Howdy Folks!

I recently swapped out my calipers and rotors - of course I lost a some fluid, though I tried to keep the reservoir topped off.

My first install of the fronts, I wound up with the bleeder valve facing down, but I swapped them so the fronts are now facing up.

I'm getting a soft pedal that goes all the way down (where it does eventually stop the car).

I've tried to bleed several times, and while it has improved gradually, it's still not great (feels like it does after a full weekend of track time!)

I bought a Mite-Vac from Napa - it's a hand vacuum pump, some lines, a plastic cannister - has a couple of bleeder L type adapters and some needle type tips (I used the latter, the other would not seal).

I've pumped and pumped, started at the RR, LR, RF, LF. After the last bleeding attempt, it felt like it really improved, and I wanted to make sure I had fluid moving through the ABS so I went out and hard stopped a few times.

The other problem I noticed is instead of braking even, it kind of "waddled" left-to-right, with a slight bias to the right.

I assume this last issue is because the fronts aren't braking evenly? One must have more air than the other?

I don't see any leaks - everything is dry after the install, after braking I don't see any stray fluid.

I made an appointment for the Chevy dealership later this week, but I'd LOVE to save the money and finish up the project myself (I felt great doing the brake install myself, not to mention the money saved).

I searched for topics on this as my original reference, but I just can't figure out if I just haven't bled it enough and if the weird left-to-right pull is because of uneven fluid/air on each side.

Any additional insight, info, etc., would be outstanding!

 

What type of calipers did you install? Its possible that the master cylinder doesn't have the volume to feed oversized calipers. Also, are you sure the rear calipers have the valve in the "up" position?

 

Hey UJ, thanks for the quick reply!

It's a set of C6 calipers (did them with the C6Z51 brackets) so it's the same as the OEM calipers if terms of bias and fluid capacity.

The rears didn't seem to have the clear up/down orientation as the fronts. (The valve comes out perpendicular to the ground, kind of out of the side of the rear caliper).

DT

 

DT, in 2001 they changed the order in which to bleed the brakes to RR, LF, LR, RF. Try this sequence and see if it helps.

I got this out of the 2003 service manual.

 

Thanks, that's good to know, and since I'm going to go through another round of bleeding, I'll use the correct sequence for 2001+ (mine is an '03).

DT

 

The C5 rears are the same. To make sure they are oriented correctly the bleeder valve is located above the brake hose attachment.

Bill

 

Good luck.

 

Thanks, I'll confirm this when I get back under there to re-RE-bleed

 

Thanks everyone, I'm going to go work on it now, I'll post some results!

 

Oh snap! The rears were on reversed as well (that makes me 4 for 4!). Had to come in for a wash break, that brake fluid is nasty stuff!

OK, calipers are swapped, back to the bleeding!!

Update in ~hour

 

**EXCELLENT**

Thanks to everyone for the input - I have solid pedal, no pulling, yank your teeth out braking once again

I swapped the rear calipers - did a re-bleed on both, and also used a rubber mallet to tap on the caliper. I think I dislodged a bunch of air from both.

Fired it up, firm pedal works perfect!

Thanks for saving me a $100 trip to the dealer!

DT

 

That's excellent news!

Congratulations.

 

Thanks Buddy!

So it took probably 10X as long as it should have, but I *did* it, I was super careful about scratching the parts, everything is torqued exactly to spec (with the proper loctite) and I get the DIY satisfaction!

And now, a smilie bombardment!