Question for Brake Bias Spring Users?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 9
Question for Brake Bias Spring Users?
For those who have upgraded to the DRM or equivilent brake bias spring, did you notice any change in pedal effort? I installed my bias spring today, very easy and it actually didn't spill that much fluid. I bled the brakes, I thought I did so thouroughly, I never actually got any air to come out of the bleeders though.
I spent seveal more hours cleaning up and painting my calipers. When I put it all back together I noticed my brake pedal was very soft. The paint I used needs to cure for a little while before I get the brakes really hot so I haven't driven it yet, except to put it in the garage. I feel like there is still air in the sytem, I just wanted to make sure this wasn't normal before I went through a lot of trouble bleeding it again.
I spent seveal more hours cleaning up and painting my calipers. When I put it all back together I noticed my brake pedal was very soft. The paint I used needs to cure for a little while before I get the brakes really hot so I haven't driven it yet, except to put it in the garage. I feel like there is still air in the sytem, I just wanted to make sure this wasn't normal before I went through a lot of trouble bleeding it again.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 9
Well I was afraid of that, but not suprised. The front is easy enough to bleed with the wheels on the car but the back seems like it would be a real PITA. Maybe one of my mechanic friends has a power bleeder...........
Here are some pics of the project
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=865304
Here are some pics of the project
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=865304
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
when I installed mine, I did it with a new master cylinder. Is there a chance you damaged the old master? There are rubber seals and such inside... disturbing an older one could have done some'n... just tossing out ideas.
was there any fluid dripping between the master and the booster? That's a dead give-a-way of problems with the master.
was there any fluid dripping between the master and the booster? That's a dead give-a-way of problems with the master.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Originally Posted by VetteNoob
The difference I noticed was in less nose dip when I got on the brakes.
-JRC-
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 9
Originally Posted by bogus
when I installed mine, I did it with a new master cylinder. Is there a chance you damaged the old master? There are rubber seals and such inside... disturbing an older one could have done some'n... just tossing out ideas.
was there any fluid dripping between the master and the booster? That's a dead give-a-way of problems with the master.
was there any fluid dripping between the master and the booster? That's a dead give-a-way of problems with the master.
There isn't any fluid dripping anywhere. I don't believe I damaged the master cylinder but hey you never know. I drove the car in to work this morning and the brakes pretty much suck right now. The pedal will fall about halfway down and do nothing. If you let off a little bit and then pump it again it will eventually "pump up" to a pretty good feeling pedal, it's just very scary when you hit it the first time. Of course I knew this before I left this morning so I didn't try anything stupid.
I guess the best explanation would be that it is "spongy." I'm going to try bleeding them again first. I never saw any air while I was bleeding them but I never actually saw clear fluid either, just all nasty brown stuff. There is probably just an air bubble trapped halfway beteen my master cylinder and one of the bleed screws now, I just didn't give it enough time to work it's way out.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,818
Likes: 2
From: Alive and well in Burlington NC
Originally Posted by Nathan Plemons
If you let off a little bit and then pump it again it will eventually "pump up" to a pretty good feeling pedal, it's just very scary when you hit it the first time....
...I'm going to try bleeding them again first. There is probably just an air bubble trapped halfway beteen my master cylinder and one of the bleed screws now, I just didn't give it enough time to work it's way out.
...I'm going to try bleeding them again first. There is probably just an air bubble trapped halfway beteen my master cylinder and one of the bleed screws now, I just didn't give it enough time to work it's way out.
If you can "pump it up" to a normal pedal, then I'd bet on a bubble in the line(s).
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,199
Likes: 4
From: Cairns Australia
I'm considering getting one oif these springs, I have heaps of brake dust on the fronts, none on the rears. Brakes are adequate but I'd like them to be better.
Please post when you've got some opinion on the spring.
S'nut
Please post when you've got some opinion on the spring.
S'nut
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 4,623
Likes: 2
From: Ohio
Originally Posted by Nathan Plemons
For those who have upgraded to the DRM or equivilent brake bias spring, did you notice any change in pedal effort? I installed my bias spring today, very easy and it actually didn't spill that much fluid. I bled the brakes, I thought I did so thouroughly, I never actually got any air to come out of the bleeders though.
I spent seveal more hours cleaning up and painting my calipers. When I put it all back together I noticed my brake pedal was very soft. The paint I used needs to cure for a little while before I get the brakes really hot so I haven't driven it yet, except to put it in the garage. I feel like there is still air in the sytem, I just wanted to make sure this wasn't normal before I went through a lot of trouble bleeding it again.
I spent seveal more hours cleaning up and painting my calipers. When I put it all back together I noticed my brake pedal was very soft. The paint I used needs to cure for a little while before I get the brakes really hot so I haven't driven it yet, except to put it in the garage. I feel like there is still air in the sytem, I just wanted to make sure this wasn't normal before I went through a lot of trouble bleeding it again.
There's air trapped in the master. Being that you did the job on the car, you didn't "bench bleed" the master...no biggie. Get the proper line wrenches (I believe two different sizes) and a towel. Pack the towel under the master and have your assistance easily, and smoothly depress the brake pedal while you crack one of the tube nuts on one of the brake lines connected to the master. Just as you would bleed a caliper, do both lines. AFTER you do that, re-bleed all four, starting with the RR. You know the proper sequence. Now would be an excellent time to install the speed bleeders and flush all of the old fluid out. The rears are not hard to do, but you do need to remove the rear wheels. (Unless you want to get brake fluid all over the place, including yourself!) If you don't have a couple of feet of clear plastic hose for bleeding, wait until you get the Speed bleeders, as I think the nipple may be a different size, so you may need two different ID's. If you do this proceedure properly, assuming no component "issues", your brake pedal will be firm.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,490
Likes: 68
From: Hewitt NJ
Originally Posted by h rocks
There's air trapped in the master. Being that you did the job on the car, you didn't "bench bleed" the master...
You could also go to your locat auto part store and buy a kit that comes with all kinds of adapters to bench bleed your master cylinder. You basically unscrew the brake lines at the master cylinder. Screw on the appropriate adapters with a short piece of hose that you stick back into the reservoir. Make sure that the hoses are submerged in brake fluid so you don't end up sucking air back into to the master cylinder. Then just pump you brakes slowly until no more air comes out.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Originally Posted by Nathan Plemons
Well the deal fell through on QuikZilver's sale of his braided hoses, so I bought them from him. Looks like I'll be needing to bleed them again anyway 
Trust me
They are great and you'll be telling everone to buy them as I am! -JRC-
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 6,694
Likes: 3
From: Less Talk, More WOT | Houston TX
Originally Posted by Nathan Plemons
Well the deal fell through on QuikZilver's sale of his braided hoses, so I bought them from him. Looks like I'll be needing to bleed them again anyway
:
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 9
Originally Posted by Wheelman
You may have bled all the calipers, but did you bleed the master cylinder Nathan??? :blush:
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Originally Posted by Nathan Plemons
You know it's the funniest thing that I actually installed the spring and followed the directions, which said nothing more than to bleed the brakes according to the service manual which I did. Any air that was in the master cylinder should now be well on it's way to one of the calipers.
Your looking at air going to more than just one of the calipers.
Last edited by JrRifleCoach; Jul 19, 2004 at 05:09 PM.
