need help bleeding brakes, whats the trick?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 507
Likes: 6
From: Houston Tx
need help bleeding brakes, whats the trick?
Changed calipers today getting ready for autocross in Houston on Sat. Now I've got soft brakes and when I slam on brakes hard at speed it swerves a bit and the right front will ultimately lock up first. Any ideas? I bled em' till the cows came home, no air coming out, just clear fluid. Bled all 4 corners and all lines going into anti lock brakes by rear end in this 97 coupe. Thanks, Chuck
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 6,760
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From: Southeast Nebraska
Cruise-In II Veteran
There is a specific order in which to bleed the brakes. I believe it's RR,LR,RF then LF. Basically it's furthest to nearest the master cylinder. If you have air in the antilock system, you need a tech tool to bleed the ABS pump. If this is the case, a trip to the dealer might be in order.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
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From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Hmmm... what order did you do them in? There's a specific order for pre 2001 vettes and one for post 2001 vettes b/c in 2001 they switched to electronic brake proportioning. If you've bled and there's no bubbles, but the brakes are still soft then you may have air int he ABS system. The only way to get this out to have the dealer flush it with a Tech II b/c they can modulate the ABS system and flush it too.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,473
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From: Brooksville Fl
I have read that when changing fluid, you should bleed brakes, then take it for a ride and engage the abs two or three times, then re-bleed the brakes.
I try to avoid the dealer as much as possible
That my story and I an sticking to it
I try to avoid the dealer as much as possible
That my story and I an sticking to it
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
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From: Lake Elsinore, CA
This may sound obvious but it is possible (believe me, I know 
). When you installed the new calipers, did you locate them so that the bleed plugs are on top of the caliper? If not, air pockets can form inside on the top of the caliper and are virtually impossible to bleed out.
Make sure all the fittings you disconnected are tight so the system can't draw air in. Did you use new washers on the banjo fittings? They should be replaced each time you disconnect those lines.
Also, it can take several bleeding cycles to get all the air out of the system.
). When you installed the new calipers, did you locate them so that the bleed plugs are on top of the caliper? If not, air pockets can form inside on the top of the caliper and are virtually impossible to bleed out. Make sure all the fittings you disconnected are tight so the system can't draw air in. Did you use new washers on the banjo fittings? They should be replaced each time you disconnect those lines.
Also, it can take several bleeding cycles to get all the air out of the system.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 9,918
Likes: 1,880
From: Hot Springs AR
Sounds like you've got air somewhere in the left side of the system, probably in the front. Patches gave you some good ideas to look at, I'll add one more:
1. Use the old school method of bleeding: one person pumping the brake, the other cracking the bleed screw. I've seen, and read, of speed bleeders sucking air into the system. I've attempted to vacuum bleed the system, and introduced air into the system.
Don't fret on the ABS until you've re-bled the whole system. Then see what you've got.
HTH, and have a good one,
Mike
1. Use the old school method of bleeding: one person pumping the brake, the other cracking the bleed screw. I've seen, and read, of speed bleeders sucking air into the system. I've attempted to vacuum bleed the system, and introduced air into the system.
Don't fret on the ABS until you've re-bled the whole system. Then see what you've got.
HTH, and have a good one,
Mike
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
I had a Ford do something similar once, it turned out the caliper was sticking due to a incorrectly sized pad. Since you have one locking, have you check to make sure nothing is sticking? Are these new calipers?
Just curious because it sounds like you really bled them good.
Also of note, when I did mine I went around the car three times bleeding with my Motul, and got air on the first two.
Just curious because it sounds like you really bled them good.
Also of note, when I did mine I went around the car three times bleeding with my Motul, and got air on the first two.
