Suspension and Chassis Questions about your suspension? Need chassis advice?

bleeding brakes... is this right??

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 04-05-2004, 07:02 AM
  #1  
Member

Thread Starter
 
smoove2022's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: grandville, MI
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
bleeding brakes... is this right??

Hey I was bleeding my front brakes yesterday for about 2 hours... This was just after I intalled the earls braided lines. I accidentally let the fluid in the master cylinder resevoir empty completely (for the front brakes). Should it have taken that long to bleed them? After 2 hours and 2 bottles of brake fluid I was still getting air bubbles comming out at the calipers. Do I have air in the master cylinder? Can I bleed the master cylinder while it's still on the car? When I was bleeding it (2 person method) we noticed that the brake fluid in the resevoir was spurting up, is this right? Funny thing is, even with the air that is still in brake lines my cars stops ALOT better with the earls lines...
Old 04-05-2004, 02:41 PM
  #2  
Supreme Member

 
Petes 84Z28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: out of my mind; be back in 5 minutes....
Posts: 1,593
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
Car: 1989 Firebird Formula
Engine: Internal Combustion
Transmission: Completed
Axle/Gears: ones that turn.
Do I have air in the master cylinder?
Yes.

Can I bleed the master cylinder while it's still on the car?
Only if you can raise the rear of the car high enough so that the MC sits level; otherwise, you need to remove it and clamp it in a vice. Don't spill brake fluid on your paint - keep a bucket of water or a hose handy to wash off any spilled fluid immediately.

we noticed that the brake fluid in the resevoir was spurting up, is this right?
Completely normal.

Don't 'pump up' the brakes to build pressure when bleeding the MC; you'll just aerate the fluid and make it more difficult to bleed. Use slow, steady strokes.
Old 04-05-2004, 03:11 PM
  #3  
Member

Thread Starter
 
smoove2022's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: grandville, MI
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
So assuming I can raise the back of the car so the MS is level and bleed it while it's on the car, will I need to bleed the lines again at the calipers? Are there plugs available at autostores for bench bleeding the MS otherwise?
Old 04-05-2004, 05:48 PM
  #4  
Member

 
studdmstr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: CA
Posts: 372
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 91 Z28
Engine: LB9
Transmission: auto
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: bleeding brakes... is this right??

Originally posted by smoove2022
Hey I was bleeding my front brakes yesterday for about 2 hours... This was just after I intalled the earls braided lines. I accidentally let the fluid in the master cylinder resevoir empty completely (for the front brakes). Should it have taken that long to bleed them? After 2 hours and 2 bottles of brake fluid I was still getting air bubbles comming out at the calipers.
More than likely the air bubbles that you are seeing are coming from around the threads of the bleeder screw. After 2 hrs of bleeding I'm pretty sure that you have all the air out of the master cylinder. If your pedal feels firm and not spongy, then more than likely you have all the air out.
Old 04-05-2004, 08:11 PM
  #5  
Member

Thread Starter
 
smoove2022's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: grandville, MI
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Still feels a bit spongy
Old 04-06-2004, 09:39 AM
  #6  
Member

 
studdmstr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: CA
Posts: 372
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 91 Z28
Engine: LB9
Transmission: auto
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Then yep you probably still have air. Back to bleeding you go!
Old 04-06-2004, 12:36 PM
  #7  
Senior Member

 
Chickenman35's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Coquitlam, BC
Posts: 896
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Car: 86\92 Mutant
Engine: 355CI 430HP
Transmission: T-5 with mods
Axle/Gears: 7.625", Eaton Posi, 3.73
You have air in the MC. It has to be " Bench bled" ( Procedure is called " Bench bleeding" but can be done on the bench or in the car ) You can bleed it on the car but it's a PITA and will take two people.

Go to your local Parts supplier. Ask for a bench bleeding kit. Comes with every new M\Cyl. Should cost about $2.50

Note that with some kits the little tapered fittings that go into the M\C ports are not long enough. If that is the case remove the front and rear lines from the prop valve and install them on the M\C that you're trying to bench bleed. Stuff the tapered adpater in the ends of the tubes.

You
Old 04-06-2004, 01:06 PM
  #8  
Supreme Member
 
ronterry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Elizabeth, Colorado
Posts: 1,507
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: '94 Corvette
Engine: LT1
Transmission: 4L60E
You can try taking her for a good criuse, and then rebleed the system. Don't forget to take a rubber malet to the calipers while bleeding the system. This will losen up air bubbles that like to stick inside the calipers.
Worked for me, had the same problem.
I have ABS on my Vette, so I would also kick in the ABS on a dirt road several time.

Ron
Old 04-06-2004, 08:40 PM
  #9  
Member

Thread Starter
 
smoove2022's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: grandville, MI
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hey thanks guys! Do I need to bleed at the prop valve too?
Old 04-06-2004, 08:53 PM
  #10  
Supreme Member

 
SweetS10v8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Lima, OH
Posts: 1,096
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: '89 Formula 350 & '86 Z28
Engine: L98 & 355ci
Transmission: 700r4 in both
Originally posted by smoove2022
Still feels a bit spongy
your getting lots of good info, but I hope its not an internal leak past your piston cup seals in the master cylinder.

Just after reading how much you have bled and it still is spongy makes me wonder if the the cup seals are allowing fluid to pass over the them from the high side to the low pressure side of the piston. Making them spongy....

If nothing else works, you might look there.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
smnichol86
Brakes
26
03-26-2017 10:55 PM
83 Crossfire TA
Suspension and Chassis
36
01-03-2016 01:26 PM
84redta
Tech / General Engine
2
09-19-2015 09:58 AM
dimented24x7
Tech / General Engine
4
09-06-2015 03:51 PM
backtothe80s
Suspension and Chassis
33
09-05-2015 12:39 AM



Quick Reply: bleeding brakes... is this right??



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:32 AM.