Bleeding the brakes question
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 843
Likes: 2
From: DFW Tx
Bleeding the brakes question
I bled the brakes last night and now the brakes are mushy.
I have been doing this about every 3 months for the past 1.5 years and have never had this problem. I have speed bleeders, so I should not have any air in the lines.
The brake pedal is firm when the car is off, but gets mushy as soon as I turn the car back on.
Usually when I bleed the brakes, brakes pedal feel gets firm and engages close to the top. Now it engages close to the bottom.
Before I bled the brakes they were not mushy and engaged farther up.
I use Penzoil Dot 4 performance fluid. I have been using this fluid for a while with no problem.
Any help would be great.
******UPDATE:*******
I took the car to the shop and they recommended that I bleed the brakes again to make sure.
Has anyone heard of speed bleeders not workin? Could that little bearing get stuck? I was going to take each one out and check anyway.
Also is there any tool besides the Tech 2 tool, to allow bleeding of ABS.
Will LS1 edit allow this?
******UPDATE:*******
I took Sam Lin's advice and bled the brakes as a normal bleeder screw. This worked great.
[Modified by motoracer, 1:45 AM 2/11/2003]
I have been doing this about every 3 months for the past 1.5 years and have never had this problem. I have speed bleeders, so I should not have any air in the lines.
The brake pedal is firm when the car is off, but gets mushy as soon as I turn the car back on.
Usually when I bleed the brakes, brakes pedal feel gets firm and engages close to the top. Now it engages close to the bottom.
Before I bled the brakes they were not mushy and engaged farther up.
I use Penzoil Dot 4 performance fluid. I have been using this fluid for a while with no problem.
Any help would be great.
******UPDATE:*******
I took the car to the shop and they recommended that I bleed the brakes again to make sure.
Has anyone heard of speed bleeders not workin? Could that little bearing get stuck? I was going to take each one out and check anyway.
Also is there any tool besides the Tech 2 tool, to allow bleeding of ABS.
Will LS1 edit allow this?
******UPDATE:*******
I took Sam Lin's advice and bled the brakes as a normal bleeder screw. This worked great.
[Modified by motoracer, 1:45 AM 2/11/2003]
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,596
Likes: 2
From: Atlanta GA
Re: Bleeding the brakes question (motoracer)
I have bleed mine about 5 times and they still never seem to be as good as they once where. Feel like I have more travel as well. I also have the speedbleeders. I'm thinking of doing to the dealer and getting a Tech II bleed where they activate the ABS.
Drifting
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 0
From: Clemmons NC
Re: Bleeding the brakes question (motoracer)
Keep bleeding, I usaully do about 15/20 pumps each corner with the speed bleeders. RR first, LF next, LR after that and then RF. Some times you have to compress the pistons fully on each caliper before you bleed to get the pedal hard. I once compressed all 6 pistons when changing pads and never seated them individually( I forgot as I was going corner to corner) and actually started the bleeding sequence which pushed all six pistons at once. That was the best pedal I've ever had. Here is another trick you might want to try open the bleeder and compress the piston(s) with C clamps then close the bleeder. This ensures the piston chambers are free of air.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 376
Likes: 0
From: BLMVOR R160 [] HOCVOR R305 Switzerland BL
Re: Bleeding the brakes question (z060ntrack)
Sorry for, z060ntrack, but please allow I correct you on the bleeding sequence.
Here we go (to the letter of the Service Manual Y-Platform)
RIGHTREAR ---- LEFTREAR ---- RIGHT FRONT ---- LEFTFRONT
The Candidate should also carefully check : the Brake Master Cylinder would not run empty of Brake Fluid. During the "slowmotion" bleeding-strokes do not use all of the available Pedal travel (only 2/3rds about). Do not cycle rapidly neither.
I recommend MOTUL RBF600 high performance Brake Fluid from personal experience - exchange every year at least. ATE Super Blue (THE LAPD) seems to be a very good alternative to consider.
To have lots of engine-performance is real nice - no doubt at all - but do not neglect the necessary braking power.
Joe. ..........happy breaking to you all......... :blueangel:
Here we go (to the letter of the Service Manual Y-Platform)
RIGHTREAR ---- LEFTREAR ---- RIGHT FRONT ---- LEFTFRONT
The Candidate should also carefully check : the Brake Master Cylinder would not run empty of Brake Fluid. During the "slowmotion" bleeding-strokes do not use all of the available Pedal travel (only 2/3rds about). Do not cycle rapidly neither.
I recommend MOTUL RBF600 high performance Brake Fluid from personal experience - exchange every year at least. ATE Super Blue (THE LAPD) seems to be a very good alternative to consider.
To have lots of engine-performance is real nice - no doubt at all - but do not neglect the necessary braking power.
Joe. ..........happy breaking to you all......... :blueangel:
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,521
Likes: 3
From: Gilbert, AZ, USA
Re: Bleeding the brakes question (motoracer)
Had you done any work under the hood, like intake manifold swap or something?
Speedbleeders have been known to be defective, I would have a helper help you bleed, and try using the Speedbleeders as a normal bleed screw, loosen/tighten each time. Also, I found if the Speedbleeders weren't solidly tight, they'd leak a little. Despite all that I definitely will keep using them!
Sam
Speedbleeders have been known to be defective, I would have a helper help you bleed, and try using the Speedbleeders as a normal bleed screw, loosen/tighten each time. Also, I found if the Speedbleeders weren't solidly tight, they'd leak a little. Despite all that I definitely will keep using them!
Sam
Racer
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 483
Likes: 0
From: Downingtown PA
Re: Bleeding the brakes question (motoracer)
You might want to try a vacuum bleeder. They work well, don't cost alot and you won't need a helper. I think it's possible that over time, the sealant on the Speedbleeder threads will wear and then leak a bit. I have never had this problem, but I seem to remember seeing it in print some time ago. Best of luck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 6,213
Likes: 1
From: South Alabama
Re: Bleeding the brakes question (gmblack3)
The RR first, LF next, LR after that and then RF sequence is correct for 01 and up cars.
"RIGHTREAR ---- LEFTREAR ---- RIGHT FRONT ---- LEFTFRONT"
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,596
Likes: 2
From: Atlanta GA
Re: Bleeding the brakes question (Cajun75)
The RR first, LF next, LR after that and then RF sequence is correct for 01 and up cars.
I'm not pickin' a fight but I'm curious where you have gotten that info from. Instructions I've always come across had this sequence so if there is something different going on now I'd like to research it ;)
"RIGHTREAR ---- LEFTREAR ---- RIGHT FRONT ---- LEFTFRONT"
I'm not pickin' a fight but I'm curious where you have gotten that info from. Instructions I've always come across had this sequence so if there is something different going on now I'd like to research it ;)
"RIGHTREAR ---- LEFTREAR ---- RIGHT FRONT ---- LEFTFRONT"
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 8,222
Likes: 0
From: Norfolk VA
Re: Bleeding the brakes question (Cajun75)
from a 1999 Corvette Service manual, RR, LR, RF, LF. farthest away from the master cylinder to the closest.
[Modified by Lancer033, 5:40 PM 2/11/2003]
[Modified by Lancer033, 5:40 PM 2/11/2003]
Racer
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 376
Likes: 0
From: BLMVOR R160 [] HOCVOR R305 Switzerland BL
Re: Bleeding the brakes question (gmblack3)
I do not venture to provoke any unnecessary fight neither, but through earlier times I picked up the hereafter stated method of the brakes bleeding sequence through this Forum.
Now, a while ago, I finally received my genuine GM Service Manuals, Y-Platform MY 2000, volume 1 to volume 3 (Corvette Central - thank's). In there I found the very same statement I already wrote in this thread, as follows (double checked) :
"Here we go (to the letter of the Service Manual Y-Platform)"
RIGHT REAR ---- LEFT REAR ---- RIGHT FRONT ---- LEFT FRONT
At least, this sequence makes also some sense to me.........
Could it be a mistake/misprint/ in the respective SVC Manuals for MY 2001 and up ? Really wondering about as well........:eek:
Joe. :seeya
Now, a while ago, I finally received my genuine GM Service Manuals, Y-Platform MY 2000, volume 1 to volume 3 (Corvette Central - thank's). In there I found the very same statement I already wrote in this thread, as follows (double checked) :
"Here we go (to the letter of the Service Manual Y-Platform)"
RIGHT REAR ---- LEFT REAR ---- RIGHT FRONT ---- LEFT FRONT
At least, this sequence makes also some sense to me.........
Could it be a mistake/misprint/ in the respective SVC Manuals for MY 2001 and up ? Really wondering about as well........:eek:
Joe. :seeya
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,521
Likes: 3
From: Gilbert, AZ, USA
Re: Bleeding the brakes question (SwissVette_Joe)
Not a misprint, the recommended procedure changed from 01-on. It's the bleed procedure for a diagonal split braking system, where front right is tied to left rear, and front left to right rear, that way if you somehow lose pressure to one wheel, the other diagonal set will (in theory) still stop the car in a reasonably straight line. I don't know if there'll be any noticable difference between the 2 bleed orders.
Sam
Sam
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,596
Likes: 2
From: Atlanta GA
Re: Bleeding the brakes question (Cajun75)
Your welcome. ;)
Not a misprint, the recommended procedure changed from 01-on. Sam
Thanks Sam & Lancer033....thought maybe I had been doing it wrong :thumbs:
Thanks Sam & Lancer033....thought maybe I had been doing it wrong :thumbs: