedal went all the way to the floor I was stumped my wife kept telling me it was some thing stupid I wasn't doing. Guess what had to move the vette out of the garage had my sons there to push the car when we started the car I took the emergency brake off put my foot on the brake best hardest pedal I've ever had. Why didn't I think of that I should have thought of it because I knew better. But finally i have the brakes I always wanted.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 427
Likes: 1
There may be a problem but, if I can, I will share a story...
This post brought me back to the days of old in the late 60's when I was helping my Dad pump up the master brake and the let him 'bleed' off each wheel cylinder.
He kept on asking me if the pedal was getting hard, I replied it was not. He then asked if I was pushing in the 'clutch pedal'. I meekly replied, I think I am getting a bit of resistance now as I immediately 'switched' pedals.
He came out from behind the truck and gave me a bit of a grin that he may have known what was going on and left me wondering if I knew he ever found me out.
That was 43 years ago, seeing this post and not suggesting this was the issue, I will ask him if he remembers that day. He did finally get brakes.
This post brought me back to the days of old in the late 60's when I was helping my Dad pump up the master brake and the let him 'bleed' off each wheel cylinder.
He kept on asking me if the pedal was getting hard, I replied it was not. He then asked if I was pushing in the 'clutch pedal'. I meekly replied, I think I am getting a bit of resistance now as I immediately 'switched' pedals.
He came out from behind the truck and gave me a bit of a grin that he may have known what was going on and left me wondering if I knew he ever found me out.
That was 43 years ago, seeing this post and not suggesting this was the issue, I will ask him if he remembers that day. He did finally get brakes.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
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The pistons won't move with the bleeder screws opened. So what happened is you bled and bled and bled, but the pistons were still retracted in their bores. So when you closed the screws and started her up, it took a few pumps before the pistons closed the gap to the rotors and gave you a hard pedal.
Happens all the time.
And the parking brake had nothing to do with it. That's a completely separate (and mechanical) system.
Happens all the time.
And the parking brake had nothing to do with it. That's a completely separate (and mechanical) system.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,520
Likes: 11
From: Hinckley OH
The pistons won't move with the bleeder screws opened. So what happened is you bled and bled and bled, but the pistons were still retracted in their bores. So when you closed the screws and started her up, it took a few pumps before the pistons closed the gap to the rotors and gave you a hard pedal.
Happens all the time.
And the parking brake had nothing to do with it. That's a completely separate (and mechanical) system.
Happens all the time.
And the parking brake had nothing to do with it. That's a completely separate (and mechanical) system.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,372
Likes: 215
From: Peoria Arizona
The pistons won't move with the bleeder screws opened. So what happened is you bled and bled and bled, but the pistons were still retracted in their bores. So when you closed the screws and started her up, it took a few pumps before the pistons closed the gap to the rotors and gave you a hard pedal.
Happens all the time.
And the parking brake had nothing to do with it. That's a completely separate (and mechanical) system.
Happens all the time.
And the parking brake had nothing to do with it. That's a completely separate (and mechanical) system.
Just did a complete new system on our '77. Had a good friend who is a retired brake shop owner help. He will not bleed brakes on a C3 without using a air charged power bleed system. In his words "even if you have a firm pedal, you can not get all of the air out of that system without using a power bleeder".
I trust his skill completely, and my brakes are FANTASTIC now. Better have your seat belt on if I jump on these brakes hard
Glad you got your new brakes working! Pretty exciting step for sure.
Adam