Bleeding brakes question.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,051
Likes: 0
From: Inside every color vette there is a blue one trying to come out!
Bleeding brakes question.
I realize that the C3 brakeing system was not really designed well. I wanted to know how often the brakes should be bled, to prevent excess air in the system? I was late for work today because the brakes locked up on me and had to sit for about 40 minutes before I could drive again. being able to set brake bleeding to a schedule would be nice so that i can avoid the pain and trouble like this again. :banghead:
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,770
Likes: 2,515
From: Buckeye, AZ
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
Re: Bleeding brakes question. (Skruball73)
Air in the lines shouldn't cause the brakes to lock up. Air in the lines causes a soft pedal. Waiting (40) minutes will not most likely clear it either. You have something else going on. :smash:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 46
From: Raleigh North Carolina
Re: Bleeding brakes question. (Skruball73)
Un-bled brakes should have nothing to do with brakes locking up.
A messed up parking brake can do it. And I have seen a mal-adjusted power brake diaphragm rod do it.... once.
There are a zillion posts on this topic in the archives.
I use DOT 5 silicone brake fluid to avoid the moisture issues.
I keep my rotors within spec to avoid air-pumping issues.
If your rotors are true, and the rest of your brake system is in good shape, then bleeding DOT 3 or 4 fluid every couple of years will be enough.
If your brakes are locking up... you need to look for a different cause.
Even the the most corroded pistons usually will not lock up an entire brake system.
If the car has been sitting in a corn field for 25 years, then yes.
Otherwise, I doubt it.
Air in the system makes the brakes mushy, unresponsive, and can cause pulling to one side (I ran a series of tests on this for forum members), but I don't know of any way air can cause the brakes to lock up.
If your rotors are way out of spec, they will pump air. I recently worked on an 80 that had excessive runout. Once around the block and it needed to be re-bled.
A messed up parking brake can do it. And I have seen a mal-adjusted power brake diaphragm rod do it.... once.
There are a zillion posts on this topic in the archives.
I use DOT 5 silicone brake fluid to avoid the moisture issues.
I keep my rotors within spec to avoid air-pumping issues.
If your rotors are true, and the rest of your brake system is in good shape, then bleeding DOT 3 or 4 fluid every couple of years will be enough.
If your brakes are locking up... you need to look for a different cause.
Even the the most corroded pistons usually will not lock up an entire brake system.
If the car has been sitting in a corn field for 25 years, then yes.
Otherwise, I doubt it.
Air in the system makes the brakes mushy, unresponsive, and can cause pulling to one side (I ran a series of tests on this for forum members), but I don't know of any way air can cause the brakes to lock up.
If your rotors are way out of spec, they will pump air. I recently worked on an 80 that had excessive runout. Once around the block and it needed to be re-bled.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,135
Likes: 2
From: Dayton Oh
Re: Bleeding brakes question. (Tom454)
:iagree: with Tom454. I had the air in the line problems with my
79 causing the mussy brakes. I also would tend to think the emergency brake could be the problem. About 2 yrs ago, my dually truck had a sticky emergency brake lock up due to a rusted brake line. Good luck and let us know what you find out. :cheers:
79 causing the mussy brakes. I also would tend to think the emergency brake could be the problem. About 2 yrs ago, my dually truck had a sticky emergency brake lock up due to a rusted brake line. Good luck and let us know what you find out. :cheers:
