PCGUY112887 Posted July 27, 2006 Report Share Posted July 27, 2006 Ok, one of my rear calipers seized up. So I replaced it, and the other one was believed to be seized up as well but it was seized half way closed so it didn't really hurt anything aside from braking performance. So I replaced both back calipers. Fairly simple. I go to bleed the brakes, and i've tried twice and I just can't manage to get it done! I did back right then left then front right then left. I open the cap to the reservoir when I did it otherwise nothing comes out. So I had someone push the petal to the floor 3 times, and on the third time they held it down. I would open the screw, it would puke out fluid, then I would close it then have them release the brake. I did this for each wheel, first time it failed I tried again and once again I failed, the petal still sinks to the floor. Did I get air stuck in the master cylinder or something when I did this? Becuase when I disconnected it, the brake line was dripping so I just let it drip... and the reservoir went dry. How can I fix this?!? Will trying a pressure/vaccume bleeder fix this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slick Posted July 27, 2006 Report Share Posted July 27, 2006 When bleeding your brakes, you have to make sure there you keep adding fluid to your resivoir as necessary so you don't get air in the system. I personally bought one of those cheap one person brake bleeder kits. Works great actually. Loosen the bleeder, put the clear tube on it, make sure there is plenty of brake fluid in the resivoir, pump the brake pedal a few times, make sure there are no bubbles in the clear tube. If not, tighten the bleeder, and move onto the next one while being sure to add fluid to the resivoir as necessary. I usually pick up a bottle of brake fluid every time I bleed my brakes. You *should* go through a decent amount of brake fluid when you are bleeding them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheEddie Posted July 27, 2006 Report Share Posted July 27, 2006 personal brake bleeder kit? I'm cheap, i just bought some little hose and I used a clear water bottle, worked great...pump until no bubbles or until its clean if you're just changing it out... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCGUY112887 Posted July 27, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2006 I have on of the little plastic things with a clear hose on it too. However you still can't do it yourself with one. I think I have air stuck in my master since yes it went dry and you could see the port on the inside where it takes in fluid :-(. What do I do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slick Posted July 27, 2006 Report Share Posted July 27, 2006 I have on of the little plastic things with a clear hose on it too. However you still can't do it yourself with one. I think I have air stuck in my master since yes it went dry and you could see the port on the inside where it takes in fluid :-(. What do I do? I always bleed my brakes by myself. Not sure about your master cylinder though. You could try filling the resivoir and bleeding the brakes, while continuously adding in more fluid. I don't knwo if that would get the air out of there though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCGUY112887 Posted July 27, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2006 How do you do it by yourself with the little plastic thing? Becuase as soon as you let the petal back up, if the screw isn't closed it just sucks up air through the tube and through the other hole in the plastic cup thing. I wish I could find something that has a special cap that goes on and it puts pressure on the reservoir, so I could just go and open one, let it spray for a while, then close, refill master, then do it to the next. Edit - I have a Ford guy tellin me that I should be able to just open the bleeder screw, and pump on the brake till no air is comming through the hose and the fluid is clean (making sure the master stays full so it doesn't run dry), then just cap it back up and move on. I thought that if you were to release the brake when the screw was open that it would just suck air back up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slick Posted July 27, 2006 Report Share Posted July 27, 2006 The self brake bleeder is a totally sealed thing. Basically, there is a tube that runs from the bleeder to a little t-valve on the top of the little bottle. Then, inside the bottle is a little tube that runs down to the bottom. You put a little brake fluid in there so no air comes back up once you let off the pedal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herb427sc Posted July 27, 2006 Report Share Posted July 27, 2006 There should be a bleeder valve on the master Cylinder. Start there and then go to the wheels.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCGUY112887 Posted July 28, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2006 Hey, I didn't know I could use the hose and tube like that, so I cleaned everything out and lots of air came out, had my mom pump the petal while I watched the hose. Now the whole system if full of nice clear DOT 3 synthetic fluid and is very stiff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Intlcutlass Posted July 28, 2006 Report Share Posted July 28, 2006 You could also buy the bleeder valves with a check valve in them. They are called "Single person bleeders" or something to that effect. Pull out your old bleeder screws in each caliper, screw in these new ones then just turn them 1/2 turn, and depress the pedal a couple times.Once you get all the air out, just tighten it. Best thing since sliced bread. They should be in the "Help" section of your local parts store, and I think I picked up a pack of 2 for $10.00. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skippy Posted August 7, 2006 Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 One method I tend to use is the GRAVITY bleed method, just open the bleed screw so fluid is coming out and leave it to work its way through, go and have a cup of coffee , just make sure the master cylinder is kept topped up. Once you have fluid coming out and no air then the job is done, tighten bleed screws up and check pedal. Only reason I tend to do it this way is I have had several occassions where I have pumped the pedal only to wreck the seals in the master cylinder due to the piston travelling further than usual and picking up on a step in the bore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.